{ "id": "epnqe74jct", "slug": "rick-niemeyer", "title": "Rick Niemeyer", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-n-to-r", "label": "Surnames N to R", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-n-to-r" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Rick Niemeyer is an American Republican politician who has represented Indiana Senate District 6 since 2014 and chairs the Senate Committee on Environmental Affairs; he previously served in the Indiana House of Representatives.", "snippet": "Rick Niemeyer is an American Republican politician who has represented Indiana Senate District 6 since 2014 and chairs the Senate Committee on Environmental Affairs; he previously served in the Indiana House of Representatives.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-n-to-r", "markdown": "# Rick Niemeyer\n\nRick Niemeyer is an American politician serving as a Republican member of the Indiana Senate, representing District 6.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) He has represented the district since 2014.[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf) Before his election to the state senate, he served in the Indiana House of Representatives and as a township trustee and assessor.[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Republican[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) |\n| Current office | Indiana State Senator, District 6[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) |\n| Previous offices | Indiana House of Representatives; township trustee and assessor[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nNiemeyer is a Republican.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer)\n\n## Early life and career background\n\nNiemeyer resides in Lowell, Indiana, with his wife, Connie.[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf) Outside the Senate, he is the owner and operator of Lowell Livestock Auction and the owner and auctioneer of Niemeyer Auction Service.[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf) His official biography describes him as a former owner of the Tri-Creek Ambulance Service Agency.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) He is also the president of the Lake County Community Services and a member of St. John [United Church of Christ](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-church-of-christ), and his biography lists civic involvement including service on a Board Advisory Committee.[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf)\n\n## Career\n\nNiemeyer served in the Indiana House of Representatives and as a township trustee and assessor before his election to the Indiana State Senate.[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf) Since 2014, he has represented Senate District 6, which includes Benton and Newton counties and portions of Lake and Jasper counties.[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf)\n\nIn December 2022, he was appointed by Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray to serve as chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Affairs for the 123rd Indiana General Assembly.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) His biography lists him as chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Affairs and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Local Government.[2](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf) In July 2025, his office announced that he would serve as chair of the Interim Study Committee on Environmental Affairs, as well as the Senate chair of the Compliance Advisory Panel and a member of the Environmental Adjudication Director Selection Panel and the Indiana Recycling Market Development Board, in preparation for the 2026 legislative session.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer)\n\n## Issues specific to Niemeyer\n\nIn 2026, Niemeyer called on Governor Mike Braun to temporarily suspend the tax on gasoline to provide relief for Hoosiers, issuing a public statement to that effect.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) In March 2026, he and State Sen. [Dan Dernulc](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-dernulc) encouraged residents of northwest Indiana to attend one of ten statewide listening sessions hosted by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to share the impacts of energy prices.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) In September 2025, the two senators issued a statement applauding Gov. [Mike Braun](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-braun)'s efforts to bring attention to energy rate increases in Indiana.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer)\n\nNiemeyer has also publicized road-funding grants for communities in his district through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program, announcing nearly $4 million in December 2022, nearly $8.1 million in April 2024, more than $8 million in November 2024, and nearly $7.7 million in a later release.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) In January 2026, he advised blind and disabled Hoosiers and seniors to apply for new property tax credits by January 15, 2026, to ensure they received the benefits.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) In August 2026, he joined other area legislators in recognizing local recipients of the Hoosier Homestead Award, which recognizes farms owned and maintained by the same family for 100 years or more.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Energy and utility affordability\n\nOn his Senate news page, Niemeyer said, \"Affordability and reliability should be the top priority of utility companies across Indiana.\" He added, \"We need to do something now to hold the line on these price hikes and help protect Hoosiers from the increasing rates.\"[3](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/dernulc-and-niemeyer-author-bill-to-prioritize-utility-affordability) In January 2026, he and Dernulc authored Senate Bill 146, which would require affordability to be the most important attribute of electric utility service considered when changes are made to electric energy services, and would bar utilities from charging customers for the complete cost of certain infrastructure projects until the work is done and customers have started seeing a benefit.[3](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/dernulc-and-niemeyer-author-bill-to-prioritize-utility-affordability) As of the January 23, 2026 release, SB 146 had been assigned to the Senate Committee on Utilities and was not scheduled to be heard.[3](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/dernulc-and-niemeyer-author-bill-to-prioritize-utility-affordability)\n\n### Environment and air quality\n\nIn July 2025, a bill authored by Niemeyer that ensures Indiana's air quality meets certain guidelines established by the federal Clean Air Act was ceremonially signed into law by Gov. Mike Braun at the Lake County Government Center.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer) As chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Affairs and, from July 2025, chair of the Interim Study Committee on Environmental Affairs, he has led the Senate's work on environmental matters for the 123rd General Assembly and in preparation for the 2026 session.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer)\n\n### Taxes and property tax relief\n\nNiemeyer has urged residents to take advantage of property tax credits available to blind and disabled Hoosiers and seniors, with an application deadline of January 15, 2026, and in 2026 proposed a temporary suspension of the gasoline tax to provide relief from fuel prices.[1](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer)\n\n## References\n\n1. [State Sen. Rick Niemeyer](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/niemeyer)\n2. [State Senator Rick Niemeyer biography](https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/fb794b20-52d1-4cb7-88a4-a54de2c39ca4/-/inline/yes/niemeyer-2025.pdf)\n3. [Dernulc and Niemeyer author bill to prioritize utility affordability](https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/dernulc-and-niemeyer-author-bill-to-prioritize-utility-affordability)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Midwestern state legislators › Surnames N to R*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-niemeyer", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-niemeyer.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Rick Niemeyer\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-niemeyer. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Rick Niemeyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-niemeyer)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-niemeyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-niemeyer). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Rick Niemeyer\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-niemeyer. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Rick Niemeyer is an American Republican politician who has represented Indiana Senate District 6 since 2014 and chairs the Senate Committee on Environmental Affairs; he previously served in the Indiana House of Representatives." }