Advocacy-Update-Email-Header2

Advocacy Update | 04.16.25

by with No Comment 1si NewsAdvocacy

Advocacy-Update-Email-Header2

Our Advocacy Committee continues to meet and discuss relevant bills to our local businesses and constituents. We encourage everyone to see upcoming deadlines. Below, read more information about the bills and updates. 

  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for House adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for Senate adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval. 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for 3rd reading of House bills in the Senate. 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in House. 
  • Tuesday, April 29, 2025: Last day for adjournment for both houses. 

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2025 Regional Leadership Luncheon. We heard from seven Southern Indiana governmental leaders about subjects such as grants, infrastructure, and challenges. If you would like a high-level overview of what was discussed, you can read SoIN leaders discuss improvements, challenges at 1si event by Andrew Harp with News and Tribune. 

Check out 1si News and see all of our advocacy updates. Stay up to date and informed. Check out our news page here. 


Current List of Bills 1si Supports:  

SB-463: Child Care Matters  

Explanation:  Adds additional qualified childcare for purposes of the employer childcare expenditure tax credit and extends the credit availability through July 1, 2027. The bill will help support adequate funding and staffing for Indiana childcare centers. The bill strongly ties to 1si’s call to action which emphasizes the affordability and quality of childcare.  

  • Status:  
  • 4/10/2025- Motion to concur filed 
  • 4/10/2025- Returned to Senate with amendments 
  • 4/9/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 412 
    • Yeas: 94 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 4/8/2025- Amendment #6 (Gross-Reaves) prevailed; voice vote 

SB-443: Business personal property tax  

Explanation: The bill proposed to increase business tax exemption by $20,000. This change should help reduce the administrative burden on small businesses, especially those with few fixed assets. However, the impact of the increase is expected to be minor, as it is a relatively small adjustment.  

  • Status:   
  • 3/13/2025- Representative Judy added as cosponsor 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/14/2025- Referred to the House  
  • 2/13/2025- House sponsor: Representative Snow

     

HB-1172: Office of entrepreneurship and innovation  

  • Status:  
  • 4/3/2025- Committee report: do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations 
  • 2/20/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Commerce and Technology 
  • 2/12/2025- Referred to the Senate  
  • 2/11/2025- Senate sponsor: Senator Buchanan  


HB-1248: Child Care and Development Fund  

Explanation: The bill will help prioritize foster parents to gain assistance through the Childcare Development Fund. The bill strongly connects to 1si’s call to action to increase the availability and affordability of childcare.  

  • Status:   
  • 4/10/2025- Signed by the Governor 
  • 4/3/2025- Signed by the President of the Senate 
  • 3/27/2025- Signed by the Speaker 
  • 3/24/2025- House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 304 
    • Yeas: 95 
    • Nays: 0 

 

Current List of Bills 1si is Monitoring:  

Senate Bills:  

SB-1: Property Tax Relief  

Explanation: We are closely monitoring this bill because the changes to residential and personal taxes significantly impact infrastructure, municipal funding, and workforce education. Based on the reports from the Association of Indiana Counties, you can see the impact of SB-1 here. In light of the bill, we are strongly advocating for the clarity of the expected impacts of this bill on businesses and individuals from our local government officials and elected state officials. We strongly advise our members to understand the bill’s effect within our communities.  

  • Status:  
  • 4/10/2025- Motion to concur filed 
  • 4/10/2025- Committee report: Pursuant to Senate Rule 82(e); approved by Rules Committee as amended by the House on Ways and Means 
  • 4/10/2025- Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure 
  • 4/10/2025- Returned to the Senate with amendments 
  • 4/10/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 433 
    • Yeas: 65 
    • Nays: 29 


SB-423: Small modular nuclear reactor pilot program 

  • Status:  
  • 4/10/2025- Second reading: order engrossed 
  • 4/8/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications 
  • 2/4/2025- Referred to House  


SB-426: Water utilities 

  • Status:  
  • 4/3/2025- Public Law 24 
  • 4/3/2025- Signed by the Governor 
  • 3/27/2025- Signed by the President of the Senate 
  • 3/24/2025- Signed by the Speaker 
  • 3/24/2025- Signed by the President Pro Tempore 
  • 3/21/20- Returned to the Senate without amendments 


SB-488: Skills training pilot program  

  • Status:  
  • 3/20/2025- Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass, adopted 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions 


SB-518: School property taxes 

  • Status: 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the House 
  • 2/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 210 
    • Yeas: 28 
    • Nays: 21 

 

House Bills 

HB-1003: Health matters. 

Explanation: Addresses site-neutral payment requirements, burdensome 340B requirements, the extension of site-neutral payments to nonprofit hospital settings, and hospital billing requirements.  

  • Status: 
  • 4/10/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 
  • 4/3/2025- Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations 
  • 3/3/2025- Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on Health and Provider Services 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions 
  • 2/19/2025- Referred to the Senate 

 

HB-1004: Nonprofit Hospitals  

Education: Loss of non-profit status is any charge item that is in excess of 300% of Medicare and includes an excise tax to be imposed upon a hospital each time the hospital charges a patient a facility fee that exceeds 265% of Medicare. 

