The Indiana General Assembly finished its sixth week of legislative action for the short session. Now those bills that have passed their house of origin are being heard in committee in the opposite chamber, as the process starts over. Only a few of the bills that 1si Leadership is following were heard last week with none called to a vote.
Today, February 15, members of the 1si Advocacy Leadership team are attending Chamber Day at the Statehouse, an event by the Indiana Chamber Executive Association. This event will allow the team to hear issues impacting the business community and potential legislation impacting talent attraction. The team plans to meet with our local State Senators and State Representatives while in Indianapolis.
The 1si Leadership Team continues to review those Bills that are being heard and are consistent with 1si’s 2022 Advocacy Agenda.
Live Bills that 1si Leadership have taken position on:
- HB1094 – includes a business will provide adequate employer liability and worker’s compensation insurance coverage for students enrolled in a work-based learning course. The Bill also provides that the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) shall designate certain career and technical education (CTE) programs as youth apprenticeship programs. This Bill passed out of the House by a vote of 88-0 and moves to the Senate. 1si LEADERSHIP SUPPORTS THIS PRO-WORKFORCE BILL.
- SB264 – establishes the Administrative Rules Review Taskforce to oversee state agencies that create fees. The Taskforce will create a final report to be submitted to Legislative Council by December 2022 on its findings. This Bill is authored by Senator Garten and co-authored by Senator Houchin and Senator Boehnlein. 1si LEADERSHIP SUPPORTS THIS BILL.
- SB408 – amends the statute authorizing a bank or trust company to make investments in community-based economic development to also authorize investments in: (1) any community and economic development entity, community development project, or other public welfare investment; and (2) tax equity finance transactions; subject to the investments being made in compliance with applicable federal regulations and any regulation, rule, policy, or guidance adopted by the department of financial institutions.1si LEADERSHIP SUPPORTS THIS BILL.
- SB390 – phases out food and beverage taxes that do not otherwise contain an expiration date as of the later of: (1) January 1, 2042; or (2) the date on which all bonds or lease agreements outstanding on March 15, 2022, are completely paid. This Bill hinders an Economic Development Tool that can be used for the development of quality of place projects. As talent attraction and tourism play a huge role in business retention/expansion and business attraction, we need to ensure the opportunity of having these methods of economic development financing. 1si LEADERSHIP OPPOSES THIS BILL.
Other Bills we are currently monitoring:
- HB1002 – phases out of business personal property tax, the repeal of utilities’ receipts tax, and sales tax exemption certain manufacturing inputs. Co-authored by Representative Clere and Representative Engleman.
- SB4 – authorizes a local unit (municipality, township, or school) to establish a workforce retention and recruitment program and fund for the purposes of recruiting and retaining individuals.
- SB361 – creates an Innovation Development District in an agreement between municipalities and IEDC, among other incentive changes.
- SB370 – creates a procedure to establish a community infrastructure improvement district.
We will keep you updated on our actions related to the 2022 Indiana Legislative Session, but for more information on our Advocacy Agenda, please visit www.1si.org/advocacy.