Legislative Update

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:
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• SB 1 underwent numerous changes before being passed by the Senate 37-10. Much of the language that would've completed wiped out property tax revenue for municipalities is gone and this bill attempts to find some sort of compromise. However, Gov. Braun has indicated that he likely won't sign it.
• SB 2 could bring some big changes to Medicaid eligibility as the state works to wrestle with ballooning costs.
• SB 126 which require a municipality to obtain 51% of property owner signatures for annexation has passed the Senate. Rep. Hall's HB 1362 has been amended to include the same 51% threshold after originally requiring a 2/3 majority.
• SB 146 would raise the teacher minimum pay at $45k. This bill has passed the Senate and now awaits action in the House
• School board races could now become partisan races if SB 287, already passed in the Senate, makes it through the House
• HB 1001 contains the state budget and was passed earlier today.
• HB 1004 would impose excise taxes on hospitals when they charge facility fees exceeding the average fee charged to Medicaid patients
• HB 1080, allowing Ellettsville to establish its own food and beverage tax, has passed the House and now awaits action in the Senate.

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