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Indianapolis Star
01-07-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana should close marijuana loophole putting drugs in hands of 38,000 kids
Nearly 38,000 Indiana middle and high school students have tried psychoactive Delta THC products, according to the 2024 Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey — a direct result of a loophole in state marijuana law that puts these substances within easy reach of minors. Delta 9 THC is the compound in marijuana that causes people to feel high. For the most part, it's banned in the state. But Indiana follows the 2018 federal farm bill's hemp definition, creating a loophole that allows similar psychoactive compounds like Delta 8 THC. Delta THC products, including drinks and candy, are widely accessible and appear to be specifically marketed toward children. 2% of public middle school students and nearly 10% of public high school students reported having tried Delta THC products. That translates to 37,565 students who have used a drug that could lead to long-term damage to their attention, memory and learning, as well as increased risks of psychiatric disorder, testicular cancer, respiratory difficulties and more. The well-documented damage to the ability of students to learn and grow is also highly concentrated among the most at-risk and marginalized. Research shows marijuana use is higher in schools with greater poverty, lower achievement, and higher absenteeism. This higher use is likely to translate to Delta THC products as well, considering their widespread distribution. Despite this clear harm, some legislators have proposed the wrong solution. State Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, and state Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, pushed a law this year that would have formally legalized and regulated Delta 8 THC. It fortunately died during the last stages of the legislative session. Hicks: Legalizing marijuana brings tax revenue, lower crime. Indiana is behind. Attorney General Todd Rokita was one of the major opponents of the bill, as he has long held the products should be illegal under current law. As a result, there has been inconsistent enforcement against them at various times and places. A lawsuit against Rokita over the issue was dismissed a few months ago, declaring his opinion was not legally binding while leaving enforcement in a gray area. With that in mind, it would make sense for people to think some limited good might come out of settling the issue and formally banning the sale of the product to minors. However, Holdman and Teshka's bill made the unfortunate mistake of looking at the proliferation of marijuana through the mantra of 'safe, legal and rare.' In practice, as is the case with decriminalization of marijuana in other states, pushing for 'safe, legal and rare' only increases accessibility of the drug for minors. It would also make it more difficult for prosecutors to enforce existing laws against marijuana. What inevitably follows from actions that reduce the legal risk around a vice industry is that more investors will see it as an opportunity. New capital flows into the business, making it increasingly ubiquitous and socially acceptable. Opinion: Legalizing marijuana would be a bipartisan win for Indiana Of course, proponents of full-on marijuana legalization are counting on exactly that, as an opportunity to boost state tax revenue and reduce nonviolent arrests. But the data tells a different story. Studies show the modest economic benefits are overshadowed by a 17% increase in substance use disorders, 35% increase in chronic homelessness and 13% increase in arrests on average. As Indiana leaders abdicate responsibility for public health and the state and federal governments limit Medicaid access, it would be the worst possible time to make Delta THC products more accessible. State leaders have already wisely taken action to reduce tobacco consumption in light of their other cuts to public health spending. It is about time they finish the deal and ban marijuana once and for all by closing the loophole allowing the sale of Delta THC products.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delta-8 regulations clear House but headed into negotiations
Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, addresses a crowd on Dec. 18, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Contentious regulations for marijuana-like products advanced through the Indiana House of Representatives on Tuesday, but will have to survive closed-door negotiations before crossing Gov. Mike Braun's desk. 'I filed a dissent,' Sen. Travis Holdman, the measure's author, told the Capital Chronicle. 'We've got some clean-up to do,' the Markle Republican said. '… We'll be working on it.' Products with legally low concentrations of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol have proliferated in Indiana, alongside those containing delta-8 THC and other isomers. Attempts to regulate the nascent industry, which is booming on shaky legal footing, have failed repeatedly — but are nearing law, in the form of Senate Bill 478. Delta-8 regulatory qualms go unaddressed as Indiana House approves homelessness, DEI measures 'These products, being legal under federal law, but having no regulatory structure here in the state, means that technically, it's not illegal to sell these products to minors (or) to target youth with advertising or packaging, and that there's no testing requirements to protect consumers from potentially dangerous adulterants,' said Rep. Jake Teshka, the House sponsor, on the chamber's floor Tuesday. The measure sets out advertising, age-limit, licensing, packaging, testing and other requirements over the currently unregulated substances. It authorizes the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to oversee the industry, including approving up to 20,000 retail permits. Lawmakers have put it through a whopping seven rounds of edits. But critics — including Indiana's attorney general and anti-marijuana groups — still have objected, arguing the language would expand existing loopholes. 'With Senate Bill 478, I think we finally have an opportunity to rein in this market,' Teshka, R-North Liberty, said. 