Indiana Chamber Releases Top 12 List Of Most Impactful New Laws
May 5, 2023 at 6:57 p.m.
By Staff Report-
To tout those “big scores,” the state’s largest small business advocacy organization has just issued its Top 12 list of most impactful new or soon-to-be state laws.
Economic Development/Technology
House Bill 1001 – State Budget (economic development matters): Includes $500 million to fund a second round of Gov. Holcomb’s Regional Economic Development and Leadership Initiative (READI) that focuses on quality of place and building up local/regional communities. Allocates $500 million to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to help the agency close big deals. Doubles the appropriation (to $40 million) for the Manufacturing Readiness Grant to assist manufacturers modernize their technology as well as designates $150 million for the site acquisition revolving fund to attract significant projects/employers.
Senate Bill 5 – Consumer Data Protection: Establishes a new article in the Indiana Code concerning consumer data protection, to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Sets forth exemptions from the bill’s requirements concerning the responsibilities of controllers of consumers’ personal data, and the rights of Indiana consumers with respect to their personal and sensitive data (e.g., correct or delete data held by a controller, obtain copy of the data, etc.).
Education/Workforce
House Bill 1001 – State Budget (childcare via Senate Bill 186): Establishes an employer tax credit for businesses that subsidize/support childcare opportunities for employees in their communities.
House Bill 1002 – Career Advising Grant Program: Contains a number of provisions aimed at expanding work-based learning opportunities, making high school graduation requirements more relevant to real-world expectations and creating funding flexibility (through the creation of career scholarship accounts) to help students to complete on-the-job training and postsecondary credentials.
House Bill 1449 – Twenty-First Century Scholars Program Enrollment: Provides that the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Department of Education will identify income-eligible students for automatic enrollment in the 21st Century Scholars program.
Senate Bill 167 – FAFSA: Requires high school seniors to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unless the student opts out with the consent of a parent, principal or school counselor.
Energy/Environment
HB 1007 – Creates Energy Plan for Indiana: Provides that when the state makes decisions concerning Indiana’s electric generation resource mix, energy infrastructure and electric service, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) must consider the following attributes of electric utility service: reliability, affordability, resiliency, stability and environmental sustainability.
Senate Bill 155 – IDEM Matters: Requires the Environmental Rules Board to adopt rules raising two Title V operating permit program fees, increasing the annual fee for a Part 70 permit to $6,100 and the annual fee for a federally enforceable state operating permit to $6,100 for five years.
Health Care
Senate Bill 1 – Behavioral Health Matters: Puts a framework in place to help combat the growing mental health crisis affecting Hoosiers, including a timeline to apply for federal Medicaid reimbursement and the establishment and maintenance of the 9-8-8 crisis response center and toll-free help line.
Senate Bill 4 – Public Health Commission: Implements certain changes recommended by the Governor’s Public Health Commission and to improve Indiana’s woeful public health rankings. Notably, it provides local health departments the option to receive more funding if they agree to certain conditions that will help them raise their local health metrics.
Taxation/Public Finance
House Bill 1005 – Housing: Creates a program and $75 million fund called the Residential Housing Infrastructure Assistance Program and Fund. Local governments can apply for loans from the fund to pay for infrastructure projects related to residential housing development. The bill also sets guidelines on how the money in the fund should be distributed, with 70% going to municipalities with a population of less than 50,000 and 30% going to other local governments.
Senate Bill 2 –Taxation of Pass-Through Entities: Allows certain types of businesses known as “pass-through entities” (such as partnerships and S corporations) to elect to pay federal taxes at the entity level based on each owner’s share of adjusted gross income.
Senate Bill 419 – State Tax Matters: Makes a variety of tax-related changes that are beneficial to the business community.
To tout those “big scores,” the state’s largest small business advocacy organization has just issued its Top 12 list of most impactful new or soon-to-be state laws.
Economic Development/Technology
House Bill 1001 – State Budget (economic development matters): Includes $500 million to fund a second round of Gov. Holcomb’s Regional Economic Development and Leadership Initiative (READI) that focuses on quality of place and building up local/regional communities. Allocates $500 million to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to help the agency close big deals. Doubles the appropriation (to $40 million) for the Manufacturing Readiness Grant to assist manufacturers modernize their technology as well as designates $150 million for the site acquisition revolving fund to attract significant projects/employers.
Senate Bill 5 – Consumer Data Protection: Establishes a new article in the Indiana Code concerning consumer data protection, to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Sets forth exemptions from the bill’s requirements concerning the responsibilities of controllers of consumers’ personal data, and the rights of Indiana consumers with respect to their personal and sensitive data (e.g., correct or delete data held by a controller, obtain copy of the data, etc.).
Education/Workforce
House Bill 1001 – State Budget (childcare via Senate Bill 186): Establishes an employer tax credit for businesses that subsidize/support childcare opportunities for employees in their communities.
House Bill 1002 – Career Advising Grant Program: Contains a number of provisions aimed at expanding work-based learning opportunities, making high school graduation requirements more relevant to real-world expectations and creating funding flexibility (through the creation of career scholarship accounts) to help students to complete on-the-job training and postsecondary credentials.
House Bill 1449 – Twenty-First Century Scholars Program Enrollment: Provides that the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Department of Education will identify income-eligible students for automatic enrollment in the 21st Century Scholars program.
Senate Bill 167 – FAFSA: Requires high school seniors to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unless the student opts out with the consent of a parent, principal or school counselor.
Energy/Environment
HB 1007 – Creates Energy Plan for Indiana: Provides that when the state makes decisions concerning Indiana’s electric generation resource mix, energy infrastructure and electric service, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) must consider the following attributes of electric utility service: reliability, affordability, resiliency, stability and environmental sustainability.
Senate Bill 155 – IDEM Matters: Requires the Environmental Rules Board to adopt rules raising two Title V operating permit program fees, increasing the annual fee for a Part 70 permit to $6,100 and the annual fee for a federally enforceable state operating permit to $6,100 for five years.
Health Care
Senate Bill 1 – Behavioral Health Matters: Puts a framework in place to help combat the growing mental health crisis affecting Hoosiers, including a timeline to apply for federal Medicaid reimbursement and the establishment and maintenance of the 9-8-8 crisis response center and toll-free help line.
Senate Bill 4 – Public Health Commission: Implements certain changes recommended by the Governor’s Public Health Commission and to improve Indiana’s woeful public health rankings. Notably, it provides local health departments the option to receive more funding if they agree to certain conditions that will help them raise their local health metrics.
Taxation/Public Finance
House Bill 1005 – Housing: Creates a program and $75 million fund called the Residential Housing Infrastructure Assistance Program and Fund. Local governments can apply for loans from the fund to pay for infrastructure projects related to residential housing development. The bill also sets guidelines on how the money in the fund should be distributed, with 70% going to municipalities with a population of less than 50,000 and 30% going to other local governments.
Senate Bill 2 –Taxation of Pass-Through Entities: Allows certain types of businesses known as “pass-through entities” (such as partnerships and S corporations) to elect to pay federal taxes at the entity level based on each owner’s share of adjusted gross income.
Senate Bill 419 – State Tax Matters: Makes a variety of tax-related changes that are beneficial to the business community.
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