  • Status: 
  • 4/10/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the Senate 


HB-1214: Workers’ compensation  

  •  Status:  
  • 4/9/2025- Signed by the President of the Senate 
  • 4/8/2025- Signed by the President Pro Tempore 
  • 4/7/2025- Signed by the Speaker 
  • 4/3/2025- House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 363 
    • Yeas: 90 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 4/3/2025- Motion to concur filed 
  • 3/28/2025- Returned to the House with amendments 


HB-1226: Medicare supplement insurance  

  • Status:  
  • 4/10/2025- Signed by the Governor 
  • 4/3/2025- Signed by the President Pro Tempore 
  • 3/27/2025- Signed by Speaker 
  • 3/26/2025- Returned to the House without amendments 
  • 3/25/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 283 
    • Yeas: 45 
    • Nays: 2 


HB-1347: Real estate matters 

  • Status:  
  • 3/19/2025- Returned to the House with amendments 
  • 3/18/2025- Third reading: passed 
    • Yeas: 49 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 3/17/2025- Second reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/13/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 

 

You can find a copy of the 1si 2024 Advocacy Agenda by visiting https://1si.org/advocacy/ or downloading a PDF copy here.   

Nonprofit Spotlight | Operation Parent

by with No Comment Nonprofit Spotlight

Operation Parent
223 East Spring St.
New Albany, IN  47150
PH:  502-265-9045
www.operationparent.org
Contact Person:
Tara Oliver, Director of Fund Development

Please use 300 words or less to describe your agency and your impact in the community.

Operation Parent exists to prevent adolescent and teen addiction, suicide, violence, and more by providing parents of school-aged children ages K-12 with comprehensive, self-published prevention education. The parent handbooks address 25 of today’s toughest parenting challenges, including anxiety, bullying, social media, vaping, marijuana, and more.

The parent handbooks are easy to access, up-to-date, visually appealing, and provide practical tips and advice. Operation Parent gives parents the tools and resources to help them at each stage of child development. The resources are designed to bridge the gap between the world parents grew up in and the world their kids are growing up in today. The visually appealing content helps parents “keep up” to “speak up” and have meaningful conversations with their children.

In addition to the handbooks, parents are encouraged to register for the free monthly webinars designed to allow parents to dig deeper into a particular issue, that mirrors the topics in the handbook and connect with a community of parents for support.

Agency Mission Statement or Description: To love and support parents by providing real-world information, connection, and hope.

Year established: 2006

Counties/regions serviced: Nationwide presence. Corporate office in LaGrange, KY.

Focus areas: Prevention Education

Impact in community: Helping parents navigate their parenting journey in a challenging and changing environment. We help prevent alcohol and drug abuse by educating and empowering parents with tools and resources to converse with their children about tough topics that can become precursors to addiction, suicide, and abuse.

Volunteer Opportunities: Work on special event projects, particularly the annual golf tournament and ball drop.

How 1si members can help your organization: By helping us market our business by sharing our mission. Introductions to Southern Indiana school administration to help open doors for us to educate them about our resources.

Additional information: We offer free webinars from experts in their respective fields on topics such as bullying, social media, body image, drug and alcohol abuse and more. These can be found by visiting our website at: https://www.operationparent.org/parent-webinars

Advocacy-Update-Email-Header2

Advocacy Update | 04.09.25

by with No Comment Advocacy
Advocacy-Update-Email-Header2
Our Advocacy Committee continues to meet and discuss relevant bills to our local businesses and constituents. We encourage everyone to see upcoming deadlines. Below, read more information about the bills and updates.
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for House adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval.
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for Senate adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval.
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for 3rd reading of House bills in the Senate.
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in House.
Regional Leadership Luncheon – Registration Closes at 5 PM
 
The registration for the Regional Leadership Luncheon on Friday, April 11th, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will close at the end of the workday at 5 p.m. today. The event is an opportunity for you to meet and greet local officials, ask questions, and hear about the priorities impacting our communities.
 
You will hear from:
  • Bob Courtney, Mayor of Madison
  • Dr. Treva Hodges, Mayor of Charlestown
  • Reny Keener, Town Manager of Georgetown
  • Charlie Smith, Town Manager of Sellersburg
  • Terry Amick, Mayor of Scottsburg
  • Roger Hawkins, Mayor of Austin
  • Kevin Baity, Town Manager of Clarksville
 

Current List of Bills 1si Supports:  

 SB-463: Child Care Matters  

Explanation: Adds additional qualified childcare for purposes of the employer childcare expenditure tax credit and extends the credit availability through July 1, 2027. The bill will help support adequate funding and staffing for Indiana childcare centers. The bill strongly ties to 1si’s call to action which emphasizes the affordability and quality of childcare.  

  • Status:  
  • 4/03/2025-Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 
  • 3/27/2025-Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means Pursuant to House Rule 126.3 
  • 3/27/2025-Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 
  • 3/3/2025-First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children, and Human Affairs 
  • Referred to the House 

 

SB-443: Business personal property tax  

Explanation: The bill proposed to increase business tax exemption by $20,000. This change should help reduce the administrative burden on small businesses, especially those with few fixed assets. However, the impact of the increase is expected to be minor, as it is a relatively small adjustment.  

