Dant Chesser's Digest
Monthly Update for January
Welcome to Dant Chesser’s Digest, my monthly newsletter, where I will provide legislative and community updates for you as your state representative for House District 71. Please reach out to my office at h71@iga.in.gov if you have any questions or concerns or thoughts on what you’d like to see in this newsletter.
Make Your Voice Heard; Take My 2025 Legislative Survey
Each session, my legislative priorities are based on the concerns of my constituents. Your feedback is essential to my success as a representative, and I want your voice to be heard. One of the easiest ways to share your thoughts and concerns is through my legislative survey.
In House District 71, we’re facing some difficult issues right now. Our community lost millions to a bad actor which upended access to critical ambulatory and EMS services. Many are struggling to afford their bills for utilities, property taxes, child care or for other necessities. Our schools are also changing high school diplomas, and our students must continue to receive a quality, well-rounded education as requirements change. Your survey responses help me gauge how our district feels about topics we discuss at the Statehouse and other issues that are important to you.
My survey is available online at IN.gov/H71 by clicking the button at the top of the page. Please do not complete the online survey if you have returned the survey by mail or if you do not reside in House District 26. To find your state legislator, you can visit https://iga.in.gov/information/find-legislators. Please know that a question on my survey does not indicate my support for or opposition to an issue.
Session begins on Jan. 8, and we will be at the Statehouse through April. I hope you’ll be a part of the process by completing my survey. Please contact my office at h71@iga.in.gov if you have any questions, thoughts or concerns.
Middle and High School Students: Join the Statehouse Page Program!
Want to see how laws are made? Apply for our Page Program! Get a front-row seat at the Indiana Statehouse and meet your elected officials. This opportunity is open to middle and high school students aged 13+. It's an exciting experience that will give you a unique perspective on government and a behind-the-scenes look at the Capitol. Programs are available for both the Indiana Senate and Indiana House of Representatives.
The step-by-step application process is listed below:
Complete the online application here. Each student must complete an application for the Senate or the House of Representatives. The online application will indicate how many open spots remain for each date.
After applying, several required forms will be emailed to you. These are to be submitted before Paging.
Alternative Adult Release Form
Page Photo Release Form
Page Student Driver Release Form
Want to bring in a whole class, scout troop or other large group? Group Page days must be set up ahead of time with the Page Program Director and are only held on Wednesdays. Since there is no Wednesday session, the schedule may look different than a typical page day. To schedule your group, please reach out to the Page Program Director at (317) 232-9410 or pageprogram@iga.in.gov.
For more information, click here!
I encourage all interested students to apply and I hope to see YOU in the Indiana Statehouse!
Clark County CARES: Annual Drug Facts Week
Many Hoosiers know someone who is battling substance abuse disorder, whether it be an acquaintance, a loved one or themselves. The opioid epidemic has touched the lives of every Hoosier, and it continues to have a devastating effect on Indiana. Nearly one in 12 Hoosiers, almost half a million people. meet the criteria for having a substance abuse disorder.
But for those struggling, we support you and recovery is possible. Clark County CARES is a grassroots community group founded in 2016 after an increase in opioid use and deaths. Each year the group hosts its Drug Facts Week to educate people about substance abuse disorder, discuss resources for treatment and support individuals who’ve been affected.
CARES’ Drug Facts Week will run from Monday, Jan. 20 through Sunday, Jan. 26. Here is a full schedule of the events for the week:
Monday, Jan. 20 — Kickoff panel, 6 p.m., St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 321 E. Market Street, Jeffersonville
Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Law and order discussion, 6 p.m. Jeffersonville Police Department headquarters, 2218 E. 10th Street, Jeffersonville
Wednesday, Jan. 22 — Business luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Mark Fetter Center, 1613 E. 10th Street, Jeffersonville
Thursday, Jan. 23 — Keynote speaker to be announced, 6 p.m., Norton Clark Hospital, 1220 Missouri Ave., Jeffersonville
Friday, Jan. 24 — Lip sync battle hosted by Thrive RCO, 6 p.m. Ivy Tech Community College, 8204 Hwy. 311, Sellersburg
Saturday, Jan. 25 — Family day, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., SpringHill Envision Center, 1423 Bates-Bowyer Ave., Jeffersonville
Sunday, Jan. 26 — Candlelight vigil, start gathering around 5:30 p.m., at the base of the Big Four Bridge in Jeffersonville
You can also read more about Clark County CARES at this link or you can visit its Facebook page here. If you’re battling addiction and need to speak with someone today, you can call or text the crisis lifeline at 988. As always, my office is available at h71@iga.in.gov.
