Indiana's 2024 whirlwind legislative session drew to a close on Friday, March 8th. Leadership in both chambers had signaled an intent to keep this year's session short--presumably to allow members maximum time to campaign in an election year. While brief, this session still had its fair share of fireworks (particularly around dedicated bus lanes, wetlands, child labor, higher education, and antisemitism) and a number of bills have been sent to Governor Holcomb for his signature.

Two bills that the Chamber tracked and publicly took a stance on met different fates. HB 1108, authored by Rep. Dave Hall, passed both chambers and was signed into law by the Governor. This bill eases slope restrictions for residential development, expanding the amount of usable land for housing in Monroe County. Given Monroe County's extreme housing shortage, the Chamber supports a variety of housing options to help ease the pressure on the market. Check out our previous Advocacy Matters post for the Chamber's testimony on this bill.

SB 52, which would have prohibited dedicated bus lanes, looked as if it was on course to pass both chambers before falling at the 11th hour. While this bill was nominally intended to target Indianapolis' Blue Line, the Chamber raised concerns about the impact such legislation could have on planned transit projects in Monroe County and the way in which federal funding for future projects could be jeopardized. A deal between the City of Indianapolis, statehouse leaders, and IndyGo means this bill did come for a final vote in the House. IndyGo-related legislation has become somewhat of a theme in recent statehouse sessions so don't be surprised if this issue comes up again next session.

Other bills that got a lot of attention included:

• HB 1383 which critics claim strips protections for the state's few remaining wetlands--signed by the governor
• HB 1093 repeals some restrictions on working hours for 16-18 year olds and provides exemptions for 16-18 year olds to work on hazardous farm jobs--signed by the governor
• SB 202 links university tenure and promotions to the encouragement of free expression and intellectual/political diversity--signed by the governor
• A number of bills such as SB 2 and HB 1102 were passed in an attempt to address Indiana's ongoing childcare shortages--both bills were signed by the governor
• HB 1002 aimed to define antisemitism as discrimination in educational settings. This bill attracted a large amount of controversy due the very specific definitions of antisemitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. A compromise definition was reached but the bill was vetoed by Gov. Holcomb who expressed concerns that the compromise language may be confusing and not adequate enough
• Two local legislators, Sen. Shelli Yoder and Rep. Peggy Mayfield, collaborated to try and repeal the sales tax for menstrual products. Rep. Mayfield was able to get a provision added to SB 256 when it was heard in the House. However, this provision was struck in the final compromise version of the bill agreed upon by the House and Senate.

Having worked as a legislative assistant in the two legislative sessions prior this one, it was a strange feeling not being at the Statehouse every day getting intimately involved with the various pieces of legislation. Session, whether long or short, is often chaotic but I have fond memories of my time there and encourage everyone to watch session (either online or in-person in the gallery) and committee hearings. I firmly believe in civic engagement and that it is important for residents across our state to understand how the legislative process works.

This week saw legislators return from a mini-break to discuss and vote on bills from opposite chambers. Bills that did not pass out of their original chamber are essentially done for the session (though bills that were not explicitly voted down can still be amended into other bills). The process from the first half of the session repeats itself. Bills are heard in committee, opened up for amendments on 2nd reading, and voted up or down on 3rd reading. If a bill differs from how it passed in the original chamber, it will often go to a conference committee where representatives from each chamber will work out a compromise bill for a final vote. Bills that are passed are then sent to the Governor to either sign or veto. Both chambers are statutorily obligated to end this session no later than April 14th, though leaders have suggested they'd like to end a week earlier.

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce has been tracking numerous bills. Two bills that the Chamber submitted testimony for have passed their original chambers and are currently being debated. SB 52 prohibits the use of dedicated lanes for public transportation projects. Given the impact this bill could have on any potential transit projects in Bloomington (particularly the East-West corridor), the Chamber spoke in opposition to this bill. Transit is essential to connecting people to homes, work, and amenities. You can read our testimony below.