  • Status:   
  • 3/13/2025-Representative Judy added as cosponsor 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/14/2025- Referred to the House  
  • 2/13/2025- House sponsor: Representative Snow  

HB-1172: Office of entrepreneurship and innovation  

  • Status:  
  • 4/3/2025-Committee report: do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations 
  • 2/20/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Commerce and Technology 
  • 2/12/2025- Referred to the Senate  
  • 2/11/2025- Senate sponsor: Senator Buchanan  

 

HB-1248: Child Care and Development Fund  

Explanation: The bill will help prioritize foster parents to gain assistance through the Childcare Development Fund. The bill strongly connects to 1si’s call to action to increase the availability and affordability of childcare.  

  • Status:   
  • 4/3/2025-Signed by the President of the Senate 
  • 3/27/2025-Signed by the Speaker 
  • 3/24/2025-House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 304 
    • Yeas: 95 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 3/20/2025- Motion to concur filed 

 

Current List of Bills 1si is Monitoring:  

Senate Bills:  

SB-1: Property Tax Relief  

Explanation: We are closely monitoring this bill because the changes to residential and personal taxes significantly impact infrastructure, municipal funding, and workforce education. Based on the reports from the Association of Indiana Counties, you can see the impact of SB-1 here. In light of the bill, we are strongly advocating for the clarity of the expected impacts of this bill on businesses and individuals from our local government officials and elected state officials. We strongly advise our members to understand the bill’s effect within our communities. 

  • Status:  
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/19/2025- Representatives Snow and Jordan added as cosponsors 
  • 2/18/2025- Referred to the House 

 

SB-314: Pass-through entity tax  

  • Status:  
  • 4/1/2025-Signed by the Governor 
  • 3/27/2025-Signed by the President of the Senate 
  • 3/26/2025-Signed by the Speaker 
  • 3/26/2025-Signed by the President Pro Tempore 

 

SB-423: Small modular nuclear reactor pilot program 

  •   Status:  
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications 
  • 2/4/2025- Referred to House  
  • 2/3/2025- House sponsor: Representative Soliday  
  • 2/3/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call 60  
    • Yeas 41  
    • Nays:7   

 

SB-426: Water utilities 

  • Status:  
  • 4/1/2025-Signed by the Governor 
  • 3/27/2025-Signed by the President of the Senate 
  • 3/24/2025-Signed by the Speaker 
  • 3/24/2025-Signed by the President Pro Tempore 
  • 3/21/20- Returned to the Senate without amendments 

 

SB-488: Skills training pilot program  

  • Status:  
  • Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3 
  • 3/20/2025- Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass, adopted 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions 

 

SB-518: School property taxes 

  • Status: 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the House 
  • 2/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 210 
    • Yeas: 28 
    • Nays: 21 

 

House Bills:

HB-1003: Health matters

Explanation: Addresses site-neutral payment requirements, burdensome 340B requirements, the extension of site-neutral payments to nonprofit hospital settings, and hospital billing requirements.  

  • Status: 
  • 4/3/2025- Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations 
  • 3/3/2025- Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on Health and Provider Services 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions 
  • 2/19/2025- Referred to the Senate 

 

HB-1004: Nonprofit Hospitals  

Education: Loss of non-profit status is any charge item is in excess of 300% of Medicare and includes an excise tax to be imposed upon a hospital each time the hospital charges a patient a facility fee that exceeds 265% of Medicare. 

  • Status: 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the Senate 
  • 2/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 239 
    • Yeas: 68 
    • Nays: 26 

 

HB-1214: Workers’ compensation  

  • Status:  
  • 4/3/2025-House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 363 
    • Yeas: 90 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 4/3/2025-Motion to concur filed 
  • 3/28/2025-Returned to the House with amendments 
  • 3/27/2025-Third reading: passed; Roll Call 299 
    • Yeas: 48 
    • Nays: 0 

 

HB-1226: Medicare supplement insurance  

  • Status:  
  • 4/3/2025-Signed by the President Pro Tempore 
  • 3/27/2025-Signed by Speaker 
  • 3/26/2025-Returned to the House without amendments 
  • 3/25/2025-Third reading: passed; Roll Call 283 
    • Yeas: 45 
    • Nays: 2 

 

HB-1347: Real estate matters 

  • Status:  
  • 3/19/2025- Returned to the House with amendments 
  • 3/18/2025- Third reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/17/2025- Second reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/13/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 

You can find a copy of the 1si 2024 Advocacy Agenda by visiting https://1si.org/advocacy/ or downloading a PDF copy here.   

Economic Update | The Southern Indiana Economy

by with No Comment Economic Development

—More diversified from 20 plus years ago, and the importance of exports 

submitted by
Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast

Whatever is the outcome, changes in trade policy will have implications for the Southern Indiana economy. In 2023 alone, four of the five counties (Floyd, Clark, Harrison, and Washington) had total exports of approximately $1.1 billion. Total wages paid in the five Southern Indiana counties are approximately $1.5 billion. One conclusion we can draw from this is that exports are a key piece of the business model for many companies located across the region.    Disruptions to this model, such as retaliatory tariffs, will have implications for Southern Indiana business and industry.    

