March 28th, 2019
Glorious Days for Sports Fans … 
Not so much for those monitoring policy and politics. Thank heavens for the respite offered by college hoops, the beginning of baseball season and the exciting march to Augusta for the Masters. But we ARE advocating for our OneZone members and actively monitoring and weighing in on policy (which sadly becomes more political with each passing day). What’s the update this week? 
The No-Drama-Llama on Spring Break . Even a spitting, two-toed dromedary couldn’t take the last week at the Indiana General Assembly as a revised bias bill bypassed committee deliberation and testimony attached to an unrelated criminal code bill  SB 198 and was adopted and passed the House by a vote of 57-39. What’s the beef you ask? We wanted a bias crimes bill to pass, right? Well, yes but … - the "list" is incomplete - it is missing age, sex, gender, and gender identity as protected classes (there in where policy and politics collide). The bill now heads back to the Senate for the author to either concur or dissent on the House changes where it would then be sent to conference committee. NOW IS THE TIME to reach out to Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray and bill author Senator Mike Bohacek to ask them to dissent on the bill. Meanwhile, we are winding down to the end of the session with a ton of stuff to do. Here’s the timeline for the next few weeks for all pending bills:
·  Tuesday, April 9 – House Committee Report Deadline
· Thursday, April 11 – House Second Reading Deadline Senate Committee Report Deadline
· Monday, April 15 – House Third Reading Deadline Senate Second Reading Deadline
· Tuesday, April 16 – Senate Third Reading Deadline
· Wednesday, April 17 – Friday, April 26 – Conference Committees 
Your Voice & Vote Count! Whether you are perfectly happy with the way things are going OR you want to make a change in the direction of your community, the Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7. A few things for you to know and remember:

Make sure you are registered. Check here; you can even register online! Deadline for registration for the Primary Election is April 8.

Who can vote?
You are both a U.S. citizen and a resident of Indiana
You will be at least 18 years of age on or before November 2019
You are not currently in prison after being convicted of a crime
You have lived in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election

Early voting begins Tuesday, April 9, and any registered voter can take part in this convenience.There are 3 ways to vote absentee/early.

In person  at the Judicial Center in Noblesville or Satellite Voting Locations in Carmel, Fishers and Westfield for all Hamilton County voters . (Application will be completed at time of voting).

By mail.   You must submit an application. The final day for the Election Office to receive an application for a mailed ballot is 7 days before the election.

Have the  Traveling Board  come to you within Hamilton County (if you are confined due to illness). The final day for the Election Office to receive an application for a confined voter in Hamilton County is the Monday before the election, at noon. Confined voters are those who are either confined to their home, hospital or nursing facility.
Okay, no excuses. Get out and exercise your right to vote!
“Hold the Fries … and Grill the Tenderloin, Please.” Apparently, more Hamilton County residents are taking a healthier approach to life as the County was recently ranked as the healthiest in Indiana and NO. 7 in the nation by U.S.News & World Reports and AETNA Foundation. This latest ranking is based on several factors including population health, economy, community vitality and infrastructure. Visit the website for or more insight into the rankings.