The Chamber also submitted testimony in support of Rep. Dave Hall's HB 1108. This bill would ease slope restrictions for development from 15% to 25% while making protections for watershed areas. Given the affordable housing crisis that Monroe County is facing, the Chamber supports this legislation. Easing development restrictions will increase housing supply and bring much-needed relief to our community. You can read our testimony below.

To stay up-to-date on legislative happenings, you can always visit iga.in.gov/

The Indiana State Legislative Session kicked off on January 8th. At the end of the 2nd week, some bills in both houses have passed the first hurdle of making it through their committee, some have been assigned to their chamber's respective rules committee (essentially the legislative graveyard), and one bill has even managed to get a second chance after initially being left for dead in rules committee.

As is customary during the first week, caucus leaders in both chambers highlighted their priorities and hopes for the upcoming session. House and Senate leaders pointed to a desire for a relatively simple session after years of heavy-hitting controversial sessions. As a former staffer, however, I'm still expecting a few flashpoints and won't be changing the channel quite yet. By-and-large, leadership in both chambers indicated an interest in addressing childcare needs (something highlighted by the state chamber), reading proficiency levels, and workforce development.

With this being a shorter session, things will pick up speed over the coming weeks. The last day for the House to hear bills in committee is January 30th and the last day for the Senate is February 1st. Bills will then have to be passed by their respective chamber before being swapped and heard in the other chamber where the process will start again. With a goal to adjourn by April 14th, expect some twists and turns over the coming months.

For a full list of bills for the 2024 session, you can visit this site. Bills that are still alive will be displayed in blue and bills that have died will be displayed in gray. You can also use this link to see what legislation your elected officials have put forward and where that legislation stands. If you need a refresher as to who represents you at the Statehouse, you can search here by entering in your address. Committees and floor sessions are also available for online viewing both live and recorded. Upcoming committee meetings can be found on the main landing page of the iga.in.gov website. To access recordings from committees or floor sessions, you can use this link and select the specific recording you're trying to watch.​

With "downtown aesthetics" garnering a lot of attention on our recent 2024 Legislative Priorities survey and Indianapolis' recent proposal for an Economic Enhancement District, we thought it might be helpful to break down some of the core ideas of these enhancement and improvement districts.

Similar districts to the one proposed in Indianapolis have been implemented in a number of metropolitan areas like Denver, San Diego, and Columbus, Ohio. While the finer details may vary, these districts are often funded through specialized tax or other assessed revenue streams paid by property owners in the district. In Indianapolis' plan, as highlighted by the IndyStar, homeowners pay a fixed fee of $250/year while the fee for all other property owners is just under 17% of the property's gross assessed value. Indy hopes to collect an annual $5.5 million to put towards public safety, homelessness outreach, cleaning services/maintenance, a low barrier housing shelter, and more. These districts, and their funds, are usually managed by a board represented by various property owners within the district.

These districts are not without their share of controversy, however, and considerations should be made when deciding whether or not to implement them. Some critics argue that local government entities should be the ones responsible for maintenance of public areas and that they should foot the bill, not downtown property owners. Critiques also revolve around perceptions of special treatment for downtown property owners who receive these services while other property owners may not. Finally, some concerns exist about the potential for inequitable representation on district boards and who will have a voice (and a place) in these districts.

Indianpolis' new Economic Enhancement District will be an interesting case study for how the process works in Central Indiana and may offer some templates for Bloomington should they also want to consider a specialized downtown district in the future.

Thanksgiving is around the corner and that means we're creeping towards winter and colder temperatures (though it's a reasonable 66 degrees as I write this). That means many are going to be checking their furnace filters and preparing to crank up the heat. With the cost of living still quite high, however, the added energy costs can put a real strain on budgets. Here are some tips from Duke Energy to help you track your energy usage and save.

Tracking Energy Use
Customers with a Duke online account can track their usage online or through the mobile app. More information can be found here. Customers can also sign up to receive usage alerts via email or text.