A look back at the Southern Indiana economy will help us understand the changes to key industries like manufacturing, and whether manufacturing has been “hollowed out” as described by some.   

In 2001, total payrolls across Southern Indiana stood at 77,310 with an average weekly wage of $513. Total wages, the collection of all wages paid by establishment firms, were $603 million. Manufacturing was the largest industry back in 2001, with almost 21,000 employees earning an average weekly wage of $637, or 124% higher than the overall average weekly wage. The largest industry in manufacturing was furniture and related product manufacturing, with 23 firms and an average weekly wage of $516. Total wages in manufacturing were about 29% of total wages paid. Think of this as manufacturing being responsible for 29% of all wages paid across the region.   

Let’s jump to 2024, the most recently available data year. Total payrolls across the Southern Indiana metro counties have grown considerably since 2001, now totaling 107,000, and with average weekly wages of $1,113, double the level that existed in 2001. Manufacturing is no longer the largest sector, however.  Total employees in manufacturing are now a little over 15,000, with average weekly wages of $1,226. The wage premium in manufacturing has declined from 2001, now at 110% of the average weekly wage. As a percentage of total wages, manufacturing represents about 16% of total wages paid by establishments across the region. The largest industry in manufacturing is no longer furniture and related products. The top spot is now occupied by, surprisingly, wood products manufacturing, with average weekly wages of $1,035.    

While this is lower than the share in 2001, it is also a sign of greater diversification in the regional economy, an important defense to any national slowdown in the macroeconomy. The largest industry is now healthcare, with over 17,000 employees and an average weekly wage of $1,145.    

How have wages grown compared to wages across Indiana? Relative to Indiana, and given the decline in the share of manufacturing jobs, have we progressed relative to Indiana, or declined? In 2001, Southern Indiana average weekly wages were 86% of the state average. In 2024, average weekly wages in Southern Indiana are up to 95% of the state average. So, despite the decline in manufacturing jobs, average weekly wages have improved relative to Indiana wages.  With a more diversified economy, Southern Indiana has grown to have higher-paying jobs in the service area, like professional and business services, and financial activities.   Both industries employ 2,000 more people than in 2001, and at wages that are significantly higher than manufacturing and overall average weekly wages. 

Much is being said about the loss of automotive manufacturing jobs in Detroit, and the need for protective tariffs to help restore the lost jobs in the automotive capital. 

Since 1995, the change in transportation equipment manufacturing (automotive manufacturing is part of this industry) in ten automotive-producing states was a negative 149,000, with Michigan alone making up 130,000 of that decline. In the nine other states combined, the decline is 19,000, representing an average of just over 2,000 jobs per state. One fact that is indisputable is that technology has made manufacturing more advanced today than in 1995. Manufacturers employ robotics, are more automated than in 1995, and consequently more productive. On a per-automotive basis, manufacturers need fewer people as a result.   

Tariff proponents like to offer Detroit as an example of why tariffs are key to protecting and revitalizing domestic manufacturing.  When we hear talk about restoring the lost automotive jobs in Detroit, then they also need to talk about moving jobs from states like Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and a few others, because that’s where some of those Detroit jobs likely ended up. 

Caesars Foundation Loans of Floyd County Provide Small Business Owners Funds to Create and Grow Dreams

by with No Comment 1si News1si Press Release
[NEW ALBANY, IN.] One Southern Indiana (1si) and Caesars Foundation of Floyd County are thrilled to announce three new Caesars Foundation of Floyd County Small Business Revolving Loan Fund recipients.  The loan assists businesses that provide evidence of Floyd County operations and projected impact of the proposed loan on the Floyd County economy.  To acquire eligibility, business owners must also have a two-year track record or transferable experience. The most recent recipients include Classic Restorations of Southern Indiana, LLC, Revive Salon and Spa, LLC, and Southern Indiana Spray Foam.

Classic Restorations of Southern Indiana LLC specializes in restoring, remodeling, and/or full-out customizing pre ‘72 cars and trucks in Southern Indiana since 1991. They offer services in metal fabrication, body/paint, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and minor interior work. Their number one goal is to make their customers happy while striving for high quality standards and attention to detail.

“We would like to thank the Caesars Foundation for providing us funding to purchase the needed equipment to grow and outfit our new location. They have been great to work with and an asset to the community.” –Dustin and Pat Foust, owners

Revive Salon and Spa LLC is a salon and spa that is looking forward to utilizing funds to make the salon and spa ADA compliant. Angela G. Torp is the sole member of Revive and aims to welcome everyone to her salon.

“Caesars helped me create a dream and create a beautiful ADA compliant space for everyone to enjoy! They have helped give an old building new life and creating a safe and inviting space.”
— Angela Torp, Sole Member

Southern Indiana Spray Foam offers a variety of spray foam services in commercial and residential sectors. They are capable of insulating walls, ceilings, and roofs, as well as insulation for soundproofing. They pride themselves on 24/7 Availability, offering services at an affordable price, and free estimates.

“I was impacted by the Caesars board which was a very positive experience and led me to the success that awaits me. Thank you all.” — Keith Norton, CEO

Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000 with a maximum interest rate less than the prime rate of interest. Maximum terms of loans are 10 years for land and building loans, five years for equipment loans, and two years for working capital loans. For more information, contact Rachael Armstrong at One Southern Indiana at (812) 206-9021 or RachaelA@1si.org.

