Next Indiana House Speaker To Be Chosen Soon

Hoosiers will know the identity of the next speaker of the Indiana House within the next few weeks.

That’s after current Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) announced Tuesday he’ll step down next year. And at least one potential replacement has already stated his intention to seek the job.

Bosma’s method of choosing the next speaker of the House is a little unusual. He won’t step down until March, around the end of the 2020 session. But his majority caucus will soon choose a so-called “speaker-elect” who will learn from Bosma throughout the session before taking over the chamber.

Rep. Todd Huston (R-Fishers) has already said he’s interested.

“It’s been a great run in Indiana and we need to continue it," Huston says. "We need to keep making the right decisions, keep making the right investments and if we do those things, I’d love to be a part of it.”

Majority Floor Leader Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne), the second highest ranking Republican in the House, says he’s not interested. But he says Bosma has laid the foundation for his replacement.

“You can work across the aisle," Lehman says. "You can work within your committees and so I think he’s really set the table for the next speaker to really have a good running start.”

The full House must technically elect the new speaker.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.