DEFINITIONS:

Prime Supporter: The Regional Chamber proposed the language used in the bill. The bill aligns with the Policy Priorities of the Regional Chamber, which we supported through written or oral testimony, advocated for (or opposed) with legislators or caucus, and was included in the board-approved legislative agenda.

Primary Supporter: Regional Chamber supported with written or oral testimony, advocated support (or opposition) with legislators or caucus, consistent with Policy Priorities, included in board-approved legislative agenda.

Supporter: The Regional Chamber advocated for or against legislators or the caucus, in line with its Policy Priorities. It was not explicitly included in the legislative agenda.

HOUSE BILLS

(2025) HB1052 Onsite Sewage Systems (Prime Supporter) Co-Authored by Rep. Robert Morris, Sponsored by Sen. Blake Doriot. – It requires the Indiana Dept. of Health or the executive board of the state department to adopt, revise, update, or repeal rules concerning residential and nonresidential onsite sewage systems.

(2024) HB 1002 (Prime Supporter) Childcare

(2024) HB 1183 (Prime Supporter) Foreign Ownership of Land

(2024) HB 1209 (Prime Supporter) Rule Against Perpetuities

(2024) HB 1352 (Prime Supporter) Inspection of Residential Onsite Sewage Systems

(2024) HB 1093 (Primary Supporter)Employment of Minors

(2024) HB 1001(Primary Supporter) Education/Higher Education Matters

(2024) HB 1417 (Primary Supporter) Agricultural Matters

(2023) HB 1001 (Primary Supporter) State Budget: Establishes the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Fund (Prime Supporter) in the amount of $30 million; establishes the READI 2.0 Program (Prime Supporter) with $500 million; provides $30 million to support the orthopedic industry (Prime Supporter), funds construction of music technology building at Purdue University FW.

(2023) HB 1005: (Supporter) Establishes the residential housing infrastructure assistance program and residential housing infrastructure revolving loan fund that requires 70% of the funding to be reserved for residential infrastructure in municipalities with a population of less than 50,000.

(2023) HB 1034: (Primary Supporter) Exempts military pay for members of a reserve component of the United States armed forces or the National Guard from individual income tax.

(2023) HB 1266: (Supporter) Establishes the Indiana cyber civilian corps program advisory board. Provides for the board’s membership.

(2023) HB 1402: (Primary Supporter) Provides that a local jurisdiction ordinance that would restrict or prohibit the use of technology new to Indiana that the technical review panel has approved, or that would otherwise vary from the rules if adopted after June 20th, 2023, becomes void and unenforceable on July 1st, 2023.

(2022) 1002: (Win) Regional Chamber was Prime Supporter as we recommended language re: elimination of the 30% floor of business personal property. We also supported the repeal of utility receipts taxes and staged a reduction of personal income taxes.

(2022) 1003: (Win) Regional Chamber is a Prime Supporter as we worked with Rep. Dan Leonard to draft language that permits certain academic institutions to increase their enrollment rate for some healthcare students by not more than one hundred percent (100%). 

(2022) 1245: (Win) Regional Chamber was a Prime Supporter as we recommended language regarding residential sewage systems, provided written testimony, and advocated for the bill. Prohibits a local health department from refusing an application for a permit for a residential onsite sewage system solely because the residential onsite sewage system has not been used previously in the jurisdiction of the local health department or is unfamiliar to the local health department if the department’s technical review panel has approved the residential onsite sewage system for general use in Indiana. 

(2022) 1318 (WIN) Regional Chamber was a Prime Supporter as we consulted on language, offered advocacy with legislators, and the bill is consistent with our Policy Priorities and our legislative agenda. The bill exempts childcare programs operated by a public or private school. It provides on-premises daycare for the children of students or employees of schools within the school corporation and operates under a childcare facility license. We believe this may be a critical step in expanding childcare as a business issue in the years ahead. 

