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The City of Bloomington Council meeting is happening soon, and we need YOUR voice! On March 5th at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, the Council will vote to approve the bonding for the Convention Center Expansion — this is the last hurdle before we can move forward with funding the project, and we need YOU there!  Why It Matters:
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 Anyone who has followed the state legislature for the past few cycles will have heard legislators sounding the alarm about our state's 3rd-grade reading proficiency. In the 2023 session, lawmakers passed a bill requiring schools to adopt a curriculum aligned with the science of reading--a structured learning approach that has been successful in improving literacy rates (read more the science of reading here). In the 2024 session, before there had even been a chance to analyze the results of the science of reading curriculum (spoiler alert: the 2023-24 IREAD results showed the largest single-year increase in 3rd grade literacy rates since 2013), legislators passed a bill requiring 3rd graders who don't pass the IREAD to be held back.
Given this seeming sense of urgency, it came as a surprise that the latest version of the state's budget bill did not include funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (IndyStar). The Imagination Library aims to support early literacy by sending age-appropriate books to children's homes from birth to the age of five. In 2023, Indiana began its relationship with the Imagination Library and approved $6 million across its biennial budget (IndyStar). Future funding, however, is now in peril. Instead of building on last year's IREAD scores and funding the mandate to improve childhood literacy, the Governor has indicated he will task the First Lady with spearheading an effort to get private investors for the project (WISHTV). Funding the Imagination Library would have helped the state walk the walk in terms of improving literacy rates with a proven program. Over 125,000 Hoosier children are reported to have signed up and joined the Imagination Library (WISHTV). It's no secret that kids do better when they get a head start on reading. Yet teachers and parents are now left with an unfunded mandate--a mandate to make sure their kids can read or else be held back all without the crucial funding of the state.  Today is the last day before the week-long break from session that marks the halfway point of the legislative calendar. All bills hoping to advance have to be voted out of their original chambers by end of day today. As I write this, the Senate has been locked in a debate for over 2 hours on SB 518 which would have massive implications for the redistribution of tax dollars between traditional public and charter schools.
Many bills have already had their fate sealed. This year saw many bills brought forward to decriminalize/legalize medical/recreational marijuana. All bills have failed to move forward. Many other bills targeting immigration and drugs such as Mifepristone and Misoprostol failed to make it out of their chambers as well. Many other bills, however, have made it out of their respective chambers and will be picked up by their counterparts after the break. Below are updates on some of the bills we have been following:
 The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce stands at the intersection of education and economic growth where our Success School exemplifies the partnership between public education and workforce development. Indiana's new high school diploma requirements mean that students must now complete 150 hours of work-based learning to better prepare them for postsecondary success. For over two decades, The Success School has been perfectly aligned with this initiative.
As we face potential changes to school funding through Indiana's Senate Bill 1 and 518, we must consider how reducing property tax revenue to public schools could impact essential career preparation programs that serve our community's future workforce. Our community-focused public school districts—Richland-Bean Blossom (RBB) and Monroe County Community School Corporations (MCCSC) —work hand-in-hand with the Chamber's Success School to deliver real-world career experiences that align with Indiana's Graduation Pathways initiative. This partnership provides students with invaluable opportunities for career shadowing, financial literacy education, internships, and professional mentorship—all crucial components in preparing career-ready graduates. As highlighted in this Indianapolis Star article about the impact of SB 518, investing in public education is not just about preparing students for the future—it’s about securing the long-term economic health of our region. By supporting teachers, expanding career exploration programs, and advocating for strong K-12 education policies, we are ensuring that businesses have access to a well-prepared talent pool and that our community continues to thrive. Chelsea Thompson, principal of IPS' William Penn Middle School, expressed concern that the proposed bill would severely impact the 6,000 students participating in work-based learning programs, describing the funding reduction as devastating for both the district and the broader community. She emphasized that weakening the district would have widespread consequences for the city and state, while also noting strong support for maintaining these vital programs. Taxpayer Accountability is Essential Unlike traditional public schools governed by locally elected boards, many charter schools operate without direct community oversight. Instead, state agencies or appointed boards oversee decisions, often with looser financial reporting with little regard for transparency. This means local taxpayers fund schools where they have little say in operations or spending, raising concerns on accountability. Indiana’s charter oversight has led to major financial and academic failures. Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy inflated enrollment by 14,000 students, improperly collecting $68 million and funneling $85 million to related companies, triggering a $154 million lawsuit. Carpe Diem Schools expanded too quickly and collapsed within a year, while The Mind Trust awarded a $800,000 fellowship to a charter operator who misrepresented credentials. These cases highlight the risks of weak oversight and the need for strong local control to protect public education funds. The State simply does not have the track record of oversight and compliance to expand this role. They have even less incentive when the tax dollars used are not from the State. Indiana’s Senate Bill 518 proposes sharing property tax revenue with charter schools, raising concerns about accountability and community oversight. The Chamber supports responsible investments in all educational institutions, but we also firmly believe that traditional public schools—accountable to taxpayers—are best positioned to prepare students for successful careers. Workforce Partnerships Traditional public schools already have established partnerships with workforce development organizations, businesses, and higher education institutions. Diverting local tax dollars to charter schools that lack public accountability risks undermining these efforts, potentially reducing access to business-led career programs like those provided by the Success School. If local tax revenue is allocated to charter schools:
