Each week throughout the legislative session, the Chamber team will provide an update on current state legislative issues. All updates will be listed here and emailed to our members directly via our weekly newsletter. For more information on becoming a Chamber member, click here. A complete list of the Chamber’s legislative priorities, including local, state and national issues, can be found on the 2023 Legislative Agenda.
3/15/23
As we move into the final weeks of the 2023 Legislative Session, changes are sure to be quick. We are following several bills related to a wide variety of subjects, including: the state budget, carbon sequestration, healthcare, property taxes, housing, childcare, floodplains, higher education and more. Below are a few updates:
SB451: Carbon Sequestration Pilot Project. A potential major economic development project for Terre Haute and Vigo County, we have been following along closely with the progress of this bill, being moved forward by a West Terre Haute company, Wabash Valley Resources. The bill has already passed the Senate and just this week moved forward through the House’s Environmental Affairs Committee. We will continue to track its progress and implications for our area.
HB1001: State Budget. Now that the state’s budget bill has passed the House, it moves on to the Senate for further review and ultimately, changes. It has been referred to the Appropriations Committee. In particular, we are following any changes to the proposed READI program. As it currently stands, the program has been fully funded again at $500M. The Chamber continues to have conversations with our local legislators about adding language that would ensure smaller regions, like West Central Indiana, are ensured to receive full funding in second round of READI project requests.
3/8/23
From Kristin Craig, Executive Director
Last week marked the halftime of this year’s Indiana Legislative Session, which means that the next few weeks will be fast and furious. Several bills that we were watching are likely not to be moving forward at this time, but we will continue to follow closely for the language to pop up in other bills, which often happens in the final days of the session.
We will be hosting an Advocacy Forum with our state legislators on Friday, March 10th, 8am via Zoom. Registration is open to all Chamber members at terrehautechamber.com/events.
Below are a few bills we are following. If there is an issue of critical importance to your business that is not included on this list, please reach out to kcraig@terrehautechamber.com.
SEA002: As shared with you previously, this business-friendly legislation will provide a state and local tax, or SALT, deduction for many small businesses in Indiana. Specifically, it would provide the deduction for what are known as pass-through entities, which are businesses that are not subject to corporate income tax. This will be retroactive to 2022. This bill has passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb on 2/22/23.
HB1001: State Budget. Specifically, we are continuing to support a second round of the READI program. We’ve met with several lawmakers and agencies to discuss population parameters and how small regions, like West Central Indiana, can still be a viable contender for full funding.
2/16/23
From Kristin Craig, Executive Director
As the halftime mark of the legislative session, February 27, quickly approaches, we are likely to see many changes in the next few days. The halftime mark is significant as all bills must have
passed out of their house of origin – either the Senate or the House – in order to proceed. In order to become a law, those bills will now need to pass the other house and ultimately get signed by the Governor. Below are just a few of the pieces of legislation we are following, if there is an issue of critical importance to your business that is not included on this list, please reach out to kcraig@terrehautechamber.com.
SB2 – Taxation of pass through entities – As we shared with you last week, this bill is moving quickly and is likely to be on the Governor’s desk in the next few weeks. This legislation would provide a state and local tax, or SALT, deduction for many small businesses in Indiana. The bill language still contains a clause to make it retroactive to 2022, thus making it a priority for many tax professionals that it be decided upon quickly. The bill passed the House’s Ways and Means Committee earlier this week and is likely to be scheduled for a full vote soon.
Child Care Assistance – We are following two bills related to child care, SB186 which provides a tax credit for employers who provide childcare to their employees and SB375 which would increase the income eligibility limit for the On My Way Pre-K program, allowing more families to utilize this funding for high-quality Pre-K programs. Both of these bills would have a significant impact on businesses and residents in West Central Indiana, as high-quality childcare is an ongoing concern. However, especially in regards to SB375, we recognize there is a local capacity issue in terms of staffing and facilities to provide high-quality childcare services. We will continue to monitor this issue and work with our community partners, including the United Way and Ivy Tech Community College, to understand the barriers and find ways to address those challenges.
2/9/23
From Kristin Craig, Executive Director
As the session continues to move forward, we are starting to see bills change and develop. We are tracking these changes closely to determine their impact on the business community. A few highlights to share from the past week are below. If there is an issue of critical importance to your business that is not included on this list, please reach out to kcraig@terrehautechamber.com.
Senate Bill 2 – Taxation of pass through entities This legislation would provide a state and local tax, or SALT, deduction for many small businesses in Indiana. Specifically, it would provide the deduction for what are known as pass-through entities, which are businesses that are not subject to corporate income tax. Examples of pass-through entities include sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and S-corporations. Instead of paying corporate income taxes or any other entity-level tax, owners or shareholders of pass-through entities pay business income taxes on their individual income tax returns. As it currently stands, the bill would be retroactive to 2022, thus making it a priority for many tax professionals that it be decided upon quickly. The bill has passed the Senate and now has been sent to the House Ways and Means Committee. It is expected that despite a busy session, this will get a hearing next week.
House Bill 1114 – New courts and new magistrates – Co-authored by Rep Tonya Pfaff, this bill would allow for Vigo County to establish an additional superior court. This has passed House Judiciary and was recommitted to House Ways & Means. This could also be up for a hearing next week.
Senate Bill 186 – Tax credit for employer provided child care – This bill would provide a tax credit for employers who already contribute to child care costs for their employees. This bill will be heard this week in Senate Appropriations. This is part of several bills related to childcare that are moving their way through both Chambers. We will continue to monitor closely and engage our fellow community leaders in opportunities that would help our limited childcare resources in Vigo County.
2/2/23
From: Kristin Craig, Executive Director
Now that Indiana’s 2023 Legislative Session is a few weeks in, we are starting to see bills change and develop through the process. On behalf of the business community, there are a few key bills we are tracking and will provide updates around as the session progresses. If there is an issue of critical importance to your business that is not included on this list, please reach out to kcraig@terrehautechamber.com.
House Bill 1001: State Budget – While this bill contains a WIDE variety of action items and outlines the Governor’s priorities, we are particularly focused on a second round of funding for the READI program. In particular, the Chamber is focused on ensuring regions with a lower population base, like West Central Indiana, are treated as a priority in funding determinations. In addition, we are closely following the language pertaining to the expansion of Goodwill Excel Centers throughout the state. This adult-focused high school education program is an important part of improving our workforce pipeline. Terre Haute is currently on track to receive an allotment of 300 seats for the creation of a new program
HB1545 – Youth Sports and Tourism Development Area – This could be an important bill to track as our community considers investments in youth sports-related developments. Several options were outlined in the previous READI proposal that could benefit from this type of funding structure.