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Education Expected To Be A Top Priority In New Legislative Session

Noah Coffey
/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/noahwesley/

The Indiana General Assembly is back in session.

Lawmakers kicked off a 16-week session today that is likely to be dominated by education and budget issues.

House Speaker Brian Bosma says of the extra $1.2-billion dollars lawmakers expect to have to work with in the new two-year budget, more money for schools will be a top priority.

But he cautions that‘s an average increase of less than three-percent a year.

Bosma vows he won‘t dip into the state surplus.

"That would be a terrible mistake," says Bosma. "We've done a great job of avoiding the wild swings back and forth that other states that have not been as fiscally disciplined have experienced."

Along with the budget and Governor Mike Pence‘s education agenda, House Republicans plan legislation addressing domestic violence, infant mortality, and heroin and methamphetamine traffic.

And Bosma and House Minority Leader Scott Pelath will co-author an ethics reform bill to more clearly define conflicts of interest.

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