My Committees for the 2025 Legislative Session
For each two-year term in the Indiana House of Representatives, state lawmakers are appointed to standing committees. These committees are a vital part of what happens at the Statehouse. First, a bill is referred to a certain committee based on its topic. Then the bill is vetted and discussed by legislators appointed to that committee. Members of the public are also invited to testify on bills during these hearings. A bill has to be passed by a House committee before it can move to a vote on the House floor.
In Indiana, House committees range from five to 25 lawmakers. These small groups allow for a detailed analysis of specific issues. Lawmakers usually have some sort of professional or personal experience in topics their committees cover.
Here are the committees I’ll serve on during the 2025 session:
Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development
The Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development Committee hears legislation supporting small businesses, job growth, land development and expanding economic opportunity in our communities. Some of the bills sent to this committee last year include third-party food delivery, consumer data protection and price gouging of baby formula.
Insurance
The Insurance Committee hears legislation related to insurance companies and the cost of health care. It allows health care administrators, health care workers, experts and the public to come together and discuss various insurance plans and the affordability of certain medicines, procedures or appointments. Some of the topics heard in this committee last year were state employee health plans, prescription drug pricing and health provider contracts.
Financial Institutions
The Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee hears legislation related to the regulation of Indiana’s banks, credit unions, large businesses and insurance companies. Their main role is to create monetary policies that protect consumers. Last year this committee heard bills on consumer credit, money transmitters and finance charges for supervised loans.
Roads and Transportation
The Roads and Transportation Committee hears legislation related to public transportation, road funding, public safety and more. They also occasionally discuss air travel, private planes and Indiana’s airports. Some of the topics referred to this committee last year include license suspensions, school bus stop arm violations and child safety requirements for off-road vehicles.
I’m grateful for my committee appointments this session. These committees concern issues that deeply affect Hoosiers and their families. My goal as a member of these committees is to ensure they’re efficient, well-informed, and helpful to the average Hoosier. I’m ready to get to work in January.
State Board of Education Adopts Final Draft of High School Diploma
On Dec. 11, the State Board of Education (SBOE) approved their latest version of the high school diploma redesign. With the latest version approved, the diploma heads to the attorney general for its final sign-off. Schools can opt-in to the new diploma as early as the 2025-2026 school year. The new diploma will go into effect for all students beginning with the Class of 2029 who are currently in 8th grade.
The final diploma draft is supported by Indiana’s public colleges and universities, including Purdue. I think the final diploma will provide students with greater flexibility to pursue programs of their choice, whether that be college readiness or career training. Classes, like Computer Science and Personal Finance, are great additions to existing coursework.
However, my concerns regarding the diploma’s implementation and work requirements to graduate still remain. These diplomas will increase teacher’s workload, and Indiana is experiencing a teacher shortage. We also have yet to address student transportation, safety and more as they enter the workplace. I hope to continue these discussions even though the final draft has been approved.
Here’s a breakdown of the new diploma:
Many of you have been involved with this process since the first draft diploma (containing the GPS and GPS Plus versions) was released in March. I’ve greatly appreciated your input and feedback over the past eight months. The involvement of our parents, students, teachers and Purdue officials heavily improved each diploma draft.
To read a news article about the final version, please click here. As always, please contact my office at h71@iga.in.gov with any questions or concerns.
Relevant Articles
Gov.-elect Braun announces reorganization of governor's cabinet
https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/gov-elect-braun-announces-reorganization-of-governors-cabinet
Gov.-elect Mike Braun releases detailed policy agenda as he prepares to take office
Trump administration's Medicaid cuts could impact over 750k Hoosiers
Teacher pay, public school funding boosts remain top asks of Indiana’s largest teachers union
Lawmakers list education funding as priority. But Republicans, Democrats split on vouchers
Seniors, disabled Hoosiers and children all on the state's waiting list for services
Southern Indiana legislators voice thoughts on potential voucher expansion
https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/southern-indiana-legislators-voice-thoughts-on-potential-voucher-expansion/article_b6c7ea24-cc6e-11ef-979f-efaea9a76371.html
In service,
Wendy
