Bill roundup: Property taxes dominate the week
From property taxes to child care, here’s the status of some of the bills we’re watching this legislative session, which is expected to adjourn at the end of April.
State Government
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Commerce secretary wants to turn the IEDC inside out
In some ways, social media platforms are unlike traditional media platforms, such as radio and television. In other ways, they are very similar.
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MLS commissioner attends Pacers game with Hogsett amid expansion talks
The game capped off a day of meetings between Garber and Hogsett, his deputies and some state officials, a source familiar with his plans told IBJ.
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Some local governments are slowing spending as lawmakers debate property tax cuts
The bill would reduce property taxes—and therefore reduce local government revenue—by about $1.4 billion over three years, according to the bill’s fiscal plan.
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Legislative roundup: Final committee votes on property taxes, Medicaid bills
Next week, the chambers will be busy hearing bills for second and third readings ahead of their Thursday deadline.
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Articles
Braun family home in Jasper gets $118K in security improvements with helipad, trailer
In contrast to his recent predecessors, Gov. Mike Braun has publicly said he intends to split his time between the Indianapolis Governor’s Residence and his Jasper home.
Braun orders review of policies, responses to acts of antisemitism on Indiana college campuses
Gov. Mike Braun is directing the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to review policies and responses regarding incidents on college campuses following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
State workforce development leader steps down
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s general counsel will lead the agency for now.
Bill to reduce dollars withheld from construction contractors breezes through Senate committee
Key elements of House Bill 1033 would establish a maximum amount of retainage—the portion of payment withheld from a contractor until a project reaches completion—for certain state and local projects.
Indiana House considers another property tax overhaul solution
Wednesday’s amendment to Senate Bill 1 marked the bill’s third major iteration this session, signaling that legislative leaders have not yet settled on the approach to lower property taxes.
Braun issues orders on environmental justice, overregulation
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun made dual executive orders Wednesday—and said President Donald Trump’s timber production goals aren’t aimed at Indiana or its Hoosier National Forest.
After dropping BlackRock over socially conscious investing, state picks asset manager with similar past
The state dropped New York City-based BlackRock as an asset manager after the Treasurer’s Office found it had considered ESG practices. But its replacement has a similar background.
‘All roads point to nuclear’: Reactor incentive package moves forward in House
Supporters hold up nuclear power as more efficient and cleaner, but say the cost to get that power connected to Indiana’s grid is too great to be borne by utility companies alone.
Virtual school funding in Indiana expected to spike
The two-year budget approved by Indiana House lawmakers and now moving through the Senate would increase per-student base funding for some virtual public schools by as much as 50%
State revenue collections continue to exceed projections
The Indiana State Budget Agency noted that higher-than-expected collections from income tax revenue outweighed lower-than-expected collections from sales tax and interest revenue.
Small town spirit: How Indiana’s rural communities are working to reverse population losses
More than 70% of Indiana’s counties, many of which are rural and also lost population in the 2020 census, are expected to lose residents over the next 30 years.
Lawmakers poised to amend property-tax bill amid pressure from Braun, constituents
Indiana lawmakers have been feeling the heat to restore more significant cuts to the Legislature’s primary property-tax relief bill.
Bill roundup: Lawmakers ease back into session after week off
Committee dockets weren’t too packed during the largely slow week, but the House Ways and Means Committee heard Senate Bill 1, which drew hours of testimony.
Bill to exclude Cumberland from UniGov advanced by Senate panel
Lawmakers on the Indiana Senate Local Government Committee voted unanimously Thursday in favor of legislation that would exempt the east-side town of Cumberland from Indianapolis-Marion County consolidated government.
Indiana House takes its turn on property tax discussions
School officials and advocates, in particular, denounced the dual legislation considered Wednesday because of the possible the double-whammy hit to budgets.
Witnesses accuse school board candidates of ‘hiding’ political affiliations
About 40 witnesses from across the state—including more than a dozen embroiled in contentious Hamilton County elections—weighed in Wednesday on legislation that calls for upending Indiana’s nonpartisan school board system.
Governor’s office clarifies intentions for Indiana Historical Society building
Despite language in the state budget that appears to terminate the state’s contract with the nonprofit, Gov. Mike Braun’s office now maintains the intention is not to force IHS to give up its building.
State leaders downplay concerns of possible federal Medicaid cuts
Health policy nonprofit KFF estimates Indiana could miss out on billions of dollars in funding if the federal government enacts a per-capita cap to reduce spending on Medicaid.
Braun signs executive orders aimed at ‘extreme gender ideology’
Two executive orders signed Tuesday by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun seek to reinforce prohibitions for collegiate transgender athletes.