I’m writing this merely days before the General Assembly’s Organization Day 2024. Generally, the IGA uses this as an orientation opportunity and preparation for when they convene the following January for the formal start of business. However, Org Day is a session day and business could be conducted, so here at ABATE of Indiana, we consider this to be the start of the legislative season.
Expect this section of the website to be updated more often with more in-depth information. As of now, these are some of the goals and strategies we have for the upcoming session.
ABATE of Indiana will continue to be the premier grassroots legislative advocacy organization in the state. Our peerless lobbying approach will remain in effect as we increase member engagement.
We are always tracking national hot-button issues. These are things like the availability of usable fuel, oversight of autonomous commercial vehicles & autonomous passenger vehicle regulations, the mandatory end of the Internal Combustion Engine & premature forced adoption of electric vehicles that don’t meet the needs of the American rider, and motorcycle profiling. We intend to work with lawmakers at the state level to make sure that these are addressed in a way that best serves Hoosier motorcyclists.
Political forecasters are predicting a heavy agenda for the IGA in 2025. To ensure that the issues pertinent Indiana bikers remain relevant in the minds of our lawmakers, we must have a minimum attendance of 150 at ABATE Day at the Statehouse. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025. This is not an optional event. Solidify your plans to attend and let your boss know that you’ll be absent on that day.
We will be incorporating PolicyEngage into our lobbying toolkit. This is a web-based tool that allows all members to send formal emails to their Senators and Representatives rapidly. In order to use it successfully, your email address needs to be correct in the ABATE database. Contact the state office now to ensure it is done.
ABATE will remain ready with our Communication Tree process. While we’re modernizing it with things like social media and PolicyEngage, it will still be most successful when we use good old fashioned phone calls. Attend your County and Region meetings and ask about establishing or testing your existing communication tree and how you’ll be involved when the time comes to use it in the event of a legislative emergency.
We will build our membership to at least 10,000 active members in order to wield the political clout necessary to protect and promote the sport of motorcycling in Indiana.
We will expand our Biker Approved Gas program to incentivize fuel retailers to stand against the bad faith actions of Big Ethanol.
Finally, we will track all pertinent legislation and establish a position. We will utilize the Legislative Information Committee (which is every ABATE member) to spread the information within the organization and outside the organization to other citizens and to lawmakers.
Staying Vigilant,
Aaron Meyer
Legislative Information Network Committee Director
