The snow cannot seem to exit our area and let spring have a chance. Due to the ridiculous snow cover, we are seeing the deer herds actively moving around looking for food. To that end, Thursday night as I returned from a funeral home visitation, I hit a deer with my new truck.
Three deer ran in front of me as I was nearing my home. I missed the first deer, the second ended up on my left side and number three brushed the side of my truck. I jammed on the brakes and slid on the ice, and once the sliding was over, I saw one deer hop up and run away. I discovered some damage the next morning on my vehicle. The body shop said $491, but I have a $500 deductible so the deer won this round. I thought I had lost, except the next day I learned that the coyotes got the best of the deer – and the food chain continues.
We have begun the second half of the legislative session. The Senate has sent us the bills they passed, and the House has sent ours to the Senate. We will now consider the bills from the opposite chamber. Those that are passed out of both chambers will be sent to Governor Pence’s desk for his signature.
The House passed 174 bills during the first half of session. Among them were public safety initiatives, innovations in education and agricultural matters. Many bills did not pass, however. Bills having to do with annexation and another concerning Sunday alcohol sales were debated on the House Floor but no satisfactory agreement could be reached. These bills, among others, were disagreed on throughout Indiana, and the opinions of the state were reflected by each representative. I am proud to serve in a Legislature that keeps the interests of our community members in the front of our minds at all times.
I am pleased with the diversity and effectiveness of the bills we did pass. House Bill (HB) 1016 is a bill that allows newborn safety incubators to be installed outside of police stations, fire stations, hospitals and some nonprofit organizations. As part of the General Assembly’s goal to reduce infant mortality and improve public safety in Indiana, these newborn safety incubators provide a safe haven for abandoned babies. The incubators are climate controlled and set off an alarm in an emergency response location as soon as a baby is placed inside. A responder will then retrieve the child and deliver him or her to the appropriate location. This prevents abandoned infants from being subjected to exposure and unsafe conditions.
Another bill we passed was HB 1005, which provides a $200 tax credit for teachers who purchase supplies for their classrooms. In addition to the items parents buy for children, teachers provide many basic school supplies for their students, from pencils and construction paper to notebooks. This can become very expensive for teachers to pay out of pocket. To offset this cost, the House passed HB 1005, providing teachers the opportunity to write off some of these costs on their taxes. This is part of a greater initiative to promote innovation and creativity in Indiana’s education system while lifting the burden felt by teachers in the state.
I always enjoy the opportunity to participate in community events. Miami County recently held their 4-H Pancake and Sausage Day. Citizens from every generation of the county attend to support our agricultural community. They recognize that farming, 4-H and supporting organizations are all integral to our society. My family is pleased to be a contributor to this event. I congratulate the organizers for all their efforts.
Recently, I wrote about the family atmosphere in the Statehouse. Rep. Bob Morris’ father passed away unexpectedly, and we all responded. We were all recently informed of the unexpected death of Joey Morris, a Legislative Assistant on our staff, totally surprising us and grieving us beyond our sensibility. Joey was a wonderful young man. He had been a great worker and supporter of our government. He loved our system and demonstrated his support in many campaigns as well as in the Statehouse. Our family grieves for Joey and his family. We can only offer our support and ask that his memory is never forgotten. Thank you, Joey. We love you.
More later,
Bill Friend
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Rep. Bill Friend represents portions of Cass, Fulton and Miami counties. He also serves as Speaker Pro Tempore.
