(INDIANAPOLIS) - Northeast Indiana legislators recently received appointments to serve on key House standing committees at the Statehouse.

Republican State Representative Tony Isa of Angola will serve as a member of the House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee; the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and the House Public Health Committee.

Isa, who represents House District 51, which includes all of LaGrange County and a portion of Steuben County, says committees play a vital role in reviewing bills and hearing feedback from Hoosiers on the challenges they face. He says he’s looking forward to collaborating with his fellow lawmakers to review proposed bills and supporting legislation that best serve our communities.

Republican State Representative Ben Smaltz of Auburn was reappointed as chair of the House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee. He will also serve as a member of the House Elections and Appointment Committee; the House Joint Rules Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.

Smaltz said committees are responsible for vetting bills, including hearing public testimony and considering amendments. He represents House District 52, which includes all of DeKalb County and portions of Noble and Steuben Counties.

Republican State Representative David Abbott of Rome City was appointed as Vice Chair of the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee. He will also serve as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Abbott, who serves House District 18, which includes portions of Elkhart, Kosciusko and Whitley Counties, says government operations should prioritize serving the public and promoting transparency. He says as Vice Chair, he will working to eliminate regulatory obstacles and advocate for Hoosiers.

House lawmakers are scheduled to convene at 1:30 PM on January 8 for the first day of the 2025 legislative session.