As I write, we are at the halfway point of the state legislative session. With the aggressive schedule that lawmakers are keeping this year, it’s entirely possible that they will have adjourned by the time you read this. Even with the condensed timeframe, there has been plenty to keep our talented government relations team busy.

I am so proud of our team, the reputation they have built at the Statehouse over decades of high-quality work, and the way they unabashedly speak for our members both in and out of Session. They have already made progress this year in neutralizing problematic legislation and building an alliance for bills we are actively supporting to create the best business environment for the Indiana banking industry — and by extension, the communities our members serve.

Dax Denton and Ross Teare gave our members an in-depth look at those bills at our annual Legislative Briefing and Reception on Jan. 23 and again for our Future Leadership Division on March 5. Read more about the Briefing in the Legislative Day 2024  article and FLD Day at the Statehouse in our May/June issue.

Looking to the future, this is the final year of our current strategic plan. Your IBA staff is working on hundreds of tactical tasks across five strategic areas of focus: Next-Level Government Relations, Next-Level Banking Talent, Next-Level Operational Effectiveness, New Ventures for Indiana Banks and Position IBA for Future Opportunities. As we finish this year strong, we will also begin discussing our focus areas for our next three-year strategic plan. As I conduct my bank visits this summer and fall, be sure to let me know of any areas that you see as points of need for our industry.

And we are excited to join Lucas White as he is sworn in as chairman of ICBA in March. This will mark only the second time in IBA history when we have had one of our members serve as chair of a national trade, and Lucas is more than deserving of the honor. I look forward to seeing many of you in Orlando as we celebrate this truly momentous occasion.