Conclusion: A Strong Traditional Public School System is the Best Workforce Pipeline A thriving local economy depends on well-prepared graduates entering the workforce. Public schools, in partnership with Chambers of Commerce and business leaders, play a critical role in shaping Indiana’s next generation of workers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. By investing in K12 public education intuitions and supporting partnerships like the Success School, we can ensure that students graduate career-ready while strengthening our local economy. We urge policymakers to prioritize funding accountability, maintain strong business-school partnerships, and keep public education at the forefront of workforce development. The future of our economy starts in the classroom—let’s ensure our public schools have the tools to build it.  Indiana local governments need almost $1 billion more than they currently receive to maintain and preserve the condition of the roads and bridges (IndyStar). Over 80% of the state revenue for roads comes from fuel taxes. Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has noted that as cars get more fuel efficient, electric vehicles are becoming more popular, and as the cost of construction materials inflates, INDOT has already lost and will continue to lose revenue. To help combat this loss, the Indiana House of Representatives has introduced House Bill 1461. The bill introduces many ideas to get more funding for road construction and upkeep. The bill introduces ideas such as a new tax on food deliveries and rideshares, instituting more toll roads, and special taxes for Indianapolis (IndyStar).
A New Tax on Food Deliveries and Rideshares: Counties will have the option to administer an extra fee on food delivery in order to funnel a few extra million dollars toward road repairs. An analysis of the bill estimates that if all counties were to adopt this fee in 2026, local road revenue could potentially increase between $150 million and $190 million (IndyStar). The bill exempts smaller businesses making less than $1 million in sales annually, and delivery services or rideshares that facilitate less than $100,000 in transactions the previous year. This bill is really targeted toward deliveries made by companies such as DoorDash and Uber. A spokesperson from DoorDash estimated that if this tax were to be implemented statewide, there would be an additional $28 million paid in taxes, and merchants could lose more than $49 million due to lost business (IndyStar). There have been some worries about the fees affecting those of lower income who have a fixed budget and rely on these services for groceries and to get to work. The author of the bill, Jim Pressel, heard these criticisms but is skeptical that the burden would be that cumbersome compared to the fees already tacked on. Institute Toll Roads Indiana currently has one toll road in northern Indiana. Former governor Mitch Daniels leased that toll road in 2006 to a private company for almost $4 billion. INDOT could decide to lease a new toll road for another large sum of money, or it could contract with a concessionaire and share revenue. Fiscal analysis projects that tolling could result in an extra $850 million a year in revenue on average and $32 billion over a 22-year period (IndyStar). The major road funding bill of 2017 (HB 1002) gave INDOT the ability to pursue new toll roads with the approval of the governor and bypassing General Assembly approval. House Bill 1461 would remove two restrictions making it easier to implement toll roads; first, INDOT would not have to do a feasibility study beforehand, and second, if the agency applies for the requisite waiver from the federal government by July 1, it can toll lanes anywhere. Like the tax on food deliveries and rideshares, there have been some critiques. The president of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, Gary Langston, called tolling an “inefficient and inaccurate process” compared to fuel taxes and predicted the administrative costs to be higher. (IndyStar). Langston argued that these tolls would hurt the trucking industry as fuel-efficient trucks are not near being commercially available. He argued that the main proponents of tolling discuss how it is important to make all who use the roads pay for them and that fuel is going away, but none of those factors apply to the trucking industry. On the other hand, some argue that the benefit of tolling is to help Indiana reap the benefits of drawing out-of-state workers and travelers and it is important that they pay their fair share. There has been some research done on the tolling and its affordability when it comes to people experiencing low-income or economically disadvantaged groups. There has been a study done by the Oregon Toll Program that had some important takeaways such as the fact that tolls could be a more equitable way of funding transportation. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has said that without tolls, the costs of providing peak-period highway service are borne by more people than those who are using the highway. Tolls can be less burdensome to low-income drivers than systems that are based on taxes, such as car-registration tax, sales tax, and fuel tax. This is because many low-income drivers, for example, drive older vehicles that are not as fuel-efficient as newer models and pay higher fuel taxes for each mile driven. Another important takeaway that the study discussed was that people of all incomes travel at all times, but the research suggests that middle- and higher-income people are more likely to travel at the busiest times and thus are more likely to pay tolls. There are also concerns discussed in the study such as the impact on workers who are receiving lower pay, the barrier of electronic payment, and the cost and process to obtain a transponder. Tolls may make it difficult or too expensive for lower income workers to get to their jobs. Most entry level jobs may have readily available access to public transit, and even if there are