If you attended the 1si Legislative Breakfast on Friday, you know that the 2023 Session of the Indiana General Assembly begins this week! During the Legislative Breakfast, four of our legislators gave us a preview of the upcoming session, including their thoughts on the Governor’s proposed budget and bills that each of them are watching and supporting. Our panelists included Senator Garten, Senator Byrne, Representative Clere, and Representative Fleming.
The 1si Advocacy Leadership team will meet each Monday to review the previous week’s activities and will report our actions to you in the One Weekly. Members of this committee include:
- Jim Epperson, SoIN Tourism and Chair of the Advocacy Council
- Laurie Kemp, Momentum Title and Chair of the 1si Board of Directors
- Lyn Longmeyer, America Place
- Bryan Wickens, MAC Construction
- Beau Zoeller, Frost Brown Todd
We will review those bills that are being heard and weigh in with positions that are consistent with the 1si’s 2023 Advocacy Agenda. New this year to the 1si Advocacy Agenda is the “Call to Action.” The focus of the Call to Action is talent attraction and retention which has four main concerns: Quality of Place, Housing Growth, Availability of Childcare, and Enhance Healthy Lifestyles.
This year is also a biennium budget year, meaning the General Assembly is required to pass a two-year budget by April. In preparation for these budget discussions, Governor Holcomb has released his 2023 Next Level Agenda. The mission of the Governor’s Agenda is to “provide pathways for Hoosier citizens, businesses, and communities to take it to their Next Levels.” The focus is on investing back into the State for growth and opportunity through four main areas: Economic Development, Educational/Workforce Development, Public Health/ Well-Being Development, and Community Development.
There were many areas in which the 1si Advocacy Agenda matches Governor Holcomb’s budget priorities including:
- Economic Development Incentive Tools
- Business Efficiencies and Automation
- Talent Attraction
- Childcare
- READI 2.0
- Adult Education and Higher Education
- Outdoor Recreation and Trails through Quality of Place Projects
- Broadband Development
Stay tuned each week to learn more about actions taken on your behalf! We will keep you updated on our actions related to the 2023 Indiana Legislative Session, but for more information on our Advocacy Agenda, please visit www.1si.org/advocacy.