Connie Lawson - State Senate

State Senate

After incumbent State Senator Dick Thompson decided to run for Congress in 1996, Lawson joined a five-way Republican primary race for the open seat. She won her party’s nomination and the November General Election, representing the 24th District in east-central Indiana. She was appointed Majority Floor Leader in 2006, the first woman in Indiana to hold this leadership position.

During her tenure, Senator Lawson chaired the committees on Local Government, Joint Rules, and Elections. She was also assigned to the Tax and Fiscal Policy, Rules and Legislative Procedure, and Appointments and Claims committees.

Among her many legislative achievements, Lawson was instrumental in establishing the Department of Child Services to protect Indiana’s children from abuse and neglect. In the 2012 Legislative Session, she authored a local government reform bill aimed at nepotism and conflict-of-interest. Lawson also advocated for the expansion of the Ivy Tech Community College system and the construction of a new campus in Greencastle, Indiana. She championed the photo ID requirement to prevent voter fraud, the option for counties to use vote centers, on-line voter registration capability, HPV education for sixth grade parents, and moved school board elections to the General Election where turnout is higher and more voices are heard on education matters.