'We have the opportunity to provide real clarity to law enforcement, to protect Hoosier youth, to empower our farmers and to protect our consumers.' Members of Teshka's own caucus remained skeptical. 'I recognize that … the General Assembly should take action on the current state of this product,' said Rep. Tim Wesco, R-Osceola. '… (But) I don't feel like this is the appropriate action.' Instead, it's 'moving us further down a path of increasing — dramatically increasing — access to these products that are known to have adverse and negative effects,' Wesco continued. '… We're setting up a framework that we're likely not going to go back on, that is just going to expand from here.' Lawmakers from both parties crossed sides in the 60-37 vote. The bill next heads to conference committee for negotiations. Conferees will hammer out a compromise. If it survives that process, it'll head back to each chamber for a final vote before going to Braun. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana Senate sends finalized local property, income tax plan to governor
Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, presents his tax bill before the Senate on Jan. 28, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Shortly after midnight Tuesday, Indiana Senate Republicans agreed to significant changes in an immense local property and income tax plan — avoiding risky negotiations in favor of sending it to Gov. Mike Braun. Despite earlier reservations — and a pressure campaign to veto — the governor appeared resolute immediately following the Senate vote. 'This is historic property tax relief. Senate Bill 1 cuts property taxes for most Hoosier homeowners, farmers, and businesses, limits future tax hikes, and makes the tax system fairer, more transparent, and easier to understand,' Braun said in a statement. 'Real property tax relief was a core promise of my Freedom and Opportunity Agenda and with the collaborative leadership of our legislators, we are delivering real savings and protections for taxpayers. I look forward to signing the bill as soon as I receive it.' The 27-22 tally came well ahead of an end-of-month deadline and followed a marathon day in the Senate chamber. Twelve Republicans joined Democrats in opposition: Sens. Ron Alting, Eric Bassler, Vaneta Becker, Mike Bohacek, Jim Buck, Cyndi Carrasco, Spencer Deery, Dan Dernulc, Aaron Freeman, Jim Tomes, Mike Young and Andy Zay None of those senators spoke on the bill. Senate Bill 1 would save homeowners a collective $1.2 billion in property taxes over three calendar years, from 2026 through 2028, according to a Thursday fiscal analysis. It does so largely by creating a credit for 10% off every homestead's bill, up to $300 each. That's after House lawmakers on Wednesday made sweeping edits featuring the governor's blessing and Senate input. It's a far cry from Braun's original plan. Democrats discussed lost revenue for schools and communities that will force either local income tax hikes or severe service cuts. Local units of government would lose a projected $1.5 billion over the three years, per the fiscal analysis. Public school corporations alone represent about half the anticipated loss, at $744 million — although Democrats contend other tax changes push that figure to almost $800 million. 'We've heard relief, relief, relief,' said Sen. Andrea Hunley, Indianapolis. 'But the efforts that we have in Senate Bill 1 are complex, and I don't feel like they go far enough, and I do think that they create winners and losers.' But Republicans noted revenue still goes up for most units — just not as much as under current law. For instance, the city of Fort Wayne would see its property tax revenue rise from $167 million in 2025 to $201 million in 2028 if no changes are made. Under Senate Bill 1, the city will see revenue rise from $167 million to $187 million in 2028. ' I want to make sure we know it's not loss, it's unrealized potential gain,' said Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville. Still, Democrats weren't the only ones unhappy with the deal. 'NOBODY understands this thing … including me!' Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Braun's second-in-command, posted Saturday. 'On that basis alone we can't let this become law. The Gov needs to VETO this thing, call a special session and demand the legislature pass something that the average Hoosier can understand without hiring army of lawyers and accountants!!' Senators started debate on the bill at 10:35 p.m. A vote followed nearly two hours later at 12:18 a.m. Tuesday. During the discourse, bill author Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, emphasized that Indiana's property taxes 'are very complicated' — and that 'it's taken the legislature 50 years to make it as complicated as we possibly could' — but under this bill, two-thirds of homeowners will receive a lower bill in 2026 compared to 2025. The legislation caps total local income tax rates for all counties to 2.9%, down from 3.75%. Municipalities would be authorized to impose rates up to 1.2% within that county total — a tool they have not had before. Under current law, they have to get county officials on board to nab a local income tax. Indianapolis Democrat Sen. Greg Taylor said Hoosier taxpayers were promised relief on property tax bills, 'but I guess we didn't add the comma and say, 'But you really end up paying more on your income tax.'' He worried that locals will be forced to cut essential services if they resist income tax hikes. Indiana House Republicans OK massive local property, income tax plan that Democrats dub a 'scam' 'When your city council comes to you and says, 'What do you want us to do? Cut services or increase (local income taxes)?'… we're going to say, 'Well, we gave you an option,'' Taylor said. 'We know what the option is going to be. We're going to cut services. You mark my words. You're going to cut services,' he continued. 'You think we've got road problems? You think we've got access to government service problems? Just wait.' Holdman held that while higher local income taxes 'may be the case in some situations,' raising those taxes remains optional. Instead, he preferred for local governments to become 'more efficient' before raising taxes. 