Stay Informed

As the 2021 legislative session begins, Indiana Farm Bureau’s public policy team has been fielding questions from members asking how they can stay engaged with their local legislators this year when Statehouse visits aren’t an option.

In common with many events in 2020, this year’s session will be drastically different. Due to COVID-19, the Indiana General Assembly has adjusted the way it conducts business to keep legislators, staff and the public safe during session. The adjustments pose a challenge to INFB from an engagement standpoint, but staff has been working behind the scenes preparing for the session.

“Over the summer when the Indiana General Assembly began discussing changes to the 2021 legislative session, INFB spent several months making its own adjustments to ensure members are still involved in the legislative process and engaged with their local legislators,” said Andy Tauer, INFB director of public policy.

A few of the ways INFB is adjusting to remain effective during session include:

• Hosting pre-legislative virtual meetings to discuss INFB priorities.
• Inviting legislators to virtual county Farm Bureau meetings.
• Scheduling strategic conference calls with members and legislators to discuss issues.
• Planning virtual Third House meetings during session.

Members also are encouraged to keep in contact with their regional managers. Regional managers will be an important resource, especially with all the virtual meetings being planned throughout session.

“One important way to make this year’s session a success is to remain flexible,” added Tauer. “With all the challenges the virus has presented thus far, INFB may be forced to change things quickly. If we need to adapt, those details will be communicated.”

Questions regarding the 2021 legislative session, engaging lawmakers or INFB’s policy priorities can be directed to the public policy team at ppt@infb.org.  

For those interested, the Indiana General Assembly as well as committee hearings can be live-streamed at www.iga.in.gov.