Legislative Session 2020: Halftime report

It’s halftime at the Indiana Statehouse, and AARP Indiana has high hopes for a handful of bills that would make a difference in the lives of all Hoosiers.

“Our lawmakers are making the most of this year’s short legislative session,” AARP Indiana Legislative Director Ambre Marr said. “From driver safety to healthy food access to Rx transparency, there is a lot of promise in this year’s legislative agenda.”

Get caught up on all of the legislation AARP Indiana is fighting for:

SB 356 – Healthy Food Finance

Sponsored by Senators Jim Merritt, Jean Breaux, and Eddie Melton, SB 356 establishes a fund for future grants and loans for improving access to healthy food. While this bill does not attach budget dollars to the fund, it will go a long way by developing a mechanism to capture public and private funding all with one goal in mind – helping get people access to the healthy food they need. SB 356 passed the Senate 46-4 and heads to the House for consideration.

HB 1207 – Pharmacy Matters

AARP Indiana continues to fight for transparency in prescription drug pricing, and this bill provides just that. This legislation would require drug manufacturers to provide the wholesale acquisition cost of prescription drugs to practitioners. How does that help Hoosiers? By getting a true understanding of what a particular drug costs, doctors may be inclined to prescribe or suggest a cheaper option to patients. This transparency could lead to lowering the overall cost of prescription drugs. HB 1207 passed the House 98-0 and is on its way to the Senate.

HB 1336 – Telemedicine

Is your doctor a long drive from home? Do you have mobility challenges? This bill could make a difference in your healthcare. HB 1336 would allow for asynchronous telemedicine. That means that you could confer with your provider on your healthcare via texts, phone calls, video calls, and more. Previously under Indiana law, a patient would have to complete their healthcare consultation from start to finish in one video call. This eases access and will help people get the healthcare they need. It passed 98-0 and heads to the Senate.

HB 1070 – Distracted Driving

We’re supportive of this bill that would make it illegal to hold or use a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle, with few exceptions being made (such as a hands-free setup, voice commands, or dialing 911). Motorists and pedestrians know too well the consequences of distracted driving, and AARP Indiana thinks if you’re operating a motor vehicle, it’s a good time to put your phone down. HB 1070 passed 86-10 and moves to the Senate.

SB 369 – Regional Transit Expansion

SB 369 would have allowed decision-makers at the county-level the option to approve the placement of a public question on the ballot to dedicate an additional local income tax rate of up to 0.25 percent, to fund the operations of a public transportation corporation and/or a rural transportation assistance program. At the end of the day, older Hoosiers want options to easily get from place to place no matter which part of town or the county that they live in. This bill would have allowed voters to consider expanding transportation options via referendum. Unfortunately, SB 369 failed to pass in the Senate, but AARP Indiana will continue to fight for more or better transportation options for all Hoosiers.

SB 19 – Telemedicine

SB 19 allows for patients to consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist via telemedicine. There are some restrictions in place to protect consumers and patients while giving many a more flexible way to get prescription contacts and glasses. It passed the Senate 48-0.

There are only a few weeks left in this year’s legislative session. Interested in learning more about these bills or showing your support for them? Reach out to AARP Indiana by emailing us at INAARP@aarp.org.