STATEHOUSE (Aug. 1, 2023) – State Reps. David Abbott (R-Rome City) and Chris Judy (R-Fort Wayne) recently received interim study committee appointments and will take a deep dive into issues facing Hoosiers as they prepare for the next legislative session in January.
Lawmakers serve on interim committees throughout the summer and fall to examine policy topics, gather public input and recommend potential legislation.
Abbott will serve as a member of the Interim Study Committee on Employment and Labor, and on the Drainage Task Force.
"Increasing our workforce and talent pipeline is critical to our state's future," Abbott said. "On the employment and labor committee, I will look forward to reviewing our current workforce programs and learning more about how we can encourage more out-of-state professionals to locate here."
Judy will serve as a member of the Interim Study Committee on Pension Management Oversight, and as a member of the Interim Study Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs. He will also serve on the Indiana Homeland Security Foundation.
"As part of the pension oversight committee, we'll take an in-depth look at the Indiana's public retirement system, which supports over 100,000 former public servants like law enforcement, firefighters and teachers," Judy said. "Inflation has negatively impacted Hoosiers and that includes our pensioners, so I look forward to seeing how we can better support them through possible cost-of-living adjustments.
During this year's legislative session, Judy supported a cost-of-living adjustment also known as a 13th check for public retirees in the House-passed version of the state budget plan, but the language was later removed in the Indiana Senate. Judy also co-authored a new law this year to ensure Indiana’s public pension system and money managers will keep their focus exclusively on maximizing investment returns and not favor subjective environmental, social and governance factors. Judy said ESG investing can harm the Hoosier economy by discriminating against critical industries for political or ideological reasons.
Members of the public are welcomed to attend and testify at committee hearings, which typically occur at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Hearings are also livestreamed and archived online at iga.in.gov, where committee calendars and meeting agendas are posted.
Click here to learn more about the topics state legislators will examine in the coming months.
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State Rep. David Abbott (R-Rome City) represents House District 18,
which includes portions of Elkhart, Kosciusko, Noble and Whitley counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Chris Judy (R-Fort Wayne) represents House District 83,
which includes portions of Allen and Whitley counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
