HB 1001 / Chamber Supports
The two-year state budget gained Senate approval (40-10) on the final day for House bills to be considered in the chamber last week. That approval came the day after an hours-long debate over dozens of amendments. Members of the Senate introduced 84 amendments and considered nearly half of them before ending their work Monday. The Senate adopted six amendments offered by members of the majority before defeating nearly all the amendments offered by Democrats. For over an hour, Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis) offered 16 amendments, all of them defeated mostly along party lines.
House Bill 1001 now includes two provisions impacting Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)-administered programs. An amendment offered by Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) to expand the Capital for Collaborative Communities program and intended to fund proposals beyond just capital and infrastructure was adopted. The program may now consider proposals to: (1) attract and retain residents with a degree or postsecondary credential, (2) incentivize collaboration between K-12, higher education and employers, (3) launch marketing campaigns targeted at young professionals and (4) increase availability of affordable childcare facilities.
Senator Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) offered an amendment requiring that at least 10% of the IEDC deal-closing fund must be used in counties with a population under 50,000. This adopted provision is problematic as it limits the availability of funding as well as IEDC discretion.
Members of the Budget Conference Committee were announced and the committee met the day after the state revenue forecast was released. Fiscal leaders in the Legislature and the Governor’s administration must now negotiate the differences between the different versions of the legislation. The state revenue forecast was significantly higher than the December 2022 predictions. It is estimated that the state will collect $1.5 billion more than previously reported. This rosy fiscal picture will make budget negotiations more difficult as various groups and associations make last minute funding requests.
It is common for the finalized budget bill to be distributed and held for 24 hours before a vote is taken. Expect the budget to be released as early as Wednesday.