“The Caesars Foundation is thrilled to offer loans from the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund to three local businesses,” said Executive Director, Tyler Bliss. “The Caesars Foundation encourages economic development in Floyd County, and small businesses are the heart of our community. We look forward to watching these businesses grow.”

“One Southern Indiana is always excited to watch business owners turn their dreams into reality,” said President and CEO, Lance Allison. “Rachael, our Small Business Navigator, is an excellent resource for small businesses looking to grow and succeed in Floyd County. We thank the Caesars Foundation for their continued support of entrepreneurial endeavors in our region.”

About the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County

The Caesars Foundation of Floyd County is a private foundation created to benefit the Floyd County community. The Foundation’s philanthropic focus traditionally falls into the categories of grant-making to charitable non-profit organizations, educational scholarships, and program-related investments that encourage economic development. For more visit www.caesarsfoundationfc.org.

About One Southern Indiana  
One Southern Indiana was formed in July of 2006 as the economic development organization and chamber of commerce serving Clark and Floyd counties. 1si’s mission is to provide the connections, resources, and services that help businesses innovate and thrive in the Southern Indiana / Louisville metro area. For more, visit 1si.org.  

For Additional Information: 

Tyler Bliss
Executive Director
Phone: 812-945-4332
Email: Tyler@CaesarsFoundationFC.org

Rachael Armstrong
Small Business Navigator
Phone: (812) 206-9021
Email: RachaelA@1si.org

Ellinor Smith
Content Marketing and Media Relations Manager
Phone: (812) 945-0266  
Email: Ellinors@1si.org

-###- 

Advocacy-Update-Email-Header2

Advocacy Update | 04.02.25

by with No Comment 1si NewsAdvocacy

Advocacy-Update-Email-Header2

Our Advocacy Committee continues to meet and discuss relevant bills to our local businesses and constituents. We encourage everyone to see upcoming deadlines. Below, read more information about the bills and updates. 

  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for House adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for Senate adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval. 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for 3rd reading of House bills in the Senate. 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in House. 

We invite you to learn more about local priorities at our Regional Leadership Luncheon Friday April 11th, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event is an opportunity for you to meet and greet local officials, ask questions, and hear about their priorities for our communities. 

Click here to register. 

Check out 1si News and see all of our advocacy updates. Stay up to date and informed. Check out our news page here. 

 

Current List of Bills 1si Supports:  

SB-463: Child Care Matters  

Explanation: Adds additional qualified childcare for purposes of the employer childcare expenditure tax credit and extends the credit availability through July 1, 2027. The bill will help support adequate funding and staffing for Indiana childcare centers. The bill strongly ties to 1si’s call to action which emphasizes the affordability and quality of childcare.  

  • Status:  
  • 3/27/2025-Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means Pursuant to House Rule 126.3 
  • 3/27/2025-Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 
  • 3/3/2025-First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs 
  • Referred to the House 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the House 

 

SB-443: Business personal property tax  

Explanation: The bill proposed to increase business tax exemption by $20,000. This change should help reduce the administrative burden on small businesses, especially those with few fixed assets. However, the impact of the increase is expected to be minor, as it is a relatively small adjustment.  

  • Status:   
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/14/2025- Referred to the House  
  • 2/13/2025- House sponsor: Representative Snow  
  • 2/13/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call 127: 
    • Yeas: 39 
    • Nays: 7  

 

HB-1172: Office of entrepreneurship and innovation  

  • Status:  
  • 2/20/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Commerce and Technology 
  • 2/12/2025- Referred to the Senate  
  • 2/11/2025- Senate sponsor: Senator Buchanan  
  • 2/11/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call  
    • Yeas: 131  
    • Nays: 7  

 

HB-1248: Child Care and Development Fund  

Explanation: The bill will help prioritize foster parents to gain assistance through the Childcare Development Fund. The bill strongly connects to 1si’s call to action to increase the availability and affordability of childcare.  

  • Status:   
  • 3/27/2025-Signed by the Speaker 
  • 3/24/2025-House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 304 
    • Yeas: 95 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 3/20/2025- Motion to concur filed 
  • 3/19/2025- Returned to the House with amendments 

 

Current List of Bills 1si is Monitoring:  

Senate Bills:  

SB-1: Property Tax Relief  

Explanation: We are closely monitoring this bill because the changes to residential and personal taxes significantly impact infrastructure, municipal funding, and workforce education. Based on the reports from the Association of Indiana Counties, you can see the impact of SB-1 here. In light of the bill, we are strongly advocating for the clarity of the expected impacts of this bill on businesses and individuals from our local government officials and elected state officials. We strongly advise our members to understand the bill’s effect within our communities.  

