Posts in category: Advocacy

Welcome to the 1si Advocacy Update! Every Wednesday while the General Assembly is in session, you will receive an update of 1si’s advocacy efforts. If you missed any of our previous updates from this session, please click here.

Over the last month, the Advocacy Updates have listed bills and the position that 1si has taken on those bills. Below, we will talk about why each of the following bills have been supported or opposed. As a reminder, our 2023 Call to Action includes talent attraction and retention which has four main concerns: Quality of Place, Housing Growth, Availability of Childcare, and Enhance Healthy Lifestyles.

Bills on which 1si is taking a position:

Supporting:

• HB 1005: Establishes the residential housing infrastructure assistance program and residential housing infrastructure assistance revolving fund.
  • Passed House third reading and has been referred to the Senate.

1si’s second Call to Action is to “develop new and enhanced tools to build and maintain infrastructure in support of housing growth.” 1si is in support as this bill provides a tool for local communities to meet the needs of housing shortages and prepare for future housing growth.

• HB 1160: Creates funding for workforce training program and fund.
  • Passed committee, awaiting hearing on House floor.

One of 1si’s 2023 Priorities is “Meeting Workforce Demands.” 1si is in support as this bill would increase access to and fund workforce training and education programs for career support. As workforce shortages are a need for our businesses in Southern Indiana and throughout the State, this bill provides a tool to help booster the pipeline of potential individuals to be trained to enter or reenter the workforce.

• HB 1436 & SB 414: Provides alternatives solutions to residential onsite sewage system fails.
  • HB 1436 not likely to move forward and will focus on SB 414.
  • SB 414 passed Senate third reading and has been referred to the House.
  • These bills are written word for word the same.

1si’s second Call to Action is to “develop new and enhanced tools to build and maintain infrastructure in support of housing growth.” 1si is in support as these bills would establish an alternative for homeowners needing to replace and upgrade their septic systems so that their houses can remain viable. These bills provide homeowners with a tool to build and maintain infrastructure to support existing homes that may be deemed unlivable without these upgrades.

• SB 35: Requires students to take a financial literacy course.
  • Passed Senate third reading and has been referred to the House.

One of 1si’s Governing Principles is “Career-Ready Workforce and Educational Initiatives.” 1si is in support as this bill requires an individual to successfully complete a personal financial responsibility course before the individual may graduate and creates requirements for content that must be covered in a personal financial responsibility course.

• HB 1046: Provides that a military base reuse authority (such as River Ridge) is qualified to receive funds for an eligible project from the local road and bridge matching grant fund.

One of 1si’s 2023 Priorities is “Infrastructure and Housing.” “This is the time to assist communities in building and maintaining roads and bridges…which are essential economic growth strategies for Southern Indiana.” 1si is in support as this bill would allow River Ridge and other military base reuse authorities to apply for a grant fund to support road or bridge projects.

Opposing:

• HB 1278: Prohibits the Indiana economic development corporation, any other public authority, or any party negotiating on behalf of any of those entities (like 1si) from entering into a non-disclosure agreement designed to keep the details of the negotiation private until approval by a public body is warranted.
  • No movement.

One of 1si’s Governing Principles is “Sustainable Economic Growth” as 1si serves as the Lead Economic Development Organization for Clark, Floyd, and Scott Counties. 1si is in opposition as this bill prohibits the State, or any party negotiating on behalf of any public authority for economic development proposes from entering into nondisclosure agreements. This bill would eliminate a tool that is used frequently in economic development to help meet the needs of different businesses. If passed, this would give Indiana a disadvantage to surrounding States that use nondisclosure agreements.

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.

Welcome to the 1si Advocacy Update!  Every Wednesday while the General Assembly is in session, you will receive an update of 1si’s advocacy efforts.  If you missed any of our previous updates from this session, please visit www.1si.org/advocacy.

The fourth week of the Indiana General Assembly came with a flurry of committee meetings and hearings throughout the floors of the House and Senate.  Several priority bills were heard and debated as legislators, advocates, and constituents swarmed the hallways of the Capitol.

At 1si, our 2023 Call to Action includes talent attraction and retention which has four main concerns: Quality of Place, Housing Growth, Availability of Childcare, and Enhance Healthy Lifestyles. Of these focus areas, we are watching several childcare-focused bills in the Senate, hoping that one will catch traction in the coming weeks.