'I think there are expenses that cities and towns and county governments have that they could trim their budgets,' Holdman added. 'I think there needs to be a review of all expenditures at a local level to make sure that they're spending their dollars wisely.' Also under the bill, fixed-income seniors would get an additional $150 discount off their property tax bills stacked atop the $300 maximum available to the general population. Disabled veterans could also qualify for stackable credits of $150 and $250. In exchange, lawmakers nixed assessed-value-based deductions for those populations. Over three years, the bill would cut property taxes by about $25 million for apartments, almost $69 million for other residential properties, $116 million on farmland and $145 million on personal property. But bills for agricultural business and other real properties would rise by $63 million and $720 million, respectively. That adds up to about $802 million in savings across other property types. The overhauled legislation additionally phases in a major increase in the acquisition cost threshold for the business personal property tax exemption — from $80,000 to $2 million — and narrows application of the 30% depreciation floor. It previously would've phased the tax itself out by 2030 on anything purchased this year or later. Still, Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, questioned why the bill does not directly address — or provide relief for — the 560,000 tenants across the state. Holdman held that his measure deals with property taxes, which 'tenants do not pay.' CONTACT US Qaddoura disagreed. 'Tenants do pay property tax,' he said. 'When you live in an apartment building or in a house, the landlord will pass all of these costs, including property taxes.' Hunley further took issue with the inclusion of Senate Bill 518, a measure to require traditional schools to share property taxes with charters. Another provision dissolve the Union School Corporation. 'I think that we do need to talk about process and procedure, and the fact that this is the way that we're going to do business from now on — that we can just simply amend into a piece of legislation the closure of an entire school district,' she said. 'And that we can do that without regard for public hearing or process, and that we can just redraw new maps and new boundary lines for an entire school corporation, for families, for a whole community from up here on high in Marion County, and determine what's best without true regard for collaboration with the community.' Before the vote, Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, reiterated that the legislation 'is too big,' and that lawmakers 'have forced too much into one bill.' 'As you shuffle the burden of taxes, there may be some that gets pushed to businesses. … but ultimately, we're doing so at the expense of already struggling schools, struggling communities, renters and others that need us most,' he said. 'There are multiple poison pills throughout this thing. And ultimately, school districts and local communities will have to make the toughest decisions that they've ever had to, at a time where things are just uncertain.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's in Indiana Senate Bill 1? A look at the proposed law that could limit property taxes
During this year's session of the Indiana General Assembly, lawmakers have discussed Senate Bill 1, a bill that would, in part, limit property taxes for Hoosier homeowners. It's been overhauled throughout the session and now includes local government finance reforms. Here's a look at where the bill stands now. The most recent version of the bill would allow Hoosier homeowners owners to claim up to a $300 tax credit. The tax credit would be worth 10% of a Hoosier homeowner's property tax bill, up to $300, meaning Hoosiers that see property tax bills of $3,000 or more would receive the full $300 discount. The current version of Senate Bill 1 also limits how much local governments can raise their property taxes, allows most cities and towns to establish their own local income tax rates and requires school districts to share tax dollars with certain charter schools. Story continues below gallery. Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, is the lead author. The House passed the bill April 10 on a vote of 65-29. Once the Senate officially agrees with the House's changes, the bill will head to Indiana Gov. Mike Braun's desk. The Senate is scheduled to vote as early as Monday afternoon. SB 1 Indiana: Mike Braun and House GOP reach agreement on property tax relief for Hoosiers You can read the full text of Senate Bill 1 at To follow its progress, visit the individual page for the bill and scroll down to "Latest Bill Actions." IndyStar is tracking the prominent bills that are moving through the legislative process and that would impact a wide variety of Hoosiers. Follow our weekly guide to see what major bills have advanced. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Read the full text of Indiana SB 1 and see where it stands
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana Senate committee turns 4 local tax bills into 1, prompting bipartisan pushback
Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, introduces the Senate Republican plan for property tax relief on Feb. 11, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A jam-packed agency bill became even more behemoth and wide-reaching on Tuesday after a Senate committee crammed in dozens of other provisions that largely deal with local taxes. The move drew a range of questions from Democrats, all of whom voted against the merge. Some Republicans were also hesitant — and a GOP budget leader was opposed altogether. House Bill 1427, now more than 150 pages in length, was originally focused on Department of Local Government and Finance (DLGF) matters. Embedded in the underlying legislation was language around DLGF rule-making, as well as administrative policy changes for various local taxes and assessments. But a massive amendment approved by the Senate tax committee wrapped in all or parts of three other bills: House Bill 1080 and Senate Bill 304, dealing with innkeeper's and food and beverage taxes, and Senate Bill 290, which mostly addresses local property tax levies. Multiple other new changes and provisions — like for professional sports and convention center developments — were additionally included. The amended bill advanced 8-5 to the full chamber, despite unfavorable votes from Democrats and top Republican Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka. Sen. Eric Bassler, R-Washington, one of the bill's Senate sponsors, discussed the amendment before the tax committee and expressed concerns, too. Because he is not a member of the committee, the senator did not participate in Tuesday's vote. 'I'm always a little bit leery to have substantive policy changes for the state in agency bills. If the state is going to make a policy change, I'd rather those bills kind of be standalone language,' Bassler said. 'I think that's even more so in this bill, because this is a 117-page amendment to a 79-page bill, and it deals with literally dozens and dozens of dozens of issues,' he continued. 'I think we need to be very careful when we're starting to change state policy in such a complicated bill.' Democratic Sen. Andrea Hunley, of Indianapolis, raised questions about a child care facility portion of the amendment that would create a partial property tax exemption for employers who provide child care for their employees on company property. Hunley worried that the tax benefit would do little to increase services for parents, given it only applies to care for children under the age of six. Child care facilities that do not have a formal agreement with a business also would not qualify. 'To me, it's not really solving the child care issue that we have … but it's really about subsidizing businesses to provide a service to their own employees,' Hunley said. 'There's so much in here dealing with taxes that are going to impact our local communities. And that has been a theme this session, in a variety of ways, and in a variety of pieces of legislation,' she added. 'We have to think about — not just these pieces of legislation in isolation — but the myriad of ways that we are impacting locals with these policy changes.' Mishler further took issue with a section on 'professional sports development areas,' or PSDAs. Those areas can already capture millions of dollars per year in tax revenue from sports facilities, hotels and other commercial properties fund infrastructure improvements and new sports-related developments. Under the bill, cities that are located in a county with at least four cities — each with a population of at least 40,000 — would additionally be able to create special sports-related tax districts. Up to $2 million collected each year from the tax area could be invested in city-owned facilities that are used for 'practice or competitive sporting events.' 'The PSDAs in here — those are usually budget discussions, because they reduce revenue,' Mishler said. 'So, I'm a little irritated because I've been working with these groups on the investments that they're bringing in there, and I feel like they just circumvented the system, went around, and just threw it in a bill.' Bill author Rep. Craig Snow, R-Warsaw, told Mishler in response that he would be 'happy to take anything out of this bill that you would like, because it's kind of unwieldy.' Mishler, the Senate Republican budget leader, foreshadowed possible changes to that language but did not provide details. Also in contention was a piece of the amendment that sets criteria for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), small house health facilities and residential care facilities' to qualify for tax exemptions. Bartholomew County Assessor Ginny Whipple maintained that CCRCs should not qualify for exemptions 'without going through the normal channels' already in place for properties. Such senior living communities offer a range of services and care levels, from independent living apartments to assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, all under one roof. Currently, CCRCs can file for tax exemptions with the local property tax assessment board, whose members 'vet their information and decide, on a local basis, who pays more taxes and who pays less' Whipple explained. She held that CCRC exemptions 'should be a local matter, decided on the merits of each case.' It's a step too far, in my estimation, for county assessors to take policy decisions as their purview. – Senate tax committee chairman Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle 'I think each of these CCRCs are unique and individual. One size does not fit all. This bill would give them a free ride, while other folks over 65, paying their fair share, would not have that same advantage,' Whipple emphasized. 'It would increase the taxes for those elders — because any time you carve out a special interest group, then you increase taxes for other taxpayers.' Committee chairman Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, gave a cold reply. 'I think there are two roles for elected officials: some elected officials are in the administrative, policy-setting role, and others are ministerial. The problem I have with assessors dipping their toe into policy issues — as I see assessors as ministerial functions in counties — yours is merely to execute the law as it's presented to you,' Holdman said. 'We appreciate your position, but you are not a policymaker in the county, according to my rules. … It's a step too far, in my estimation, for county assessors to take policy decisions as their purview.' Sen. Chris Garten, also on the tax committee, doubled down. 'I feel like we have a lot of assessors who are flippant. … Part of the issue we're seeing is we've got elected assessors statewide — that when taxpayers call them to try to have a pragmatic conversation about property tax assessments — they flippantly respond and say, 'Property taxes aren't our issue. Call your state legislators,' Garten said. 'The majority of assessors … should be focused on the administrative functions of the job, and not policy.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