  • Status:  
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/19/2025- Representatives Snow and Jordan added as cosponsors 
  • 2/18/2025- Referred to the House 

 

SB-314: Pass through entity tax  

  • Status:  
  • 3/26/2025-Signed by the Speaker 
  • 3/26/2025-Signed by the President Pro Tempore 
  • 3/25/2025-Senate concurred with House amendments: Roll Call 295 
    • Yeas: 47 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 3/24/2025- Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure 

SB-423: Small modular nuclear reactor pilot program 

  • Status:  
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications 
  • 2/4/2025- Referred to House  
  • 2/3/2025- House sponsor: Representative Soliday  
  • 2/3/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call 60  
    • Yeas 41  
    • Nays:7   

SB-426: Water utilities 

  • Status:  
  • 3/24/2025-Signed by the Speaker 
  • 3/24/2025-Signed by the President Pro Tempore 
  • 3/21/20- Returned to the Senate without amendments 
  • 3/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 292 
    • Yeas: 76 
    • Nays: 15 

SB-488: Skills training pilot program  

  • Status:  
  • 3/20/2025- Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass, adopted 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions 

 

SB-518: School property taxes 

  • Status: 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the House 
  • 2/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 210 
    • Yeas: 28 
    • Nays: 21 

 

House Bills 

HB-1003: Health matters. 

Explanation: Addresses site-neutral payment requirements, burdensome 340B requirements, the extension of site-neutral payments to nonprofit hospital settings, and hospital billing requirements.  

  • Status: 
  • 3/3/2025- Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on Health and Provider Services 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions 
  • 2/19/2025- Referred to the Senate 
  • 2/18/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call 201 
    • Yeas: 66 
    • Nays: 32 

 

HB-1004: Nonprofit Hospitals  

Education: Loss of non-profit status is any charge item is in excess of 300% of Medicare and includes an excise tax to be imposed upon a hospital each time the hospital charges a patient a facility fee that exceeds 265% of Medicare. 

  • Status: 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the Senate 
  • 2/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 239 
    • Yeas: 68 
    • Nays: 26 


HB-1214: Workers’ compensation  

  • Status:  
  • Returned to the House with amendments 
  • 3/27/2025-Third reading: passed; Roll Call 299 
    • Yeas: 48 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 3/25/2025-Second reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 

 

HB-1226: Medicare supplement insurance  

  • Status:  
  • 3/27/2025-Signed by speaker 
  • 3/26/2025-Returned to the House without amendments 
  • 3/25/2025-Third reading: passed; Roll Call 283 
    • Yeas: 45 
    • Nays: 2 
  • 3/24/2025-Second reading: order engrossed 
  • 3/20/2025-Committee report: do pass, adopted 

 

HB-1347: Real estate matters 

  • Status:  
  • 3/19/2025- Returned to the House with amendments 
  • 3/18/2025- Third reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/17/2025- Second reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/13/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 

You can find a copy of the 1si 2024 Advocacy Agenda by visiting https://1si.org/advocacy/ or downloading a PDF copy here.   

Thanks for Renewing Your Membership | March 2025

by with No Comment 1si NewsThank Your for Renewing Your Membership

One Southern Indiana would like to thank the following members for renewing their membership during the month of March 2025.

Quarter Century Club (25 Year or More)Member Since
H&H Design-Build1976
City of Charlestown1985
Hughes Group, Inc.1985
News and Tribune1985
Schuler Bauer Real Estate Services1985
Jeffersonville Housing Authority1984
WAVE 3 News1988
The Salvation Army1996
  
Ten to 24 Years 
Floyd Circuit Court Judge 2001
River Ridge Development Authority2001
Luckett & Farley2003
Kentuckiana Air Education Network2004
Old National Bank2004
Northwestern Mutual2007
Sheraton Louisville Riverside Hotel2007
Delaco Kasle Processing Indiana2008
Delta Services LLC2009
YMCA of Greater Louisville, Inc.2009
Arctic Minerals2011
Frost Brown Todd, LLP2012
Jones, Nale & Mattingly PLC2012
Brinly-Hardy Co.2013
Nugent Sand Company2013
Red7e2015
  
Nine to Five Years 
RE/MAX Pat Harrison Enterprises2016
CE Hughes Milling, Inc.2017
Facilities Management Services, Inc.2017
Little Star ABA Therapy2017
Waterfront Botanical Gardens2017
Chicken Salad Chick2019
Clark’s Snacks2019
Naked By Sunday2019
Patrick Johnson Landscaping LLC2019
Kratz Sporting Goods2020
  
Two to Four Years 
Hyland, Block, & Hyland, Inc.2021
Mansion 18862021
Miranda Construction 2021
BoomBozz Pizza & Watch Bar2022
Brookstone Financial LLC2022
Carpet Specialists, Inc.2022
Joash, Inc.2022
Lead Well Strategic Consulting2022
Ron  Grooms – Retired Executive2022
American Structurepoint2023
B. Redmon Insurance Partners, LLC2023
Fistful of Ale2023
Innovators Inurance Group LLC2023
Louisville Painting Company LLC2023
OHM Advisors2023
Patriot Mobile Wash2023
Prosser Alumni Association Inc. 2023
Rise Foundation, Inc.2023
Transit Authority of River City-TARC2023
  
One Year 
ADE Food African Kitchen & Catering Services2024
Andes Roofing2024
Bone Dry Roofing 2024
City Wide Facility Solutions 2024
Hunter Station Pizza Company2024
Michener Mullins & Arrington PLLC2024
The Skin Group, PLLC2024

Welcome New Members | March 2025

by with No Comment 1si NewsWelcome New Members

One Southern Indiana would like to welcome the following businesses that joined or rejoined during March 2025.

