Bill roundup: Lawmakers wrap up budget, tackle final, thorny bills
Around 1:20 a.m. Friday, Indiana lawmakers approved the last bill of the session: the 2026-27 state budget. Here’s what happened with some of the bills we’ve watched this session.
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Indiana Legislature adopts tight budget with cigarette tax hike, widespread cuts
The Indiana Legislature approved a pared-down $46.2 billion state budget bill early Friday morning that will triple the state’s cigarette tax and cut funding for a wide swath of entities and programs.
Last-minute budget addition gives Braun full control over IU board
The nine-member board serves as the governing body for the state’s largest postsecondary institution, overseeing major decisions related to policy, finances and leadership appointments.
Hamilton County to gain courts, Marion County to lose magistrates in bill headed to governor
The legislation is meant to reduce caseloads in some of the state’s fastest-growing counties.
Braun: State investigating possible ‘impropriety’ at IEDC, freezing venture capital funds
The actions stem from growing concerns over how the state conducts economic development activities, how much it spends on those activities and how transparent it is about its business.
Lawmakers slash state economic development funding by 25% in budget compromise
The new budget proposal provides more funding for operations and business-promotion support for the Indiana Economic Development Corp., but cuts five funds and programs totaling $35 million.
Braun, Legislature plan to raise cigarette, tobacco taxes to fill budget gap
To further close the gap, leaders also said they would reduce planned spending for public health, higher education and government agencies.
Braun arranging for independent IEDC audit amid transparency concerns
Gov. Mike Braun told IBJ on Tuesday that his office was finalizing the details of an independent audit of the state’s economic development agency: “Hoosier taxpayers deserve clear accountability for how their dollars are spent.”
Lawmakers seek compromise on complex hospital pricing legislation
Indiana lawmakers have discovered this legislative session that performing major financial surgery on multibillion-dollar nonprofit hospital systems is a motley and entangled task.
Braun signs orders calling for state water management plan, Rare Earth Recovery Council
Gov. Mike Braun’s new executive orders require the state to develop a statewide water inventory and management plan, and establish a body that will spearhead efforts to reclaim rare earth elements from legacy coal byproducts.
As Congress eyes spending cuts, a report details Indiana’s $177B in federal support
Federal funding was spent in Indiana on everything from entitlement programs to defense, agriculture and education, according to an Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute analysis.
Bill roundup: Here’s what’s left as the Legislature enters its final week
The major hurdle will be the budget, which is typically the last bill lawmakers approve before heading home.
Braun OKs future state income tax cuts contingent on unlikely revenue growth
In order for the decreases to kick in, the legislation stipulates that the state’s revenue must hit certain growth benchmarks.
UPDATE: Lawmakers expect ‘tough’ budget cuts to offset $2.4B drop in projected revenue
An updated revenue forecast presented to the Budget Committee projected the state’s revenue will flatline from 2025 to 2027.
Trump administration creates uncertainty regarding federal office buildings, leases
Brokers representing building owners have generally refrained from discussing the issue publicly, either because of the fluidity of the situation or because their companies carry government leasing contracts.
Gov. Mike Braun signs contentious property tax relief bill
About 15 hours after the Indiana Senate approved a high-profile property tax bill, Gov. Mike Braun signed the legislation, codifying his campaign promise of providing widespread relief to Hoosier homeowners.
With after-midnight vote, Indiana Senate sends property tax bill to governor
The high-profile property tax legislation has been criticized both for not providing enough homeowner relief and for reducing revenue for local governments.
Bill roundup: What did—and didn’t—survive the final committee deadline
State lawmakers had their final (and for some, especially long) meetings this week as they returned to some of the last and thorniest bills left on their plates.
Indiana Senate leaders release their latest state budget proposal. Here’s what’s in and what’s out.
Senate fiscal leaders presented a conservative state budget plan Thursday morning that drops universal school choice and extraneous spending.
House increases homeowner relief in property tax compromise with Braun
The governor and legislative leaders have for weeks gone back and forth on the key components of Senate Bill 1.