Updated Legislative Analysis Matches Key Bills With Chamber Stance

By Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber president and CEO

The second edition of our 2025 Legislative Analysis is now available. This document details key bills introduced in the Indiana House and Senate that the Indiana Chamber has taken a position on and the reason for that stance. It’s been updated to remove dead bills at the legislative session midpoint and edit those that have been modified.

Bills of high importance to the Indiana Chamber are labeled with a priority icon.

We are encouraged that there is consensus to take additional action to make Indiana an even more attractive climate for employers and the workforce, and for simply a better life for Hoosiers. Policies such as making childcare and housing more affordable and accessible, along with initiatives to better align credentials with employer needs, are all moving forward.

There has been progress on infrastructure legislation to ensure necessary road funding and an adequate supply of reliable energy. There are increased efforts to lift up small businesses and entrepreneurs by establishing the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as well as critical investments in statewide economic development. And providing further business personal property tax relief will make the state a more attractive destination for investments and new jobs plus support further investment by Hoosier companies. The Indiana Chamber supports all these efforts and more to bring about economic prosperity and opportunity.

Property taxes

The Indiana Chamber commissioned a two-part study last year to assess the state’s tax landscape and then to offer practical recommendations. We will keep working with lawmakers and the Braun administration in the second half of session to prioritize transparent property tax reforms that balance relief for all taxpayers with the need for strong, sustainable communities.

While much of the 2025 legislative action has been positive, the Indiana Chamber highlights two missed opportunities so far:

Cigarette tax increase

Indiana is an unhealthy state, and one of the big culprits is Hoosiers’ high tobacco usage. This impacts the productivity of our workforce, healthcare costs and future economic prosperity in our state. So, it’s disappointing that raising the state’s very low cigarette tax is again not getting the buy-in needed, especially when you consider that the tax rate hasn’t changed in 17 years and the state has the 11th highest adult smoking rate in the nation. This is something that we should all be able to agree on.

Energy siting (determining the location and design of clean energy generating facilities)

Legislation addressing energy siting unfortunately was sidelined or greatly weakened. Finding a path forward to address local objections that frequently stall development is going to be vital to Indiana maintaining a robust, reliable energy grid. The Indiana Chamber will continue to advocate for a balanced framework that supports the state’s long-term energy and economic goals.