Advocacy-Update-Email-Header2

Advocacy Update | 03.26.25

by with No Comment 1si NewsAdvocacy

Advocacy-Update-Email-Header2

At One Southern Indiana, we continue to learn about the policies that are impacting our communities. We encourage everyone to see upcoming deadlines. Below, read more information about the bills and updates. 

  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for House adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for Senate adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval. 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for 3rd reading of House bills in the Senate. 
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in House. 

We invite you to learn more about local priorities at our Regional Leadership Luncheon Friday April 11th, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event is an opportunity for you to meet and greet local officials, ask questions, and hear about their priorities for our communities. 

Click here to register. 

Check out 1si News and see all of our advocacy updates. Stay up to date and informed. Check out our news page here. 

Current List of Bills 1si Supports:  

SB-463: Child Care Matters  

Explanation: Adds additional qualified childcare for purposes of the employer childcare expenditure tax credit and extends the credit availability through July 1, 2027. The bill will help support adequate funding and staffing for Indiana childcare centers. The bill strongly ties to 1si’s call to action which emphasizes the affordability and quality of childcare.  

  • Status:  
  • 3/3/2025-First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs 
  • Referred to the House 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the House 
  • 2/20/2025- House sponsor: Representative DeVon 
  • 2/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 198 
    • Yeas: 44 
    • Nays: 5 
 
SB-443: Business personal property tax 

Explanation: The bill proposed to increase business tax exemption by $20,000. This change should help reduce the administrative burden on small businesses, especially those with few fixed assets. However, the impact of the increase is expected to be minor, as it is a relatively small adjustment.  

  • Status:   
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/14/2025- Referred to the House  
  • 2/13/2025- House sponsor: Representative Snow  
  • 2/13/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call 127: 
    • Yeas: 39 
    • Nays: 7  
 
 HB-1172: Office of entrepreneurship and innovation  
  • Status:  
  • 2/20/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Commerce and Technology 
  • 2/12/2025- Referred to the Senate  
  • 2/11/2025- Senate sponsor: Senator Buchanan  
  • 2/11/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call  
    • Yeas: 131  
    • Nays: 7  
 
HB-1248: Child Care and Development Fund  

Explanation: The bill will help prioritize foster parents to gain assistance through the Childcare Development Fund. The bill strongly connects to 1si’s call to action to increase the availability and affordability of childcare.  

  • Status:   
  • 3/20/2025- Motion to concur filed 
  • 3/19/2025- Returned to the House with amendments 
  • 3/18/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 248 
    • Yeas: 49 
    • Nays: 0 
  • 3/17/2025- Amendment #1 (Brown L) prevailed; voice vote 
  • 3/17/2025- Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed 
  • 3/10/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 

 

Current List of Bills 1si is Monitoring:  

Senate Bills:  
SB-1: Property Tax Relief  

Explanation: We are closely monitoring this bill because the changes to residential and personal taxes significantly impact infrastructure, municipal funding, and workforce education. Based on the reports from the Association of Indiana Counties, you can see the impact of SB-1 here. In light of the bill, we are strongly advocating for the clarity of the expected impacts of this bill on businesses and individuals from our local government officials and elected state officials. We strongly advise our members to understand the bill’s effect within our communities.  

  • Status:  
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/19/2025- Representatives Snow and Jordan added as cosponsors 
  • 2/18/2025- Referred to the House 
 
SB-314:  Pass through entity tax  
  • Status:  
  • 3/24/2025- Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure 
  • 3/21/2025- Returned to the Senate with amendments 
  • 3/20/2025- Third Reading: passed; Roll Call 290 
    • Yeas: 84 
    • Nays: 5 
  • 3/17/2025- Second reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/13/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 
 
SB-423: Small modular nuclear reactor pilot program 
  • Status:  
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications 
  • 2/4/2025- Referred to House  
  • 2/3/2025- House sponsor: Representative Soliday  
  • 2/3/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call 60  
    • Yeas:  41  
    • Nays:  7   
 
SB-426: Water utilities 
  • Status:  
  • 3/21/20- Returned to the Senate without amendments 
  • 3/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 292 
    • Yeas: 76
    • Nays: 15 
  • 3/17/2025- Second reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/13/2025- Committee report: do pass, adopted 
 
SB-488: Skills training pilot program  
  • Status:  
  • 3/20/2025- Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass, adopted 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions 
 
SB-518: School property taxes 
  • Status: 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the House 
  • 2/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 210 
    • Yeas: 28 
    • Nays: 21 
 
House Bills 
HB-1003: Health matters

Explanation: Addresses site-neutral payment requirements, burdensome 340B requirements, the extension of site-neutral payments to nonprofit hospital settings, and hospital billing requirements.  

  • Status: 
  • 3/3/2025- Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on Health and Provider Services 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions 
  • 2/19/2025- Referred to the Senate 
  • 2/18/2025- Third reading passed; Roll Call 201 
    • Yeas: 66 
    • Nays: 32 
 
HB-1004: Nonprofit Hospitals

Education: Loss of non-profit status is any charge item is in excess of 300% of Medicare and includes an excise tax to be imposed upon a hospital each time the hospital charges a patient a facility fee that exceeds 265% of Medicare. 

