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Constituent survey reveals list of possible priorities for Indiana lawmakers in the new session

Across dozens of surveys, education was clearly the most popular topic.

INDIANAPOLIS — We're getting some insight into what lawmakers may focus on when they return to the Indiana Statehouse next month.

Each year, lawmakers send out surveys to their constituents to find out how voters feel on certain topics. The Indiana Capital Chronicle just reviewed 58 different surveys from a variety of lawmakers across the political spectrum.

Here's what they showed. Easily the most popular topic across dozens of surveys was education, especially the discussion over "reinventing high school" to include more work-based learning. There were a lot of questions about whether to expand youth apprenticeship opportunities, changing graduation requirements and what people think about the state of the current public education system.

The next most-popular category focused on fiscal policies, including taxes. In the House, Republicans want to know how Hoosiers think the state would handle excess revenue: Should it be dedicated to cutting taxes, investing in "quality of life" projects or paying down state debt?

And one key question some lawmakers appear to be considering is water transfers within the state, specifically whether millions of gallons of water should be transferred from Tippecanoe County to Boone County for the LEAP economic development district.

Lawmakers will begin the legislative session in January. Two members of the legislature hosted town halls Monday to discuss some of the key issues impacting Hoosiers. Sen. J.D. Ford (D-District 29) and Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-District 32) hosted an event at Carmel's Monon Community Center.

RELATED: Indiana lawmakers gather at Statehouse for Organization Day ahead of upcoming session

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