State Sen. Jean Leising Enjoys Successful Week at the Statehouse

She saw two bills she authored and one she sponsors advance closer to becoming law.

INDIANAPOLIS – It has been a successful stretch of days for State Senator Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg).

On Monday, a bill authored by Leising that would ensure better utility reliability across the state passed the House of Representatives.

With Governor Holcomb’s signature, the bill will become law and authorize the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adopt a review process for when a public utility producing at least 80 megawatts requests to retire, sell, or transfer an electric generation facility.

Leising had two other bills advance this week, one that she authored and another that she sponsors.

Senate Bill 167, authored by Leising, would require all Indiana students, with exceptions, to submit the FAFSA during their senior year of high school to help them see what post-secondary education opportunities are available.

According to the Indiana College Readiness Report 2022, the state’s college-going rate has gradually decreased from 65 percent to 53 percent since 2015.

"Every year, thousands of dollars go unclaimed by Indiana students because they do not apply for or know about the FAFSA and the educational opportunities it can assist with," Leising said. "I hope SEA 167 helps all students see what post-secondary schooling options are available to them."

SEA 167 would not require students to file if a parent signs a waiver claiming the student understands what the FAFSA is and declines to complete it or a principal/school counselor employed at the student's high school waives the requirement due to extenuating circumstances.

The bill has passed the House of Representatives and heads to the governor’s desk.

Lastly, a bill sponsored by Leising, that would survey how much farmland Indiana has lost passed the Senate.

House Enrolled Act 1557 would direct the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to conduct an inventory of lost farmland in Indiana from 2010 to 2022 and create a statewide report for stakeholders to track farmland depletion trends and the causes of those trends.

"Indiana is the eighth largest farming state in the nation and contributes an estimated $31 billion to the state's economy," Leising said. "If we are going to continue to be a leading exporter of agricultural goods, the state must take stock of the land we have and work to protect Indiana farmland moving forward."

HEA 1557 heads to the House for further consideration.

To learn more about the bills, visit iga.in.gov.