*EH1489.1*
March 21, 2025
ENGROSSED
HOUSE BILL No. 1489
_____
DIGEST OF HB 1489 (Updated March 20, 2025 9:57 am - DI 140)
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
(SENATE SPONSORS — BUCHANAN, DORIOT, MAXWELL,
NIEZGODSKI, FORD J.D.)
January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory
Reform.
January 27, 2025, reported — Do Pass.
January 30, 2025, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
January 31, 2025, engrossed.
February 3, 2025, read third time, passed. Yeas 86, nays 1.
SENATE ACTION
February 19, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Commerce and
Technology.
March 20, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
EH 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 March 21, 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.
ENGROSSED
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
EH 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) Nine (9) 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 (D) At least two (2) members must have civic experience in
21 either public service or leading an organization
22 representing Irish Americans.
23 Not more than two (2) members appointed under clauses (C)
24 and (D) may be members of the same political party as the
25 governor.
26 (2) Four (4) legislative members, all of whom are nonvoting
27 advisory members, appointed as follows:
28 (A) One (1) member of the senate appointed by the
29 president pro tempore of the senate.
30 (B) One (1) member of the house of representatives
31 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
32 (C) One (1) member of the senate appointed by the
33 minority leader of the senate.
34 (D) One (1) member of the house of representatives
35 appointed by the minority leader of the house of
36 representatives.
37 Each legislative member appointed under this subdivision
38 must have knowledge of or current or past involvement in
39 organizations that promote Irish affairs or must have interest
40 in the well-being of trade relations between Indiana and
41 Ireland.
42 (b) A member of the commission serves for a four (4) year term
EH 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 3
1 that ends on June 30 of an odd-numbered year. A member serves
2 at the will of the appointing authority. However, if a legislative
3 member of the commission ceases being a member of the body
4 from which the member was appointed, the member's position on
5 the commission is vacant and shall be filled in accordance with
6 subsection (c).
7 (c) If a vacancy exists on the commission, the appointing
8 authority who appointed the member whose position has become
9 vacant shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy. An individual
10 appointed to fill a vacancy serves on the commission for the
11 remainder of the unexpired term of the individual's predecessor.
12 Sec. 5. (a) The commission shall hold its first meeting before
13 July 1, 2025. At the first meeting, the voting members appointed to
14 the commission shall select a member to serve as chairperson of the
15 commission. The chairperson serves a two (2) year term ending on
16 June 30 of an odd-numbered year. The chairperson is eligible for
17 reappointment.
18 (b) The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson and
19 must meet at least three (3) times in each calendar year.
20 (c) The chairperson may create subcommittees composed of the
21 members of the commission.
22 Sec. 6. (a) A majority of all members appointed to the
23 commission constitutes a quorum.
24 (b) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
25 appointed to the commission are required for the commission to
26 take action on any measure.
27 Sec. 7. A member's service on the commission is voluntary, and
28 a member of the commission is not entitled to:
29 (1) the minimum salary per diem provided by
30 IC 4-10-11-2.1(b); or
31 (2) reimbursement for mileage, traveling expenses under
32 IC 4-13-1-4, and other expenses actually incurred in
33 connection with the member's duties as provided in the state
34 policies and procedures established by the Indiana
35 department of administration and approved by the budget
36 agency.
37 Sec. 8. All meetings of the commission are open to the public in
38 accordance with and subject to IC 5-14-1.5. All records of the
39 commission are subject to the requirements of IC 5-14-3.
40 Sec. 9. The commission may raise funds through direct
41 solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other
42 groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals,
EH 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 4
1 corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and
2 private organizations and institutions, to defray the commission's
3 expenses and to carry out its purposes under this chapter.
4 Sec. 10. Before January 1, 2026, and before January 1 of each
5 year thereafter, the commission shall annually report its activities
6 to the governor and to the general assembly. The report must
7 include any recommendations necessary to carry out the
8 commission's purposes under this chapter. The report to the
9 general assembly must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
10 Sec. 11. This chapter expires June 30, 2029.
11 SECTION 2. An emergency is declared for this act.
EH 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
_____
HOUSE MOTION
Mr. Speaker: I move that House Bill 1489 be amended to read as
follows:
Page 2, line 10, delete "Seven (7)" and insert "Nine (9)".
Page 2, between lines 19 and 20, begin a new line double block
indented and insert:
"(D) At least two (2) members must have civic experience
in either public service or leading an organization
representing Irish Americans.".
Page 2, line 20, delete "four (4)" and insert "two (2)".
Page 2, line 20, delete "this" and insert "clauses (C) and (D)".
Page 2, line 21, delete "subdivision".
Page 2, line 23, delete "Six (6)" and insert "Four (4)".
Page 2, line 25, delete "Two (2) members" and insert "One (1)
member".
Page 2, line 27, delete "Two (2) members" and insert "One (1)
member".
(Reference is to HB 1489 as printed January 27, 2025.)
O'BRIEN
_____
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Commerce and
Technology, to which was referred House Bill No. 1489, has had the
same under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
EH 1489—LS 7433/DI 129 6
Senate with the recommendation that said bill DO PASS.
(Reference is to HB 1489 as reprinted January 31, 2025.)
BUCHANAN, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0
EH 1489—LS 7433/DI 129