  • Status: 
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services 
  • 2/21/2025- Referred to the Senate 
  • 2/20/2025- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 239 
    • Yeas: 68 
    • Nays: 26 
 
HB-1214: Workers’ compensation  
  • Status:  
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 
  • 2/18/2025- First Reading: Referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions  
  • 2/5/2025- Referred to the Senate  
  • 2/04/2025- Senate sponsor- Senator Zay  
 
HB-1226: Medicare supplement insurance  
  • Status:  
  • 3/20/2025- Committee report: do pass, adopted 
  • 3/3/2025- First reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions 
  • 2/18/2025- Referred to the Senate  
  • 2/17/2025- Senate Sponsors: Senators Walter K and Qaddoura  
 
HB-1347: Real estate matters 
  • Status:  
  • 3/19/2025- Returned to the House with amendments 
  • 3/18/2025- Third reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/17/2025- Second reading: ordered engrossed 
  • 3/13/2025- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted 

You can find a copy of the 1si 2024 Advocacy Agenda by visiting https://1si.org/advocacy/ or downloading a PDF copy here.   

Economic Update | Will Uncertainty Cause a Slowdown?

by with No Comment 1si NewsEconomic Development

submitted by
Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast

With consumers making up 2/3rds of the U.S. economy, they have a large sway over the macroeconomy trajectory.  Over the past year, for example, economic growth remained strong largely due to consumer spending. Making up one of four components of GDP (gross domestic product), along with investment, government spending, and net exports, it was consumption that drove the strong economic growth of the past year. Given the outsized role and the contributions to last year’s growth, consumers will have a large say in what happens to the economic landscape over 2025.       

In a nutshell, signs are beginning to point to some hesitation. Both soft and hard economic indicators show that consumers may balk. 

Coming out of the pandemic, a combination of government stimulus and supply shortages caused inflation to accelerate to a 40-year high. Consumer sentiment plummeted as a result, reaching historical lows. In fact, consumer sentiment was even lower than levels associated with prior recessions, but the U.S. escaped any recession. As inflation decelerated, consumer moods were improving, and sentiment began an upward climb. Consumer confidence, another measure that is tilted more toward the effects of the labor market, also was down, but with the strong job market, levels were not at historically low levels.     

Following the election, optimism, as measured by both consumer confidence and sentiment, surged. It was not just consumers.  Small business optimism had one of the largest spikes in the history of the series.  The last time a similar spike had been observed was after the 2016 presidential election.    

Then uncertainty emerged, kryptonite to markets and the economy. Administration messages of tariffs on and tariffs off. Tariffs up, and tariffs down. Carve-outs and exemptions. The off-and-on-and-ups and downs introduce something called risk. Throw in more risk, especially risk that was not necessarily anticipated, and this will serve as the killer to any stock market. Higher risk means lower asset values, and the NASDAQ moved into correction territory.  Just like that, trillions of value destroyed.  And capital likes to flow to the highest rate of return, other things equal, and the result is an exodus of capital from the USA.  A recent fund manager survey showed the biggest drop in US equity allocation on record, with the US showing the largest decline and the Eurozone showing the largest gain in equity allocations.    

What does this have to do with the economy and the consumer?  As we’ve written in the past, two of the main reasons for consumer resiliency were the labor market and household net worth, driven by a combination of home values and equity investments, i.e., the stock market. Corrections have happened in the past and are part of historical stock market patterns, but investment behavior is also influenced by expectations, and the current level of uncertainty, along with stock market declines and volatility, were not exactly expected.     

We see the impact of uncertainty on consumer activity here in Louisville Metro. Examining foot traffic for seven consumer-related industries, restaurants, shopping centers, home improvement, theaters and music venues, hobbies, gifts and crafts, hotels and casinos, and clothing, we see a stark change in behavior from early December (when expectations were running high) to late February. In early December, five out of the seven industries were running above trend with foot traffic, compared to the year before. The latest data show that six of seven are now running below trend, with negative changes compared to the previous year.  Only hobbies, gifts, and crafts are just slightly above trend. Puzzles anyone? 

Other spinoffs of uncertainty. In the latest NFIB survey, only 12% of owners reported it was a good time to expand their business.  This was down 5 points from the previous survey, and was the largest decline since April 2020, during the height of the Covid recession.   And only 37% of the respondents expect the economy to improve, down 10 points from the previous month. All this is the product of uncertainty, as the uncertainty index rose another four points, the second highest level of uncertainty since the early 90s. With uncertainty, small business owners are less likely to take risks, seek financing, or commit to major capital investment. This will act as a squeeze on the economy, contributing to a slowdown in overall growth.  The latest Atlanta Fed GDP Now estimate of GDP for the first quarter is a minus 1.8%.  A big driver of this is the surge in imports due to the threat of tariffs.  But negative is negative, and that’s where the latest estimate stands. If this holds, it will be the first negative change in GDP since the first quarter of 2022, and who knows, maybe one of the fastest pivots in the economy, from U.S. exceptionalism to a self-inflicted slowdown.