Action Alert Update: Let the Judiciary Committee Know that Hoosiers Want Lake Michigan Access
by Natalie Johnson, Executive Director, Save the Dunes
Recently, SB 581 was assigned to the Indiana House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. This changes the audience of legislators who need to hear from Hoosiers regarding the issues surrounding SB 581 and the impact it has on the public's right to enjoy the Lake Michigan Shoreline. If you have already signed the petition as referenced in our previous post, there is no need to sign again. We will make sure that the petition ends up in the right hands. However, if you are willing to go above and beyond, which we strongly encourage, the Judiciary Committee needs to hear from you.
Speak out to the Judiciary Committee asking that they not support SB 581.
The contacts for the Judiciary Committee are listed below. We encourage phone calls and emails during the week of March 11 or until we receive a more definitive date regarding the hearing. When speaking with the legislators, please be sure to be polite and personal.
For example: "As a resident of xxx, I ask that you do not support SB 581 and its provisions. The language of the bill threatens to give away state-owned land to private interests; allows for the construction of walls and barriers on public lands; and takes authority away from local governments to protect their own municipal parks and dune property. A strong alternative which I believe is the better bill is SB 553. SB 553 codifies what the Indiana Supreme Court ruled in 2018, ensuring that Hoosier's maintain the right to enjoy the shoreline. This issue is important to me because ... Thank you again for your time. Again, please do not recommend SB 581 for any further movement in the House."
| Member | Party | District | Statehouse Phone | |
| Jerry Torr, Ch. | R | 39 | 317-232-9620 | h39@iga.in.gov |
| John Young | R | 47 | 317-234-9499 | h47@iga.in.gov |
| Woody Burton | R | 58 | 317-234-3827 | h58@iga.in.gov |
| Anthony Cook | R | 32 | 317-232-9863 | h32@iga.in.gov |
| Karen Engleman | R | 70 | 317-232-9769 | h70@iga.in.gov |
| Daniel Leonard | R | 50 | 317-234-9450 | h50@iga.in.gov |
| Chris May | R | 65 | 317-234-9028 | h65@iga.in.gov |
| Wendy McNamara | R | 76 | 317-232-9816 | h76@iga.in.gov |
| Gregory Steuerwald | R | 40 | 317-232-9833 | h40@iga.in.gov |
| Ed Delaney | D | 86 | 317-232-9834 | h86@iga.in.gov |
| Ryan Dvorak | D | 8 | 317-232-9794 | h8@iga.in.gov |
| Ryan Hatfield | D | 77 | 317-234-9048 | h77@iga.in.gov |
| Patrick Bauer, RMM | D | 6 | 317-232-9671 | h6@iga.in.gov |
Haven't signed the petition?
Save the Dunes has created a petition in which we are urging all Lake Michigan users to sign. By signing this petition, your name will be added to this letter, only we will be changing the recipients to correspond with the update above. By signing on, you help protect Hoosiers' right to enjoy Lake Michigan.
EXTENDED DEADLINE: Please sign the petition before March 18, 2019.
Save the Dunes wishes to thank the Conservation Law Center of Bloomington, IN for their support and representation in the fight to protect the public trust. Please be sure to check them out online at conservationlawcenter.org.