Bills on which 1si is taking a position:

Supporting:

• HB 1005: Establishes the residential housing infrastructure assistance program (program) and residential housing infrastructure assistance revolving fund (fund).
  • Passed two committees, heading to House floor.
• HB 1160: Creates funding for workforce training program and fund.
  • Passed first committee, awaiting hearing in Ways and Means committee.
• HB 1436 & SB 414: Provides alternatives solutions to residential onsite sewage system fails.
  • HB 1436 passed first committee, awaiting hearing in Ways and Means committee.
  • SB 414 passed Senate third reading and has been referred to the House.
• SB 35: Requires students to take a financial literacy course.
  • Passed Senate third reading and has been referred to the House.

Opposing:

• HB 1278: Prohibits the Indiana economic development corporation, any other public authority, or any party negotiating on behalf of any of those entities (like 1si) from entering into a non-disclosure agreement designed to keep the details of the negotiation private until approval by a public body is warranted.
  • No movement.

Monitoring:

• HB 1502: Establishes the workforce development board grant program and the workforce development board grant program fund.
• HB 1085: Provides that 20% of the incremental property taxes of any new tax increment financing area shall be allocated to school corporations that maintain an attendance area that includes all or part of the allocation area.
• SB 317: Provides that a political subdivision may make advance payments to contractors to enable the contractors to purchase materials needed for a public works project of the political subdivision.
  • Passed Senate third reading and has been referred to the House.
• HB 1439: Requires a city council to approve all expenditures of a city redevelopment commission.
• SB 37: Requires local units of government that imposes a food and beverage tax to annually report information concerning distributions and expenditures of amounts received from the food and beverage tax.
  • Passed Senate third reading and has been referred to the House.
• SB 411: Authorizes local units of government to adopt a commercial property-assessed clean energy program (PACE program) as a financing mechanism to allow commercial property owners to obtain financing for energy-efficient improvements.
• HB 1449: Amends the twenty-first century scholars program eligibility requirements for certain students and auto enrolls those students but students may opt-out.
• SB 186: Establishes a state tax credit for a taxpayer that makes qualified child care expenditures or qualified child care resource and referral expenditures in providing child care to the taxpayer’s employees.
• SB 375: Requires the family and social services administration (FSSA) to develop a schedule for child care and development fund reimbursement of childcare providers under which the highest rate does not differ from the lowest rate by more than 50%.
• HB 1001: Appropriates the State budget.
• SB 347: Establishes a work-sharing unemployment insurance program.

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.

The third week of the Indiana General Assembly came with a flurry of committee meetings and bills moving both in the committee and throughout the floors of the House and Senate. Some bills have already passed their third reading and are waiting to switch chambers.

The focus of our Call to Action in 2023 includes talent attraction and retention which has four main concerns: Quality of Place, Housing Growth, Availability of Childcare, and Enhance Healthy Lifestyles.

As 1si is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), we are following the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC). IBLC announced their priorities for this session on January 23. For a full description of the IBLC’s 2023 legislative priorities, see the press release here.

Bills on which 1si is taking a position:

Supporting:

• HB 1005: Establishes the residential housing infrastructure assistance program (program) and residential housing infrastructure assistance revolving fund (fund).
  • Passed first committee, heading to Ways and Means committee.
• HB 1160: Creates funding for workforce training program and fund.
  • Passed first committee, heading to Ways and Means committee.

Opposing:

• HB 1278: Prohibits the Indiana economic development corporation, any other public authority, or any party negotiating on behalf of any of those entities (like 1si) from entering into a non-disclosure agreement designed to keep the details of the negotiation private until approval by a public body is warranted.
  • No movement.

Monitoring:

• HB 1502: Establishes the workforce development board grant program and the workforce development board grant program fund.
• HB 1599: Provides for creation of a tourism improvement district within a county, city, or town to fund tourism-based amenities. Specifies the contents of the tourism improvement district plan that must be filed with a petition to establish a district.
• HB 1085: Provides that 20% of the incremental property taxes of any new tax increment financing area shall be allocated to school corporations that maintain an attendance area that includes all or part of the allocation area.
• HB 1439: Requires a city council to approve all expenditures of a city redevelopment commission.
• SB 37: Requires local units of government that imposes a food and beverage tax to annually report information concerning distributions and expenditures of amounts received from the food and beverage tax.
  • Passed Senate third reading and has been referred to the House.
• SB 411: Authorizes local units of government to adopt a commercial property assessed clean energy program (PACE program) as a financing mechanism to allow commercial property owners to obtain financing for energy efficient improvements.
• SB 35: Requires students to take a financial literacy course.