those transit services, work hours are during off-peak times, making public transit use less appealing as an option. Not to mention, many low wage workers need to drive to retain their jobs. There have been efforts by other departments of transportation such as the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to establish income-based tolls. The next concern with barriers to electronic payment is that tolls rely on cashless electronic payments. There are some households that do not have credit cards, bank accounts, or cannot afford large deposits so that they may not be able to set up toll accounts, which may limit their use. To combat this, toll facilities are offering cash options for payments. Finally, the cost and process of obtaining a transponder can be a barrier. Most tolled facilities that use electronic toll collection offers discounts to those who register and use transponders. This is to encourage people to join into the system and lower the cost to monitor and enforce toll fees. However, for low-income drivers, the cost to purchase a transponder and pay monthly fees to maintain it can be a barrier. Additionally, distrust of the department of transportation and government systems can be a barrier for trust in signing up for an electronic transponder that follows where people drive. To address the financial impact on people and workers who are experiencing low-income, toll programs offer credits and rebates such as waving the monthly registration fees, free transponders, and credits for a certain number of trips taken per month. Many also argue that the administrative costs will outweigh the revenue gained from the tolls. There have been some tolls that are successful and generate revenue, while there are some that struggle to break even. Federal policy encourages the use of tolling to attract private investors into highway and bridge construction, but numerous private toll roads have been financial failures. The administrative costs of toll collection are much higher than the cost of fuel tax collection. According to a CBS report, even with extensive use of electronic tolling, collecting highway tolls cost between 8% and 13% of the amount collected. Special Taxes for Indianapolis: House Bill 1461 would give Indianapolis the option to put a referendum question to Marion County voters on whether to raise property tax to pay for road work. This bill would also triple the size of the wheel and excise taxes that Marion County could choose to levy on those who register vehicles in the county. The city is open to the idea of the property tax referendum but is opposed to increasing its wheel and excise taxes. All of these are just ideas in order to fill the funding gap to maintain and improve roads in Indiana. These all have their advantages and their critiques that need to be worked out. As of right now, the bill has had a first reading and has been referred to the Committee on Roads and Transportation. House Bill 1461 is just one of many bills that the Chamber is following right now.  We're roughly a month into the legislative session and here at the Chamber we've been working hard to keep track of a number of bills.
One of the biggest topics has been property taxes. We've been tracking upwards of 15 separate pieces of legislation having to do with property taxes and assessments. While most are still awaiting a hearing, SB 1 was recently heard in committee. Lawmakers have been trying to thread the needle between providing much-needed relief to homeowners without decimating municipal revenues. It seems that striking such a balance is proving to be quite difficult. An article from WTHR provides a good synopsis of the competing interests. It is still quite early in the session and there is time yet for legislators to come up with a solution that works for all parties. We'll keep tracking this legislation to see what they come up with. Not only are we following legislation, but we are, when necessary, speaking on legislation as well. Our O'Neill Advocacy Fellow Josh Levesque testified in front of the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1080. This bill, authored by Rep. Peggy Mayfield, would allow Ellettsville to set up its own food and beverage tax to help keep pace with the recent growth the community has seen. Other local legislators have also seen some movement on their legislation. Sen. Koch's SB 4 deals with regulations around long haul water pipelines. It has passed the Senate and is now awaiting action in the House. Sen. Yoder helped to author SB 14 which loosens regulations around vegetable gardens in residential districts. This bill has also passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House. Rep. Hall's HB 1245 has made its way through committee and should soon face a vote in the full House. This bill would allow certain counties with state parks to impose a surcharge of not more than $1 in addition to gate fees. The revenue generated could be used for public safety and infrastructure improvements. Other areas that have seen movement include teacher compensation, restricting minor access to social media, and reducing chronic absenteeism. Many other topics are yet to be addressed, but with 2 months left in the session, a lot can still happen.  Blue Zones are places around the world with the healthiest, longest living populations. The phrase was coined by Dan Buettner in 2004, who was a National Geographic Explorer and Fellow. Buettner and his team traveled the world in search of communities where people not only lived longer but also enjoyed a high quality of life in their old age. After all their travel and analyzing demographic data, they named five regions that stood out for their extraordinary longevity. The five regions include Okinawa, Japan, Nicoya, Costa Rica, Ikaria, Greece, Sardina, Italy, and Loma Linda, California. These are all areas where there is a high concentration of centenarians and low rates of chronic diseases. The studies that Buettner and his team have done revealed that genetics and lifestyle factors have played a role in their longevity. Some lifestyle factors involved include a plant-based diet, exercise, and strong social connections. (Blue Zones).
Blue Zones are beneficial in many ways such as encouraging better eating habits with plant-based and whole grain diets, increased exercise habits such as walking and manual labor, and emphasizing the importance of having strong social and family connections. Main Ideas and Benefits of the Blue Zone Diet:
Critiques of Blue Zones: While many see the Blue Zone lifestyle as a way to live longer and promote a healthier lifestyle, there are several contrasting opinions by people who feel the lifestyle may be overhyped or inaccurate.
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