By Michelle Allen, Office of Administrative Law Proceedings
The holiday season has come and gone, but it's not yet time to relax as Indiana’s government moves into its busiest time of the year: legislative session. In case you also hit the ground running in 2022, here are some quick links that will help get you up to speed on what’s happening at the Indiana Statehouse.
Indiana General Assembly
This page for the 2022 session lists every bill and its topic broadly.
What Bills to Watch this Year
HB 1001 would force businesses that require Covid-19 vaccinations to grant exemptions to workers claiming medical or religious reasons. (Related bills: SB 31 and SB 114). Tax cuts in HB 1002 would reduce Indiana’s individual income tax rate to a flat three percent. Education matters in HB 1040 & SB 167 will address partisan social issues, such as critical race theory, by requiring parental review of teaching materials. (Related bills SB 83 and SB 144.) A bill that gets traction every year is HB 1077 which would eliminate Indiana’s law that requires a person to have a license to carry a handgun.
Indiana Black Caucus 2022 Legislative Agenda
Economic empowerment is the focus of the Indiana Black Caucus which is pushing for legislation geared toward scholarships for students of color pursuing health care careers, measures to reduce the cost of child care and a pilot program aimed at helping parents attain an education.
Indy Chamber 2022 Legislative Agenda
The Indy Chamber is supporting many items this year including the ability for businesses to set the terms of employment (including the authority to require COVID-19 vaccinations or other basic health precautions), non-partisan school boards, equitable education funding for students living in poverty, DEI curriculum in classrooms, re-engagement of juveniles into the employment and education programs, revenue reforms that provide fiscal flexibility for local governments. Check out the 2022 legislative agenda online booklet.
Indiana Chamber 2022 Legislative Agenda
The Indiana Chamber is prioritizing economic recovery and modernization (oppose government mandates that prevent businesses from making autonomous decisions about vaccine requirements, increase incentives for remote work, expand capital investment tax credit and promote entrepreneurship among youth,) education/workforce development (enhance access and quality of childcare, support career readiness), set a statewide standard for renewable energy sources, taxation/public finance (oppose changes to the structure of the Indiana Tax Court as an independent judicial court), electric vehicle support, and capping reimbursement for ambulatory surgical centers. Check out 2022 key legislative issues.
Indiana State Teachers Association
ISTA’s primary initiatives are focused on restoring teachers’ ability to bargain contracts (health and safety conditions, class sizes and prep periods) and ensuring schools receive 100 percent funding for students who may have been counted as attending virtually due to COVID-19 quarantine. Check out the ISTA's 2022 legislative priorities.
Governor Holcomb’s Legislative Agenda
Another year has brought in the continued focus on economic development, education, training and workforce development, health and wellness development (reducing infant mortality), community development (strengthen cybersecurity and build roads and bridges and increase broadband), good government (third party review of state law enforcement agencies and focus on firefighting safety).
Governor Holcomb’s State of the State Address from Jan. 11, 2022
Indiana is the “shiny new buckle on what used to be known as the old Rust Belt.” Economy has grown its GDP, employment, residents and business headquarters. Indiana is investing in new energy (namely solar projects), education, employment, infrastructure and Hoosiers' mental health.
This year's session ends on March 14.
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