SENATE BILLS

(2025) SB1 (Primary Supporter) Local Government Finance. Authored by Sen. Travis Holdman and Sen. Tyler Johnson. Sponsored by Rep. Craig Snow. We did not take a position on this bill one way or the other. However, we shared our thoughts and concerns with our delegation and others. The bill is more widely known as the Property Tax Reform Bill, and we respect those who have worked diligently over the past two years to develop it. However, there are aspects of this bill that we will continue to encourage the legislature to reconsider and to change substantially. We have always supported eliminating business personal property taxes. Still, we have maintained that this business tax should be replaced by a revenue source rather than being levied on citizens. Smaller communities depend upon this revenue source to support public expenditures. Without this revenue source, services will be forced to decline.

(2025) SB306 (Prime Supporter) Authored by Sen. Andy Zay, Sen. Travis Holdman, and Sen. Kyle Walker – Provides that a taxpayer may assign any part of the film and media production tax credit that the taxpayer may claim.

(2025) SB423 (Prime Supporter) Small modular nuclear reactor pilot program. Authored by Sen. Stacy Donato, Co-Authored by Sen. Andy Zay, Sen. Susan Glick, Sen. Blake Doriot, Sen. Justin Busch – Establishes the small modular nuclear reactor partnership pilot program.

(2025) SB424 (Prime Supporter) Small modular nuclear development costs. Authored by Sen. Brian Buchanan and Co-Authored by Sen. Andy Zay and Sen. Stacey Donato. Sponsored by Rep. Matt Lehman – Amends the Indiana Code section authorizing a public utility to petition the IURC for approval to incur project development costs of one or more small modular nuclear reactors.

(2025) SB178 (Primary Supporter) Authored by Sen. Blake Doriot. Co-authored by Sen. Stacey Donato. Sponsored by Rep. Dave Abbott – The state’s continuing policy is to recognize natural gas and propane as “clean energy” or “green energy.”

(2025) SB516 (Primary Supporter) Authored by Sen. Brian Buchanan – Establishes the office of entrepreneurship and innovation.

(2025) SB142 (Supporter) Eviction Issues. Authored by Sen. Liz Brown – Allows a court to order, upon its own motion, that certain eviction records may not be disclosed.

(2024) SB 1 Reading Proficiency (Primary)

(2024) SB 202 State Education Inst. Matters (Primary)

(2024) SB 2 Childcare (Prime)

(2024) SB 20 Municipal Riverfront Development (Prime)

(2024) SB 21 Reading Skills (Prime)

(2024) SB 238 Innkeepers’ tax (Elkhart) (Prime)

(2023) SB 3: (Supporter) Establishes the state and local tax review task force, specifies membership of the task force, and the topics the task force is required to review.

(2023) SB 20: (Supporter) Allows a city or town to designate an outdoor location as a refreshment area with the approval of the alcohol and tobacco commission. That includes standards that are not more restrictive than the default standards established by Indiana law.

(2023) SB 35: (Primary Supporter) Provides that beginning with the cohort of students expected to graduate from a public school, private school, or a state-accredited non-public school in 2028, an individual must complete a personal financial responsibility course before the individual may graduate.

(2023) SB 176: (Supporter) Changes the rated electric generating capacity from 350 megawatts to 470 megawatts for purposes of the definition of “small modular nuclear reactor” as used in the stat-utes concerning (1) certificates of public convenience and necessity issued by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for the construction, lease, or purchase of electric generation facilities; and (2) financial incentives for the energy utilities that invest in clean energy projects.

(2023) SB 317: (Supporter) Provides that a political subdivision may make advance payments to contractors to enable the contractors to purchase materials needed for a public works project of the political subdivision.

(2023) SB 344: (Prime Supporter) Establishes the Northeast Indiana strategic development fund administered by the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission. Adds two new voting members appointed by the Mayor and Commissioners Caucus of NE Indiana.

(2023) SB 390: (Prime Supporter) Provides that the commercial solar and wind energy-ready communities development center may be established with the Indiana Office of Energy Development. Requires the center to certify a county or municipality as a commercial solar energy-ready community or a wind energy-ready community if the county or municipality meets specific requirements, including the adoption of a commercial solar regulation or wind power regulation that includes standards that are not more restrictive than the default standards established by Indiana law

(2022) 5: (Win) Regional Chamber was a Primary Supporter of this bill, authored by Senator Liz Brown. The bill is consistent with our Policy Priorities and will help expand certain healthcare professions in Indiana. Allows an applicant with a license or certificate from another state or jurisdiction to be granted a license or certificate in Indiana.

