*HB1489.1*
January 27, 2025
HOUSE BILL No. 1489
_____
DIGEST OF HB 1489 (Updated January 27, 2025 12:25 pm - DI 87)
Citations Affected: IC 4-3.
Synopsis: Indiana-Ireland trade commission. Establishes the Indiana-
Ireland trade commission (commission) to advance bilateral trade and
investment between Indiana and Ireland and other related matters.
Specifies the membership of the commission. Requires the commission
to provide an annual report of its activities. Provides for the expiration
of the commission.
Effective: Upon passage.
O'Brien, Baird, Wesco, DeLaney
January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory
Reform.
January 27, 2025, reported — Do Pass.
HB 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 January 27, 2025
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1489
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
offices and administration.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 4-3-28.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 UPON PASSAGE]:
4 Chapter 28.5. Indiana-Ireland Trade Commission
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the
6 Indiana-Ireland trade commission established by section 2 of this
7 chapter.
8 Sec. 2. The Indiana-Ireland trade commission is established as
9 a continuing commission under the executive branch of state
10 government to:
11 (1) advance bilateral trade and investment between Indiana
12 and Ireland;
13 (2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to
14 Indiana and Ireland;
15 (3) promote business and academic exchanges between
16 Indiana and Ireland;
17 (4) encourage mutual economic support between Indiana and
HB 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 2
1 Ireland;
2 (5) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of
3 Indiana and Ireland; and
4 (6) address such other issues as determined by the
5 commission.
6 Sec. 3. The governor's office may provide staff support to the
7 commission.
8 Sec. 4. (a) The commission consists of the following thirteen (13)
9 members:
10 (1) Seven (7) members, all of whom are voting members,
11 appointed by the governor and subject to the following
12 requirements:
13 (A) At least one (1) member must be a member of the
14 Indiana chamber of commerce.
15 (B) At least one (1) member must be a representative of an
16 institution of higher education located in Indiana.
17 (C) At least two (2) members must be members of the
18 public who represent Irish American communities or
19 interests.
20 Not more than four (4) members appointed under this
21 subdivision may be members of the same political party as the
22 governor.
23 (2) Six (6) legislative members, all of whom are nonvoting
24 advisory members, appointed as follows:
25 (A) Two (2) members of the senate appointed by the
26 president pro tempore of the senate.
27 (B) Two (2) members of the house of representatives
28 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
29 (C) One (1) member of the senate appointed by the
30 minority leader of the senate.
31 (D) One (1) member of the house of representatives
32 appointed by the minority leader of the house of
33 representatives.
34 Each legislative member appointed under this subdivision
35 must have knowledge of or current or past involvement in
36 organizations that promote Irish affairs or must have interest
37 in the well-being of trade relations between Indiana and
38 Ireland.
39 (b) A member of the commission serves for a four (4) year term
40 that ends on June 30 of an odd-numbered year. A member serves
41 at the will of the appointing authority. However, if a legislative
42 member of the commission ceases being a member of the body
HB 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 3
1 from which the member was appointed, the member's position on
2 the commission is vacant and shall be filled in accordance with
3 subsection (c).
4 (c) If a vacancy exists on the commission, the appointing
5 authority who appointed the member whose position has become
6 vacant shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy. An individual
7 appointed to fill a vacancy serves on the commission for the
8 remainder of the unexpired term of the individual's predecessor.
9 Sec. 5. (a) The commission shall hold its first meeting before
10 July 1, 2025. At the first meeting, the voting members appointed to
11 the commission shall select a member to serve as chairperson of the
12 commission. The chairperson serves a two (2) year term ending on
13 June 30 of an odd-numbered year. The chairperson is eligible for
14 reappointment.
15 (b) The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson and
16 must meet at least three (3) times in each calendar year.
17 (c) The chairperson may create subcommittees composed of the
18 members of the commission.
19 Sec. 6. (a) A majority of all members appointed to the
20 commission constitutes a quorum.
21 (b) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
22 appointed to the commission are required for the commission to
23 take action on any measure.
24 Sec. 7. A member's service on the commission is voluntary, and
25 a member of the commission is not entitled to:
26 (1) the minimum salary per diem provided by
27 IC 4-10-11-2.1(b); or
28 (2) reimbursement for mileage, traveling expenses under
29 IC 4-13-1-4, and other expenses actually incurred in
30 connection with the member's duties as provided in the state
31 policies and procedures established by the Indiana
32 department of administration and approved by the budget
33 agency.
34 Sec. 8. All meetings of the commission are open to the public in
35 accordance with and subject to IC 5-14-1.5. All records of the
36 commission are subject to the requirements of IC 5-14-3.
37 Sec. 9. The commission may raise funds through direct
38 solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other
39 groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals,
40 corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and
41 private organizations and institutions, to defray the commission's
42 expenses and to carry out its purposes under this chapter.
HB 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 4
1 Sec. 10. Before January 1, 2026, and before January 1 of each
2 year thereafter, the commission shall annually report its activities
3 to the governor and to the general assembly. The report must
4 include any recommendations necessary to carry out the
5 commission's purposes under this chapter. The report to the
6 general assembly must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
7 Sec. 11. This chapter expires June 30, 2029.
8 SECTION 2. An emergency is declared for this act.
HB 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 5
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Government and Regulatory
Reform, to which was referred House Bill 1489, has had the same
under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
House with the recommendation that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to HB 1489 as introduced.)
MILLER D
Committee Vote: Yeas 10, Nays 2
HB 1489—LS 7433/DI 129