(INDIANAPOLIS) – Governor Holcomb says passing three bills could position Indiana to end its 20-month pandemic health emergency, and legislators may return to work early to do it.
Holcomb’s emergency order is scheduled to expire December 1, but can be renewed for up to 30 days at a time. Holcomb says before the order can be lifted responsibly, legislators need to write into state law three provisions now made possible by executive orders under the emergency declaration.
One change would widen the range of people authorized to administer vaccinations. Holcomb has indicated those loosened requirements, including paramedics and Indiana National Guard troops, are needed to maintain the state’s capacity to administer shots as COVID vaccinations of kids age five to 11 ramp up.
And the emergency order means Indiana receives extra Medicaid funding, while Hoosiers on food stamps receive higher benefits. House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) says legislators are looking at tweaking the law so the federal emergency maintains Indiana’s eligibility, without needing a state emergency too.
Huston says legislative leaders are on board with the general idea, but still need to work out the details. If that language can be finalized quickly, Huston says the House and Senate may return early to ram it through and pave the way to end the emergency as quickly as possible.
Huston says while the pandemic has exacted a cost from Indiana, including about 17,000 deaths, Hoosiers are “weary” of the emergency, and says there’s a cost to that as well.
Indiana is averaging about 2,500 new coronavirus cases and 14 COVID deaths a day. But Huston says unlike a year ago, the COVID vaccine is now widely available, including boosters for those who were vaccinated this spring. With health experts warning the virus is unlikely to be eradicated completely, Huston says it’s time to shift the focus from government action to people taking responsibility for their own health.
About half of all Hoosiers, including 60% of adults, have been fully vaccinated.
Legislators held the ceremonial opening of the 2022 session on Tuesday, but ordinarily wouldn’t return until January 4. Huston says if they do come back sooner, they’ll waive their usual rules to approve the changes in a single day.
Representative J.D. Prescott (R-Union City) has introduced a resolution which would terminate the emergency immediately. 31 House Republicans have signed on. Several similar resolutions in the last session didn’t receive a hearing.