(2022) 145 (Win) Regional Chamber was a Primary Supporter of this bill, authored by Senator Travis Holdman. Requires real property tax assessments of “self-service storage facilities” to be based upon a True Tax Value based solely on the land and improvements, less normal depreciation, and normal obsolescence, and must exclude intangible business value. 

(2022) 408: (WIN) Regional Chamber was a Supporter of this bill, authored by Senator Andy Zay and sponsored in the House by Representatives Martin Carbaugh and Matt Lehman. The bill amends the statute authorizing a bank or trust company to make investments in community-based economic development and allows investments in any community economic development entity, community development project, or tax equity finance transaction

HB 1025 (2021): (Primary Supporter) Enterprise Zone renewals for an additional five years.

HB 1238 (2021): (Primary Supporter)Establish the Northeast Indiana Regional Strategic Development Commission. Provides for the appointment of Commission members.

HB 1393 (2021): (Primary Supporter)Modifies the definition of an Entertainment Complex from 800 to 600 seats.

HB 1449 (2021): (Primary Supporter)Broadband Development. Amends the statute governing the award of grants from the Rural Broadband Fund to include terrestrial broadband infrastructure to (A) buildings used by public school corporations primarily for educating students; (B) rural health clinics, and various other changes.

SB 1 (2021): (Prime Supporter)Provides for Civil Immunity related to COVID-19.

SB 3 (2021): (Prime Supporter)Telehealth Matters

SB 377 (2021): (Supporter) Broadband Connectivity is expanding its availability.

Budget Initiatives

US Route 30 (2021): Provides for PEL STUDY to begin transforming US 30 into a Freeway.

Purdue University FW (2021): Establish three new programs to benefit NEIN students and employers.

Post-Secondary Education (2021): Retain and expand student scholarships for two-year and four-year vocational and academic Education.

Non-Agenda Items

HB 1004 (2021): (Supporter) Small Business Restart Program; Establishes the Hoosier Hospitality small business restart program. 

HB 1008 (2021): (Supporter) Student Learning Recovery Grant Program ($150 million from the general fund)

HB 1009 (2021): (Supporter) TANF Program; provides that income earned by a specific individual pursuing a post-secondary degree, workforce certificate, pre-apprenticeship, or apprenticeship may not disqualify a TANF-eligible family from receiving benefits.

HB 1190 (2021): (Supporter) Makes specific changes to the maximum gross vehicle weight limit.

SB 2 (2021): (Supporter) Funding for virtual instruction in public schools

SB 29 (2021): (Primary Opposition) At the request of Agribusiness members, we opposed it, which would have discouraged agribusiness in rural counties. The Senate Committee did not hear the bill.

SB 44 (2021): (Opposed) Workshare, the Committee on Pensions and Labor did not call the bill.

SB 303 (2021): (Primary Opposition) Offered written testimony and encouraged the governor to veto. He did so as this bill would have damaged rural investment and harmed the rural economy.

SB 384 (2021): (Primary Supporter) Professional Sports and Convention Development Area in Allen County.

HB 1056 (2020): (Primary Supporter) Technical corrections and changes to make SEA 566 (2019 Win) viable as an economic development tool.

HB 1331 (2020): (Prime Opponent) Opposed this bill as it contained provisions that our members believed were harmful to a certain quality of place assets. We won when the bill died in the House without being brought to a vote.

HB 1112 (2020): (Supporter) Provides that wage increases with a participating employee or group of participating employees negotiated by an agreement, regardless of timing, qualify as a wage increase for eligibility purposes for a grant from the Skills Enhancement Fund. 

HB 1111 (2020): (Prime Supporter) Unemployment; retain employers’ payments to the Unemployment Trust Fund Level for the next five years.   Rates had been scheduled to decrease under the prior law. However, retaining current rates will provide long-term stability to the trust fund. 

Bias Crimes Sentencing (2019): Supported legislation; passed into law, permitting judges to impose harsher sentences for criminals who victimize others based upon listed traits, including race, religion, disability, nationality, and sexual orientation.

Create 35-year Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District (2019): Primary supporter; passed into law for repurposing two or more buildings or a site that once had such structures that are or were 75 years old, where manufacturing previously occurred.

