From the Chamber: State Legislative Update January 20, 2022
To: Terre Haute Chamber Members
From: Kristin Craig, President
Date: January 20, 2021
Re: State Legislative Update
Chamber Members –
As the 2022 Indiana Legislative Session began its work earlier this month, we are closely following several bills on your behalf. 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. (LEHMAN M)
- This bill currently covers a wide range of activities related to COVID-19 expected to change as it moves through the session 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
HB1259 – REMOTE WORKER GRANTS AND REMOTE WORK SITES
- With our close proximity to Illinois and growing need to grow our available workforce, this bill that provides grants to remote workers could have a major impact on our region. We will continue to follow this, along with SB338 that provides for graduate retention incentive programs very closely.
- Establishes the new remote worker grant program (program). Provides that the Indiana destination development corporation (corporation) shall administer the program, including awarding grants to a new remote worker for qualifying remote worker expenses. Requires that: (1) the corporation; and (2) the commissioner of the department of administration; shall submit reports to the legislative council.
- Recent Actions: January 10, 2022, read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SB338- GRADUATE RETENTION INCENTIVES. (ROGERS L)
- The West Central region is rich with higher education assets and this bill could have a large impact on employers who work closely with students in terms of providing extra incentives for hiring after graduation.
- Provides for an exemption from the adjusted gross income tax for up to five years for an individual who graduates from a public or private four year college or university if the individual accepts a full-time position of employment in Indiana after graduation. Provides that if an individual leaves a full-time position in Indiana and subsequently accepts another full-time position in Indiana, the exemption carries over for the balance of the five year period. Provides that the department of state revenue shall prescribe a form requiring the Indiana employer to notify the department if the individual leaves employment with the Indiana employer before the end of the five year exemption.
- Recent Actions: 1/10/2022 – Referred to Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy
SB378- ASSESSMENT OF BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY. (BUCHANAN B)
- This is one of several bills dealing with Business Personal Property taxes. We are following both from the business perspective, as well as the potential impact to local governmental agencies. We will continue to discuss replacement revenue options as the bill progresses.
- Increases the acquisition cost threshold for the business personal property tax exemption from $80,000 to $250,000. Provides an exemption for business personal property regardless of the acquisition cost that applies only if the property is placed in service in calendar year 2023. Allows the exemption for the entire useful life of the property. Requires the department of local government finance to adopt rules to amend the Indiana Administrative Code to reduce the minimum valuation percentage for depreciable personal property from 30% to 27.5% for the 2023 assessment date, and to 25% for assessment dates beginning in 2024 and thereafter. Amends the county option exemption for business personal property to allow counties to adopt an exemption ordinance that applies only to the first five year period after new business personal property is placed in service and that would require the personal property to be placed back on the tax rolls beginning in the sixth year of its useful life. Makes conforming changes.
- Recent Actions: 1/11/2022 – Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing)
