Update on the Pending Duke Energy Rate Increase Request
In April, Duke Energy filed a rate increase request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). If approved, as a residential customer, you would see an estimated 19% increase in your monthly electric bill. Putting real numbers to that, if your bill is $175 per month, it would increase by $33.25, or nearly $400 a year.
Duke Energy is the largest electric utility in Indiana, and they serve 900,000 customers across Central and Southern Indiana. It’s important our utility companies make infrastructure investments to improve their services, but raising rates to this extent makes vital services less affordable. I was part of a large group of elected officials who signed a letter from the Sierra Club, a grassroots environmental organization, opposing the rate hike.
During the rate request process, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) — a separate state agency from the IURC — represents the interests of all consumers. Their team of attorneys and technical experts review the rate increase request and help facilitate public participation. On July 12, the OUCC recommended reducing Duke Energy’s pending rate request by more than 60%. A full list of their recommendations on behalf of the public is available here.
The IURC will not make a final decision in the case until early 2025. As always, please contact my office at h26@iga.in.gov with any questions or concerns.
Support our Local Farmer’s Market!
With August approaching, it’s a great time to visit our West Lafayette Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market is held on Wednesdays in Cumberland Park from 4 to 8 p.m. Each week is a different shopping experience due to the variety of vendors and goods available.
Farmer’s markets are a great way to support local farmers and small businesses. Produce isn’t the only thing you can find at the local farmer’s market since local artisans sell handcrafted art and goods. The West Lafayette Farmers Market features more than 50 vendors and live music. Dogs are welcome to attend if they’re on a leash.
To stay up to date on the West Lafayette Farmer’s Market, follow their facebook page at this link. For questions and inquiries about the market, contact Shelly Forcan at wlaf.farmersmarket@gmail.com
Photos in the district
Please continue providing feedback about the proposed high school diplomas!
In multiple recent newsletters, I’ve shared information regarding Indiana's proposed high school diplomas. The State Board of Education is accepting feedback via a survey on the proposed diplomas until July 30. To ensure your voice is heard and amplified in our legislative efforts, I encourage parents, students, educators and stakeholders to share your thoughts and opinions by clicking the button below.
For more information about the diplomas, you can visit the link here. As always, please contact my office at h26@iga.in.gov with any questions or concerns.
Read my latest newsletter about the five major issues with the diploma proposals here.
New Laws that went into effect on July 1
Many laws in Indiana go into effect on July 1 of each year. It’s crucial to stay informed about these updated laws that shape the landscape of our state. Below, I’ll dive into some key legislation that took effect on July 1, 2024.
The Good:
HEA 1021 Green Alert for Missing Veterans
HEA 1021, authored by my colleague Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Indianapolis), establishes the “Green Alert” program in Indiana for locating missing, at-risk veterans and service members. Under this new law, if a law enforcement agency learns of a missing at-risk veteran, they will notify the state's specialized missing persons alert system to issue a “Green Alert.” Then, the alert will be broadcast by news organizations, digital billboards, and other entities capable of quickly distributing the information. This initiative supports our veterans in times of need and crisis.
HEA 1085 Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Allows a bar or restaurant to prepare, sell and deliver alcoholic beverages for carry-out to a customer on the licensed premises in sealed containers. Happy hour is legal again, giving local businesses and restaurants more economic opportunity.
SEA 185: Student Use of Wireless Communication Device
This law requires each school to adopt and implement a policy limiting cell phone use in the classroom. Teachers across the state, especially those who teach high schoolers, have been outspoken about the disruption cell phones cause. The policy will vary by school, but phones will be available during emergencies and outside of class time. I believe this will be helpful to our teachers, and it will help our students focus.
The Bad:
HEA 1137 Release for Religious Instruction
Under this new law, school administrators must now allow parents or guardians of students to pull students from schooling for religious instruction organized by a church or religious institution. Before the law's passing, school administrators had to the ability to deny or accept a request if it was disruptive to students' essential instruction time. Now, they must work and collaborate with parents on when to remove students during what is considered as "least disruptive time." I believe that balancing these requirements without compromising the educational integrity of the students will be difficult for teachers and administrators to carry out.
SEA 1 Reading Retention of 3rd Graders:
This new law mandates that second-grade students take the statewide IREAD test earlier than previously required. It identifies at-risk students and those who may struggle to pass the exam. If a third-grade student fails the IREAD test after three attempts, the law requires school districts to retain them. This is in spite of studies showing that retention does little to benefit students while leading to higher rates of dropping out. Despite my concerns about this approach, I remain dedicated to ensuring every child receives the support they need to succeed academically and will continue to push for policies that prioritize early educational initiatives and non-punitive remediation measures.
SEA 202 University Censorship Law:
SEA 202 inserts politics into university employment policies by requiring our state’s public university trustees to intervene in faculty tenure and promotion decisions based on subjective judgments of professor's personal beliefs. Indiana House Democrats believe in promoting robust academic discourse and preserving the freedom of expression within higher education while respecting the autonomy of academic institutions. This censorship law threatens our world-class university systems’ ability to attract the best researchers and professors by threatening their tenure. No other state has adopted a policy like this.
Thank you Food Finder’s Food Bank for helping fight against hunger!
I would like to extend a huge thank you to Food Finder’s Food Bank for helping our neighbors facing food insecurity! They’re a vital program in the Greater Lafayette community since they provide groceries and meals to those in need. Food Finder’s serves 16 counties and has helped about 84,000 people put food on their tables.1 in 7 people in their 16-county area experience food insecurity.
If you would like to volunteer, visit www.foodfinders.org/get-involved/volunteer/.
Relevant Articles
By the numbers: 2024 Indiana General Assembly session
Indiana 2024 ILEARN results show some increases, slips for Tippecanoe County schools
State invites firefighters to test blood for PFAS 'forever chemicals’
https://www.wvpe.org/wvpe-news/2024-07-18/state-invites-firefighters-to-test-blood-for-pfas
Nursing homes report payment disruption under managed care
Greater Lafayette's bipartisanship stands in contrast to national reality
When do Tippecanoe County schools begin the 2024-25 calendar year?
In service,
Chris Campbell
For helping with the reading problem: MANDATE PHONICS!