Extend EDGE Credits to Indiana employers Non-Residents (2019): Primary Supporter; passed into law, permitting Northeast Indiana employers to use this tool for Indiana employees residing in states with mutual economic assistance agreements, such as Ohio and Michigan.

Regional Redevelopment Tax Credit (2019) (Primary Supporter): passed into law, establishes a $50 million redevelopment tax credit, administered by the IEDC, for the investment and redevelopment or rehabilitation of real property, with a cap of $7 million per project.

Venture Capital Investment (VCI) Tax Credit (2019): (Primary Sponsor) passed into law, allowing a taxpayer to assign all or part of a venture capital tax credit. Supports investment in entrepreneurial enterprises.

Rural Broadband Fund (2019): Supported legislation; passed into law, establishing a $100 million fund to provide grants for rural areas. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) will establish procedures for awarding grants from the funds after July 31st, 2019.

Hoosier Business Investment (HBI) Tax Credit (2019): Supported legislation, amending HBI to include retooled or refurbished machinery, new energy conservation, pollution control equipment, and new onsite digital manufacturing equipment.

Regional Development Authorities (2019): Supported Legislation that allows governmental entities to form a Regional Development Authority (RDA) with boards comprised of Executives of member cities, towns, and counties.

Participating units of government would be required to impose either a special local income tax rate or a food and beverage tax at rates specified in the development authority plan. Secured referral to a summer study committee, as Northeast Indiana has an RDA that performed exceptionally through the Regional Cities program. We believe that the members of this RDA should decide whether to maintain the current structure or adopt a new format.

Residential Tax Increment Financing (2019): Primary Supporter, passed into law; this measure creates a tool for communities to support the development of Workforce Attainable Housing. The legislation defines “Residential Housing” or “Workforce Housing” as single-family dwelling units sufficient to secure quality housing reasonably close to employment.

Pre-kindergarten Programs (2019): Supported Legislation; passed into law, extending the Pilot Program, which the Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana has consistently supported, into all eleven counties of Northeast Indiana and to eligible providers throughout the balance of the state. It also expands program eligibility by raising the income threshold.

State and Local Incentives for Data Centers (2019): Supported Legislation; passed into law, providing that a county or municipal fiscal body may designate an area where a property tax exemption will be provided for specific enterprise information technology equipment. Provides a state sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of specific data center equipment, with investments ranging from a minimum of $25 million to $150 million, depending on the county’s population.

Support NEIN Enterprise Zone (2017): Ft. Wayne is the only community that has established an Enterprise Zone. The Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana secured $1 million to fund a Pilot Entrepreneurship Zone.

Expansion of Pre-Kindergarten Program (2017): Supported passage.

Infrastructure Funding (2017): Supported the bill, including Indexing, a policy we advanced in 2015.

IDEM Regulatory Reform (2016): Passed reform establishing that no IDEM rule can be more stringent than a corresponding federal rule without review by the Indiana General Assembly.

Repeal Throwback Tax (2015): Exempt all sales originating from third-party logistics providers and the tax on all manufactured goods exported to a country where the seller is not subject to taxation.

Re-designate IPFW as a Metropolitan multi-system campus from a regional campus (2015): Secured the opportunity to create advanced degree programs consistent with the regional economy.

Historic Renovation Grant Program (2015): Supported elimination of ineffective State Historic Tax Credit Program, which also created a more effective grant program that increased state support of Historic Renovation by 300%.

Repeal 30% Depreciation Floor for new business equipment (2015):

Eliminates the 30% rule and establishes taxation based on the depreciation schedule.

Connect NEIN to Lt. Governor’s Rural Broadband Working Group (2014):

Supported and passed, then participated in the group that established Broad Band Ready Certification requirements.

Allen County Single County Executive (2014): Supported and passed authorization from the General Assembly on the referendum.

Lafayette Center Road (2014): Secured $30 million to fund the expansion of County Road 900 N as the number 1 transportation issue.

Logistic Tax Credit (2014): Passed the tax credit to enhance the competitiveness of the growing NE Indiana Logistics and Distribution sector.

Right to Work (2012): Primary supporter; passed into law. The act eliminates the requirement for mandatory union membership.