Rebecca Patrick, Author at Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Carbon Credit Program Amended and Approved by Senate Appropriations; Pair of Energy Bills Now Eligible for Full Senate Vote

Carbon Credit Program Amended and Approved by Senate Appropriations; Pair of Energy Bills Now Eligible for Full Senate Vote

SB 373 – Carbon Credit Programs Authored by Sen. Sue Glick (R-LaGrange); sponsored by Rep. Don Lehe (R-Brookston) This bill requires the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources, in consultation with Purdue University and other technical experts in the area of carbon verification and voluntary carbon credit markets, to study and make findings and [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-09T13:52:04-04:00April 9th, 2021|

Senate Passes Pregnancy Accommodation, COVID-19 Protection Legislation; House Passes Union Dues Bill; Pharmacy Benefit Mangers and Insurance Bills Await Fate

Senate Passes Pregnancy Accommodation, COVID-19 Protection Legislation; House Passes Union Dues Bill; Pharmacy Benefit Mangers and Insurance Bills Await Fate

House Bill 1309 (Pregnancy Accommodation), authored by Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown), passed the Senate 31-19 after a lengthy debate. The bill allows an employee to request an accommodation for the employee’s pregnancy and gives Indiana a law in line with the federal Pregnancy Accommodation Act and Americans With Disabilities Act. Specifically, the bill also prohibits an employer from disciplining, [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-20T21:22:19-04:00April 9th, 2021|

Bill Helping Small, Hospitality Businesses Headed to Governor’s Desk; Collection of Broadband Bills on The Move

Bill Helping Small, Hospitality Businesses Headed to Governor’s Desk; Collection of Broadband Bills on The Move

HB 1004 – Small Business Restart Grant Program Authored by Rep. Shane Lindauer (R-Jasper); co-authored by Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica) and Rep. Alan Morrison (R-Brazil); sponsored by Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen) Establishes the Hoosier hospitality small business restart grant program to provide grants to eligible entities to accelerate economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Establishes the [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-09T13:41:15-04:00April 9th, 2021|

Wetlands Bill Much Improved; Chamber Moves From Oppose to Support

Wetlands Bill Much Improved; Chamber Moves From Oppose to Support

SB 389 – Repeals State Regulated Wetlands Law Authored by Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown); sponsored by Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) This bill eliminates regulation of isolated wetlands (not federally determined) by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). It strikes the section of Indiana Code requiring a permit from IDEM for wetland activity in a state regulated wetland. The [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-09T13:32:19-04:00April 9th, 2021|

Senate Presents Own Budget; Let the Talks Begin

Senate Presents Own Budget; Let the Talks Begin

HB 1001 – State Budget Authored by Rep. Tim Brown (R-Crawfordsville) The budget bill appropriates money for the operation of the state, K-12 and higher education, the delivery of Medicaid and other services, and various other distributions and purposes. Chamber position: Support in Part The latest: The Senate Appropriations Committee finished reworking the House budget bill yesterday. Basically, it spends the [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-09T13:28:47-04:00April 9th, 2021|

Woefully Inadequate and Unacceptable E-cigarette Tax Proposed by Senate Republicans

Woefully Inadequate and Unacceptable E-cigarette Tax Proposed by Senate Republicans

Last week, Senate leader Rod Bray (R-Martinsville) indicated the e-liquids tax proposed in the Senate’s version of the budget would bring that segment in line with the traditional cigarette tax. Unfortunately, the Senate Republican amendment adopted yesterday in committee absolutely does not do that. The tax on vaping products is only 10 cents per milliliter of e-liquids; that’s entirely insufficient and arguably [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-09T13:25:09-04:00April 9th, 2021|

Chamber: ‘Woefully Inadequate’ and ‘Unacceptable’ E-cigarette Tax Proposed by Senate Republicans

(INDIANAPOLIS) — Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kevin Brinegar comments on the “woefully inadequate” tax on e-cigarette products offered today in the state budget: “A tax on vaping products of only 10 cents per milliliter for e-liquids is entirely insufficient and arguably worse than no increase at all. Last week, Senate Leader Rod Bray indicated the e-liquids [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-21T12:52:34-04:00April 8th, 2021|

Trio of Broadband Bills Unanimously Pass House Utilities Committee; Vote on Business Restart Grants Soon; New Coolest Thing Made in Indiana Competition

Trio of Broadband Bills Unanimously Pass House Utilities Committee; Vote on Business Restart Grants Soon; New Coolest Thing Made in Indiana Competition

Three Indiana Chamber-backed bills that would help expand broadband to all areas and populations of the state sailed through the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee on Monday: Senate Bill 352 (Broadband Development), authored by Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Salem), adds more competition and transparency to the state’s spending of taxpayer dollars for the expansion of broadband. Senate Bill 359 [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T14:20:59-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

Updates on COVID-19, Health Care and Insurance Legislation

House Bill 1002 (Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19), authored by Rep. Jerry Torr (R-Carmel), finally cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee (7-1) after three weeks of work on an amendment by Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) that would get the legislation in shape to pass. The bill protects health care providers from professional discipline for certain acts or omissions in response [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T13:03:45-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

Carbon Credit Program, Commercial Wind and Solar Standards Clear Committees

Carbon Credit Program, Commercial Wind and Solar Standards Clear Committees

SB 373 – Carbon Credit Programs Authored by Sen. Sue Glick (R-LaGrange); sponsored by Rep. Don Lehe (R-Brookston) Amends the law concerning the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust program to give the program additional powers relating to the reduction of carbon footprints. It also amends the law concerning the Clean Water Indiana Program to create a new account called [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T13:35:22-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

About Rebecca Patrick