2018 BGD Legislative Conference

With workforce development at the forefront of the Governor’s legislative agenda and Indiana in the spotlight for pushing the envelope on implementation of innovative options for schools and students, there will be no shortage of related issues on the priority list for the General Assembly in 2019. Panelists will discuss our shift toward skills-based learning and standards as they pertain to addressing workforce needs in our state, as well as what changes, such as the roll out of Graduation Pathways, could mean for schools. We will also look at the shifting focus of similar initiatives including adult education as an option to grow and supplement our workforce, the existing skills gap and its impact on our growth as a state, and how we can focus on relationships with Indiana’s employers to tailor our education programs to meet their needs. Finally, as the conversations in education shift from traditional to innovative, how do we maintain a balance in higher education initiatives?

We look forward to welcoming Governor Eric Holcomb to address the Conference and outline legislative and policy priorities for his administration during the 2019 legislative session and beyond.

Will 2019 be the largest “gaming session” the IGA has seen in recent years? The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision opening the door for legalized sports wagering legislation leads the way, but what about the potential for live table games at the racinos, tweaks to the wagering tax structure, moving the Gary licenses away from Buffington Harbor, enabling a satellite facility concept to improve geographic balance? Can any of these or other policy changes help Indiana's gaming industry thrive despite competition from neighboring states? How is Indiana’s market adapting to new technologies and a new casino in South Bend? This panel will explore these concepts and more while also checking in on the status and ongoing impacts of implementing HEA 1350 (2017).

County, city, and town governments throughout Indiana are grappling with various issues as they plan and prepare for the next generation. The Governor recently announced his Next Level Connections Plan, which has the potential to impact communities throughout the state in the areas of infrastructure, rural broadband, economic development, and quality of place efforts. What else is necessary to implement this plan and address connectivity concerns at the local level?

It has been several years since health care issues like opioid abuse, addiction, and mental health have risen to the forefront of discussions for policy makers and health care professionals alike. Traditionally, these issues have been addressed by a patchwork of services aimed at solving a singular problem. New ideas and programs have taken a more holistic approach – including several wraparound services – to help treat mental health and addiction. Are we beginning to see results? How are physicians, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies changing their practices to help combat addiction and opioid abuse? This panel will discuss recent and future developments in Indiana law and policy with regard to both health care and public health matters, and how the state can continue to forge ahead from a legislative and governmental perspective to conquer these tough issues.

Our Ethics Update will include a general legal ethics presentation focused on attorney interactions and representations involving state agencies. The past year has seen an apparent increase in attorney misconduct on routine client neglect matters. What can be done to discourage such attorney attitudes and conduct? Should there be more peer-to-peer interaction? With a new top staffer overseeing legislative lobbying will there be a change in education and enforcement priorities, and coordination with the legislative ethics program? What should you know about interactions with state executive branch agencies and hiring away state employees?

Key players from the legislature and executive branch join us to discuss the 2019 biennial budget and the fiscal implications of major initiatives - both those that have begun to be implemented, and those that will become the focus of this year’s budget bill. Gain insight from this group of leaders as to what each of their major focuses will be in drafting this year’s budget, as well as potential areas of concern or major change.

Midterm elections typically garner much less attention and anticipation than do the high-profile, high-dollar campaigns run during Presidential election years. However, the 2018 midterm elections turned this tradition upside down as races across the country and the state attracted the attention of thousands of voters who, in any other political environment, may not have taken notice. With attention to the legislative process by Hoosiers and Americans alike at an all-time high, we will hear from four newly-elected officials from all levels of government as they take office following one of the most highly scrutinized and politically charged midterm election cycles in history. Join us in a moderated conversation about approaches to effective leadership in the current environment with Congressman-Elect Jim Baird (R), Indiana State Senator J.D. Ford (D), Indiana State Representative Christy Stutzman (R), and Vanderburgh County Commissioner-Elect Jeff Hatfield (D) just weeks before they undertake their new roles to serve Indiana.

The leaders from each caucus in the House and the Senate offer perspectives on their priorities for 2019 and beyond, how they would prefer to see the process unfold, and what surprises may arise during the upcoming legislative session.

Indiana sells over $31 billion in agriculture-related products each year, plants over 14.7 million acres of farmland, and 107,500 jobs are supported by Indiana agriculture. Our state’s large cities are often thought of as our economic engines but 84% of Indiana’s land is farms, forests and woodlands. Technology is changing the way we farm, raise animals and produce our food across the state. As part of his 2019 Next Level Connections agenda, Governor Holcomb has proposed a $100 million grant program to bring affordable high-speed fiber optic broadband access to unserved and underserved areas of the state. Broadband access in all corners of our state will unleash a wide range of economic opportunities (job creation, startups, innovation by incumbent companies and more) in Indiana’s rural communities. This panel will explore a range of issues related to the intersection of agriculture, rural Indiana and technology.

The Governor is implementing programs to grow Indiana’s skilled and talented workforce. With more Hoosiers prepared to enter the workforce, how can Indiana continue to attract top employers and develop as an incubator for start-up companies and entrepreneurs? How is Indiana preparing to attract the industries of tomorrow? Do state and local governments need to consider new incentives for companies? Recognizing the efforts the state is making to skill up our workforce in order to fill the many jobs that have been (and will be) brought to our state, are we doing enough to focus on quality of place and the types of investments that the businesses we’re attracting are willing to make in the communities in which they locate? While bringing more jobs to Indiana has always been a major focus, we now find ourselves in a place where the focus should shift to how to attract the people to fill them.

Water and wastewater infrastructure throughout Indiana is aged and dilapidated. The state, municipalities, and utilities are on the hook to upgrade the infrastructure. How can the state, local governments, and utilities work together to update infrastructure and deploy new systems in a cost effective manner? How much of the cost burden should ratepayers bear?

By now we have all borne witness to the phenomenon that is “fake news.” As we progress under a leader who has taken to social media to reach constituents, and in a world where many see the media as the enemy, how has the landscape of the media industry changed? In a time where people can get news on their Twitter feed, to what extent have reporters turned into sales people, complete with quotas for “clicks” they must obtain in order to determine the stature of stories that they cover? We will hear from a panel of experts who have journeyed through these transformative years, and get their insight on what comes next in terms of the role that the media may (or may not) play in how people view, understand, and participate in Indiana politics and government.