Latest news with #TravisHoldman
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
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana legislative session 2025 halfway point: A look at bills that advanced, died
Bills about the Indiana-Illinois border, Gary paying back casino fees and immigration have advanced, while an early voting bill, abortion bills and a Crown Point food and beverage tax have died — at least for the moment — as the Indiana 2025 legislative session reached the halfway mark. Both chambers of the legislature met Thursday to give final approval to dozens of bills. Bills that hadn't been heard in committee by Monday won't be able to advance on their own. When the session reconvenes March 3, bills will switch chambers for consideration. On occasion, language from failed bills gets amended to other bills late in the session. The 2025 legislative session is a budget session. Lawmakers will determine how to spend $44 billion for schools, health care programs, and infrastructure among other state-funded departments and programs. The House approved, along party lines, a biennial budget Thursday. Republicans praised the budget for being fiscally responsible, while Democrats opposed the budget for falling short of fully funding schools, Medicaid and other services. 'It's opportunity for parents to make the choice for the best place for their children to attend school. It's the opportunity for Hoosiers to live in a state with an extremely bright future. It's opportunity for Hoosiers to be in a state that has a structurally balanced budget with healthy reserves,' said Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, who authored the budget, which is in House Bill 1001. Property tax cuts put pressure on municipal, school budgets Senate Bill 1, authored by Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, is a massive property tax relief plan that is the Republican supermajority's main priority for this legislative session. The bill, though amended, still takes $1 billion away from local governments and school districts. 'We just think there's a fine line that we have to walk to make sure that we are careful to be responsible to the local units of government and at the same time provide some relief to tax payers,' Holdman said. Senate Bill 1 changes the percentage cap used to determine the maximum levy growth quotient to 0% in 2026, 1% in 2027 and 2% in 2028; and allows a county fiscal body to establish a property tax payment deferral program, where up to $10,000 can be deferred and the deferment becomes a lien on the property. Senate Bill 1 offers tax deductions to those 65 years old and older and those who are disabled, establishes a firsttime home buyer tax credit, and allows for local governments to utilize a levy referendum during even-year general elections. The bill was amended to remove Gov. Mike Braun's property tax relief plan he campaigned on. The bill initially stated a homestead standard deduction amount of 60% of the homestead's assessed value if the value is more than $125,000 or $48,000 plus 60% of the remaining assessed value if the homestead has an assessed value of $125,000 or less. The fiscal impact of the amended bill would cut $1.4 billion across the state between 2026 and 2028, including $370.9 million from schools, $67 million from libraries, $304.3 million from cities and towns, and $346.6 million from counties. It is less than the original plan, which would have cut $1.9 billion from schools, $254 million from libraries, $890 million from cities and towns, and $765 million from counties. Michael Hicks, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, said Senate Bill 1 would cut about $1 billion for local governments at a time when local government is operating 'leaner now than it has been anytime that we've been keeping data, at least since the late 1960s.' Local governments use property tax funds to pave roads, provide police and fire service, and maintain park and recreation facilities, Hicks said. Democrats have stated they are pleased Senate Bill 1 was amended, but that it still negatively impacts local governments. Under Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 518, authored by Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, funds from a school corporation referendum have to be shared with area charter schools as of May 2025, which would cause public schools to cut their budgets further, Democrats said. 'SB 518 was sold as a way to 'fairly' fund education, but the reality is far different. This bill does not increase funding for schools. It does not improve outcomes for students. It does not invest in the future of Indiana's education system. Instead, it shifts the financial burden of charter school funding away from the state and onto local homeowners — while 90% of Hoosier students continue to attend traditional public schools,' the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus said in a statement. Senate Bill 2, authored by Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, passed and would place restrictions on Medicaid, such as work requirements for moderate-income Hoosiers who are in the Healthy Indiana Plan and are between the ages of 19 to 64. Any changes to the state's Medicaid program would have to be approved by federal officials. The bill also creates a program cap, which threatens access for hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers. The bill includes 11 exemptions for the work requirement, including volunteering, receiving unemployment, or participating in a substance abuse program. Mishler called Senate Bill 2 his attempt to 'right-size' Medicaid, which has grown exponentially in the wake of the pandemic. In the last four years, Medicaid costs have grown by $5 billion and participants have nearly doubled — from 390,000 to 750,000. Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said the legislators have to reckon with maintaining Medicaid services amid the inaccurate projection by $984 million for its Medicaid expenditure forecast in April 2023. The missed projection was the result of state reversions and unanticipated growth of services for aging and disabled residents. The bill would end the expansion of Medicaid in Indiana. The bill would take the state back to the initial version of the Healthy Indiana Plan, where through a waiver the state controls who is added to the plan, Qaddoura said. 'We're effectively killing Medicaid expansion in the state of Indiana under the federal law,' Qaddoura said. Senate Bill 287, authored by Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville, Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, and Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, advanced. It would change the school board election process to that of other elections, requiring candidates to declare a party and a primary and general election. 'I want a person that may have the same ideologies as I do sitting on that board. Currently, there are many citizens that don't know that when they are voting,' Byrne said when the bill was in committee. 'People go down the ballot, and they get to school board, and they don't know who or the ideologies or the beliefs that they have … and they just don't vote. I believe this would increase voter participation.' Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, said making school board elections partisan would discourage people from running for school boards. The bill would also go against the Hatch Act, which prohibits state and local government employees from running for partisan political office, she said. Indiana House Bill 1008, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, is headed to the Senate. It would establish an Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission to research the possibility of adjusting the boundaries between the two states. Though it's unlikely Illinois would ever pass a companion bill, a commission would include five members appointed by the Indiana governor and five members appointed by Illinois. Huston drafted the bill after he learned that nearly three dozen Illinois counties have voted in recent years to leave the state, he said. In November, seven Illinois counties — Iroquois, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Madison and Perry counties — voted to secede from the state. Iroquois County is along the Indiana border, the remaining six counties are closer to Missouri. To change a state line, the U.S. Constitution dictates that the Indiana legislature, the Illinois legislature and then Congress would have to approve the measure, said Indiana University Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs professor Paul Helmke. House Bill 1008 begins the conversation of moving the state line, Huston said. Illinois State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, has filed a companion bill in Illinois, Huston said. Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, voted in favor of the bill when it was in committee but ultimately voted against it when it was considered by the House. Ahead of her vote, Hatcher addressed the House and asked for the Republican supermajority to be as considerate of Democrats in Indiana as they are to Illinois residents. 'I understand what it means to be overlooked. Time and time again, legislation directly affecting Gary has been introduced and advanced by lawmakers from other areas without input from those of us who actually represent the community,' Hatcher said. Two immigration bills – House Bill 1531 and House Bill 1393 – advanced to the Senate. House Bill 1531, authored by Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, ties state funding to the enforcement of federal immigration law by state and local governments, police and businesses. House Bill 1531 was amended to remove language requiring schools to report undocumented students. House Bill 1393, authored by State Rep. Garrett Bascom, R-Lawrenceburg, allows police officers who arrest someone for a felony or misdemeanor and has probable cause to believe the person isn't a legal resident should notify the county sheriff. The sheriff will then report the person to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sophia Arshad, a Merrillville immigration attorney, said House Bill 1393 allows for racial profiling. A bill that would require the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission to submit an annual budget to the Lake County Council before Sept. 1 of each year for a nonbinding review advanced to the House. Senate Bill 40 co-author Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, said the commission oversees a $6 million budget. While the current commissioners have done a good job allocating the funds, Niemeyer said a future makeup of the commission may not be as fiscally responsible. Dan Repay, the executive director of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, previously said the commission understands 'that people want to see what's going on and we don't have an issue with doing that.' Senate