From the Chamber: State Legislative Update January 27, 2022

To: Terre Haute Chamber Members
From: Kristin Craig, Executive Director
Date: January 27, 2022
Re: State Legislative Update

Chamber Members – 

As we close-in on halftime of the 2022 Indiana Legislative Session, the House and Senate continue to work diligently on several pieces of legislation. Below are a few that we are currently monitoring and would like to share with you via this weekly update. This list will continue to grow and change over the course of the session.

HB1001 – ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY; COVID-19 IMMUNIZATIONS

  • This bill currently covers a wide range of activities related to COVID-19. It has passed the House and now is expected to change as it moves through the Senate and with any changes at the federal level. We will continue to follow it closely.
  • Below are a few key excerpts from the bill that we are tracking:
    • Provides that an individual is not disqualified from unemployment benefits if the individual has complied with the requirements for seeking an exemption from an employer’s COVID-19 immunization requirement and was discharged from employment for failing or refusing to receive an immunization against COVID-19.
    • Provides that an employer may not impose a requirement that employees receive an immunization against COVID-19 unless the employer provides individual exemptions that allow an employee to opt out of the requirement on the basis of medical reasons, religious reasons, an agreement to submit to testing for the presence of COVID-19, or immunity from COVID-19 acquired from a prior infection with COVID-19.
    • Provides that an employer may not take an adverse employment action against an employee because the employee has requested or used an exemption from an employer’s COVID-19 immunization requirement.
  • Recent Actions: 1/19/2022 – Third reading: passed; Roll Call 23: yeas 58, nays 35, Senate sponsors: Senators Messmer and Charbonneau

SB4 – LOCAL WORKFORCE RECRUITING AND RETENTION

  • Authorizes a local unit (county, municipality, town, township, or school corporation) to establish a workforce retention and recruitment program (program) and fund (fund) for the purposes of recruiting and retaining individuals who will satisfy the current and future workforce needs of the unit’s employers or provide substantial economic impact to the unit, including providing incentives in the form of grants or loans to qualified workers. Defines “qualified worker” for purposes of the program. Requires a qualified worker who receives a grant or loan from the fund to enter into an incentive agreement. Authorizes the unit to transfer money into the fund from other sources. Provides that the executive of the unit shall administer the fund in coordination with a workforce fund board of managers (workforce fund managers) appointed by the executive of the unit. Requires the workforce fund managers to annually submit a report setting out their activities during the preceding calendar year to the executive of the unit, the fiscal body of the unit, and the department of local government finance.
  • Recent Actions: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 41: yeas 47, nays 0

SB 245 – STATEWIDE SPORTS AND TOURISM BID FUND

  • Establishes the statewide sports and tourism bid fund (fund) to provide funding for the purpose of organizing and holding sports and tourism events in Indiana. Provides that the Indiana destination development corporation (IDDC) shall administer the fund. Requires the IDDC to annually distribute to the Indiana Sports Corporation a grant amount equal to the amount appropriated by the general assembly to the fund for the state fiscal year. Provides that the Indiana Sports Corporation shall manage the funds in accordance with the general laws of the state relating to the handling of public funds. Requires that the Indiana Sports Corporation ensure that not less than 25% of the money received by the Indiana Sports Corporation each year is used for events that are conducted outside of Marion County. Authorizes the Indiana Sports Corporation to award grants to other eligible entities for the purpose of organizing and holding an event in Indiana. Requires the Indiana Sports Corporation to annually report to the budget committee on the use of the money received from the fund.
  • 01/25/2022 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 71: yeas 46, nays 0

The following bills that we were previously tracking appear not to be moving forward at this time. We will continue to watch for similar language to appear as the second half of the session continues forward.

  • HB1259 – REMOTE WORKER GRANTS AND REMOTE WORK SITES
  • SB338- GRADUATE RETENTION INCENTIVES. (ROGERS L)\
  • SB378- ASSESSMENT OF BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY. (BUCHANAN B)
    • Note: Sen. Holdman (chair of Tax and Fiscal) announced in committee that it would be very difficult to take up any of the measures for business personal property tax reform without a full revenue replacement included to support locals.