Bedford Republican Senator Brent Steele Won't Seek Re-Election

Bedford Republican Senator Brent Steele says he still has several items on his to-do-list before he retires from public office next year. 

The 20-year legislative veteran announced this week he will not seek re-election in 2016 because he wants to spend more time with his family and at his law office.

During his final session as a legislator next year, Steele plans to sponsor a new version of an adoption records bill to open access to birth certificates for those who were adopted between 1941 and 1993 – the period when Indiana sealed all adoption records.

The legislation did not garner enough support to pass this year because of concerns about birth parents’ right to privacy.

Steele says he also plans to champion a measure that would increase the amount of money a family would be given for a funeral of an active military member who are killed in service. Right now he says families only receive $4,000 for funeral expenses.

“The average burial costs $7,500 and not $4,000, so it will allow people to have more realistic burial benefits,” Steele said.

Steele has been a state legislator since 1995.