January 2022 Newsletter

Image by IndyStar via IndyStar.com

From Our Lobbyist Desk

The 2022 legislative session has begun, and is off to a brisk pace. The Senate has released 417 bills and the House has released 441 for a total of 858 bills this session.

In Indiana we alternate between long and short sessions; with long sessions occurring on odd years and include the budget. They take place from January to April, while short sessions take place on even years, don't include the budget and end in March.

Since this is a short session, legislators are limited to drafting 10 bills. However, even with this built in cap, many bills will not be heard. Currently the legislature is prioritizing anti-vaccine mandate language (HB1001), and what can be taught in schools (SB167, HB1040). There has been some talk about lowering taxes such as a .23% income tax reduction, but it remains to be seen if the tax bills will pass.

One bill of note is HB 1353 which would help smooth the transition for refugees, is authored by Rep. Delaney. It's a piece of legislation we are actively working to get passed and It's currently in House Ways and Means committee. If passed, this bill will allow for nonprofits that assist one or more refugees to apply for grants, including Mosques and other religious institutions that have the 501(c)3 status.

We also have a number of bills on our watchlist during this legislative session. We will monitor the progress of those bills and take action as needed. ​

Review our 2022 Watchlist

Things will happen quickly this session and IMAN Associates will be actively involved in the process to make sure your needs are represented. ​

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Precinct Committee Chairs

Is your Muslim voice being represented and heard? No? You have the power to change that!

On February 4th, the filing window closes for candidates intending to run as a Precinct Committee Chair.

A Precinct is the smallest political unit in the country. It is made up of neighborhoods. Each Precinct requires a Committee Chair that becomes educated on the precinct maps and demographics, supports your neighbors in becoming registered to vote, participates in district and country party meetings, and recruits voters. 

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Wondering if you qualify?  You’d be surprised!​

You must live in the precinct you are representing and be a qualified voter. You are required to have previously voted in the primary for the party in which you are voting OR haven’t voted in a primary before and have declared affiliation with the party.

Muslims are underrepresented in our US politics and we at IMAN Associates would love to support you on your journey to becoming a Precinct Committee Chair. Let's walk you through the filing process:
1. Identify your precinct (many precincts have changed since the 2020 census). Go to Indianavoters.in.gov and click on "Register to Vote" or "Check Your Registration Status." After you log in, your voting information, including the Precinct number, will be displayed on the main page. 
2. Download CAN-37 form, and complete it with accurate information. 
3. Sign the form in front of a notary. 
​4. Hand deliver the form to your County’s Clerk office before the deadline (Feb. 4, 2022 at noon). 

Questions? Contact Us