As the session moves forward, the 1si Advocacy Leadership Team will review those bills that are being heard and weighing in with positions that are consistent with the 1si’s 2023 Advocacy Agenda.

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.

 The second week of the Indiana General Assembly came with a flurry of committee meetings and new bill lists. More than 1,100 bills have been filed between the House and Senate.  While new bills continue to be released, the deadline to assign bills to committee was Friday (1/20), so we anticipate no new bills to review moving forward.  

 Several House and Senate majority priority bills had initial hearings in committee last week. Ways and Means Committee held several hearings on the Governor’s proposed budget and will likely introduce the House amendment to the Governor’s budget sometime in the next two weeks. 

 Several bills have been submitted that align with the 1si Advocacy Agenda. The focus of our Call to Action in 2023 includes talent attraction and retention which has four main concerns: Quality of Place, Housing Growth, Availability of Childcare, and Enhance Healthy Lifestyles.  

 Bills that 1si is taking a position: 

Supporting: 

• HB 1005: Establishes the residential housing infrastructure assistance program (program) and residential housing infrastructure assistance revolving fund (fund). 

Opposing: 

• HB 1278: Prohibits the Indiana economic development corporation, any other public authority, or any party negotiating on behalf of any of those entities (like 1si) from entering into a non-disclosure agreement designed to keep the details of the negotiation private until approval by a public body is warranted. 

Monitoring: 

• HB 1502: Establishes the workforce development board grant program and the workforce development board grant program fund. 
• HB 1599: Provides for creation of a tourism improvement district within a county, city, or town to fund tourism-based amenities. Specifies the contents of the tourism improvement district plan that must be filed with a petition to establish a district. 
• HB 1085: Provides that 20% of the incremental property taxes of any new tax increment financing area shall be allocated to school corporations that maintain an attendance area that includes all or part of the allocation area. 
• SB 37: Requires local units of government that impose a food and beverage tax to annually report information concerning distributions and expenditures of amounts received from the food and beverage tax. 
• SB 411: Authorizes local units of government to adopt a commercial property-assessed clean energy program (PACE program) as a financing mechanism to allow commercial property owners to obtain financing for energy-efficient improvements. 

 As the session moves forward, the 1si Advocacy Leadership Team will review those bills that are being heard and weighing in with positions that are consistent with the 1si’s 2023 Advocacy Agenda.   

 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.   

The Indiana General Assembly is ramping up with exciting action to come!  The deadlines for filing bills in both the House and Senate passed last week, so we now can review each bill.  

January 12 was the deadline for filing House bills and January 13 was the deadline for filing Senate bills. There were roughly 400 bills submitted on both sides. Bills will be on the state website by Wednesday.

Other key dates during session include: 

• February 27 – last day for 3rd reading of House bills in House 
• February 28 – last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in Senate 
• April 17 – last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in House 
• April 18 – last day for 3rd reading of House bills in Senate 
• April 19-27 – Conference Committees 
• April 27 – Anticipated Final Day of Session 
• April 29 – Statutory Sine Die  

 Need a refresher on the legislative process?  Here are a few resources: 

•  Many of you may remember School House Rock’s “I’m Just A Bill” cartoon from Saturday mornings.  Watch again, as it is still accurate. 
•  The Indiana Chamber of Commerce created a better graphic (without the catchy tune) on Indiana’s legislative process which can be found in the “How a Bill Becomes a Law.” 
•  To follow bills as they move throughout both houses and to find your local legislator, please visit the Indiana General Assembly website.  

And, finally, look to 1si to deliver weekly updates on our Advocacy positions and activities.   As the session moves forward, the 1si Advocacy Leadership Team will review those bills that are being heard and weigh in with positions that are consistent with the 1si’s 2023 Advocacy Agenda.   

 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.   

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.