STATEHOUSE — State Representative Dick Hamm (R-Richmond) wasted no time getting to work during his first legislative session in the Indiana General Assembly. In total, he authored four bills, coauthored six, sponsored three and cosponsored one. In fact, two of his top priority bills are waiting to be signed into law: House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1112 and Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 433. After being sworn in, Rep. Hamm was appointed to the Elections and Apportionment Committee. Upon reviewing current election law, the committee noticed a loophole where an individual could affiliate themselves with a political party and run as a write-in candidate without being a part of the primary election or caucus. In order to eliminate this loophole, Rep. Hamm authored HEA 1112 which clarifies election law and provides that there may only be one eligible candidate per political party in a given general election. “This law will protect the will of primary voters and caucus attendees as well as the candidates,” said Rep. Hamm. “This is my first bill to be sent to the governor, and I am extremely pleased that it was passed with bipartisan support by both the House and the Senate.” Rep. Hamm also served as the House sponsor for SEA 433, which passed unanimously in both chambers. This law establishes a method to dispose of abandoned properties. It allows county executives to relinquish these properties to a person who is able to repair and maintain them. “Rather than allowing properties to continue to sit vacant, we are offering a means by which someone can provide such properties with the necessary maintenance and eventually be sold,” said Rep. Hamm. “It is also important to point out that SEA 433 specifies that a person with an interest in the property must be given an opportunity to redeem the property prior to this transfer. This will protect interested parties from a government overreach of power.” The General Assembly used its time efficiently and was able to finish its business early this year. The Legislature passed a biennial state budget that includes increased funding for education and infrastructure, while protecting Hoosier taxpayers through debt reduction and tax relief. “This session the Indiana House Republicans delivered on their promises to prioritize education and workforce development. By giving Hoosiers the tools to succeed in the marketplace, we will continue to see our state grow and prosper,” said Rep. Hamm. “By focusing on jobs and education, we are able to build the foundation necessary to strengthen our economy and leave a legacy for generations to come.” -30-
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