Indiana House, Senate to not gather Monday on first day of special session

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana General Assembly is not expected to be ready for a special session on Monday, the first day that lawmakers could gather for the session.

In separate statements, Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, a Republican from Fishers, and officials with the Indiana Senate Republicans both said that the respective bodies will not convene on Monday.

This comes after Indiana Gov. Mike Braun called a special session earlier this week centered on redistricting and issues surrounding federal and state tax compliance.

According to previous reports, lawmakers have 30 session days, or 40 calendar days, to complete official business for the special session. On Monday, Braun called for the special session to begin on Nov. 3.

In Huston’s statement, he said that the Indiana House of Representatives will be working in the time frame of the special session, as the schedule is being considered.

“During the 2022 special session, the Governor called the General Assembly into session on July 6, the Legislature convened on July 25 and (the) session ended on Aug. 5,” Huston said in the statement on Wednesday. “Additionally, the General Assembly is statutorily required to convene for Organization Day on Tuesday, Nov. 18, which is the official start of the 2026 regular session.

“As always, our goal is to accomplish our work in a way that is most efficient and cost-effective for Hoosier taxpayers,” Huston’s statement continued. “Our plan is to have a legislative schedule out as soon as possible.”

Officials with the Indiana Senate Republicans also said that the Indiana Senate is working to determine the scheduling availability for the special session.

In response to Huston’s statement, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun provided the following statement on social media:

“I appreciate the leadership of Speaker Huston and House Republicans as they prepare for the upcoming special session. The momentum and support across the General Assembly have become clear, and I’m confident their thoughtful and responsible approach will lead to a successful outcome. I look forward to working closely with our colleagues in both the House and Senate to address these important issues and ensure Hoosiers continue to have strong representation in our nation’s capital.”