Harris bill to bring professional sports development commission to northwest Indiana passes out of committee

House Bill 1292, authored by State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform today and now heads to the House Ways and Means Committee for further debate.

The bill would establish the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission to study plans and recommendations to bring professional sports franchises to the Region.

Harris offered the following statement after the vote:

"This bill builds on the legacy of my father, Rep. Earl Harris Sr., who worked to make this a reality for many years. Bringing professional sports to northwest Indiana would not only be a huge benefit for sports fans, it would bring money, business, tourism and endless opportunities for our community. This will also inspire our students by opening doors to careers in sports management, marketing, hospitality and countless other fields. This is an opportunity to give our students a pathway to success right here in their hometown.

"I'm thankful to say that this is a bipartisan bill with three Republican co-authors. This work is a testament to the good we can do for Indiana when we work together to strengthen our communities, expand our workforce and bolster our local economies. I look forward to furthering this discussion on the House floor."