Bill 187, authored by Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, wants the term of anyone serving on a county property tax assessment board of appeals who isn't an Indiana resident to expire July 1. The fiscal body, which is the council in Lake County, would then be required to appoint a new member to finish out the member's term. Dernulc said he drafted the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, after learning about Lake County PTABOA member Samantha Steele, who is also a Cook County Board of Review commissioner and was arrested for driving under the influence in Chicago late last year. House Bill 1448 — which passed the House — requires the city of Gary to pay more than $12 million to East Chicago and Michigan City. Ahead of Thursday's vote, author Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, said the bill works to fix 'a misalignment of gaming revenue that was altered for four years through the movement of a gaming license and a hold harmless agreement.' 'We've got to get this straightened out and give the comptroller the authority to get that taken care of. This is a compromise solution,' Slager said. Northwest Indiana is throwing its hat into the ring – again – to court the Chicago Bears to build a stadium in the region. The courtship, though, is an open one as a new bill — approved by the House and headed to the Senate — aims to attract any sports franchise to Northwest Indiana. House Bill 1292, authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, would establish a Northwest Indiana professional sports development commission, which would study plans to attract one or more professional sports franchises. Harris said the commission would explore attracting professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer teams. 'The Bears are the big boy, so that has received the most attention. Honestly, I would love it if The Bears moved their location over to Northwest Indiana, but we are open to any sport,' Harris said. Early in the session. Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, pulled a bill that would create a food and beverage tax for Crown Point after further discussion with the city's chamber of commerce. Olthoff said chamber of commerce officials raised questions about how much money the tax would generate and a specific plan for spending the funds. As setting the tax and what it can be spent on is negotiable, Olthoff said there wasn't 'a full answer on that.' The money collected from the tax, an estimated $1.182 million in 2026, would've been used for expansion and improvement of the Crown Point Sportsplex, Bulldog Park and Sauerman Woods Park; repairs and future development of the historic Lake County Courthouse and Lake County Jail; development and expansion of downtown parking capacity and amenities near the square and courthouse; and development and expansion of a multi-use trails. Senate Bill 284, authored by Byrne, would shorten in-person absentee voting to 7 days. The bill was amended in committee to 14 days from the current 28 days. Lake County Election and Voter Registration Board director Michelle Fajman testified against the bill because Lake County voters have really started utilizing early in-person voting in recent years. Fajman said she disagreed with a point the committee discussed that fewer people vote in the first 14 days of early in-person voting. County election officials should have a voice in their early in-person voting setup, she said, because they know the trends of their voters best. In Lake County, 90,049 voters voted early in-person in the 2024 presidential election, Fajman said. For that many people to vote in two weeks or one week would become hectic, she said. 'We like having the full amount of time. We'd like to do more,' Fajman said. 'Early voting serves a purpose. We're one of the worst in the nation with voter turnout, and here we're trying to limit it.' The Senate Elections Committee passed the bill 6-3. But, Byrne never called the bill for a vote from the whole Senate. Senate Bill 201, authored by Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Indianapolis, would have required voters to choose their political parties in a primary election. It was never heard in committee. Slager authored House Bill 1110, which would make it a Class A misdemeanor for a person to offer a payment to a public official as a reward for action taken or for a public servant to solicit or accept a payment as a reward for an act taken. The bill was never heard in committee. Two abortion pill bills — Senate Bill 245 and Senate Bill 171 — were never heard in committee. Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, authored Senate Bill 171 which would prohibit someone from knowingly or intentionally prescribing or possessing an abortion-inducing drug or sending an abortion-inducing drug to a person who lives in Indiana. Senators Tyler Johnson, R-Leo, and Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, authored Senate Bill 245, which would make it a Level 5 felony if someone intentionally gives a pregnant woman Mifepristone or Misoprostol without her consent. Jennifer Drobac, a professor of law emerita at Indiana University, said the bills prove the legislators don't understand the uses of Mifepristone or Misoprostol, which can be used to terminate a pregnancy but also regulate other conditions. The bills also would've caused harm to the low-income, marginalized women who can't afford to travel out of state to get an abortion, she said. akukulka@