Flexible Payments
Duke offers interest-free installment plans and due date extensions. Customers can also sign up for budget billing which lets them pay one predictable amount (adjusted periodically) every month. Additionally, customers can pick their own due date to better account for other expenses or to align with paychecks.

Financial Assistance
Duke partners with the Indiana Community Action Association to administer and distribute the Share the Light Fund to qualifying customers. The State of Indiana also administers an energy assistance program to provide assistance to customers in heating their homes.

You can read more about Duke Energy's programs here.

After ten 2.5-hour sessions, and topics ranging from evidence to domestic violence, and social work to firearms, I had the pleasure of graduating from the City of Bloomington Citizens Police Academy hosted by the Bloomington Police Department (BPD).  

Unlike many of the other dozen or so participants, this was not about me reliving my interest in being a cop or my appreciation of crime shows (I do enjoy the French Connection). Never has this career path crossed my mind. In contrast, my role at The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is to advocate for business. One area we have prioritized during the last two years remains public safety. This was the ideal opportunity to gain experience firsthand about an issue I deal with as part of my professional and residential life as a homeowner in Bloomington.  Plus, I am a proud alum of the Residence Academy and Leaders Bloomington-Monroe County.  I enjoy civic engagement, learning about my community and the people who make it such a wonderful place to live. 

Coming into the class, my interactions over the last 11 years with the BPD have been nothing but positive. Previously, I had done ride-alongs with officers as part of my local government MPA. I found them engaging and far more humorous than I was expecting. The times I have been pulled over for a traffic stop in town (California stops), the officers have been nothing but courteous. In contrast, before moving here, I would describe my view of policing in this country as negative through first-hand experience. This is putting it mildly. 

My role in these academy sessions was not simply to pile on praise to law enforcement officials for their sacrifice but to ask tough questions, and to bring to light issues from the public safety angle. "Why not do it this way?" Being in a small class provided me with the luxury of having these pointed conversations. I came away impressed with the dedication, the service, and the community nature of the BPD. The culture there goes a long way in removing bad apples. That culture at BPD is enhanced by the rigorous hiring standards it upholds that are in line with this community's values. 

The course itself was enjoyable.  Multiple firsthand activities included a domestic dispute simulation with prop firearms, a tour and demonstration at the Dispatch Center, a look inside the armored rescue vehicle, an up-close look at various narcotics detained in evidence, and an illustration of how their defense tactics work. I had the wherewithal not to volunteer for the last one. 

​Takeaway:  Important to judge the BPD by their own actions and not by the general state of policing in this country
Highlight:   Getting car sick in the back seat of a police vehicle while driving during a training module exercise on a terminal at the Monroe County Airport   

Last night, I attended State Senator Shelli Yoder's Town Hall at the public library on Kirkwood. Sen. Yoder hosted last night's town hall, coupled with tonight's in Ellettsville, to hear from constituents about their priorities ahead of the upcoming 2024 legislative session. Having recently worked with the State Senate, it felt good to get back amongst the hubbub of state politics and to hear what was on people's minds. The event was well-attended for a Wednesday evening and the audience was engaged. Topics of discussion ranged from wetland protections to student engagement, to gun issues, eliminating the pink tax. Even the upcoming referendum got a mention in a larger conversation about school funding and vouchers. As a government/political junkie, the factoid that caught my attention is that senators are limited to filing only 5 bills this year. This continues a policy that began during COVID. Previously, in non-budget years, Senators could file an unlimited number of bills. Last year they were limited to 15. The year before that, they were limited to 10 for a non-budget year. This year, the limit is 5. This will certainly force Senators to prioritize and will limit the amount of action they can take on issues this upcoming session.

The 2024 Session will officially commence on Nov. 21 for Organization Day and will reconvene in January 2024.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce recently released the results of its16th annual employer survey. Notably, 68% of respondents felt that Indiana is headed in the right direction. While still a challenge, the results of this survey indicate that workforce readiness and retention is trending in the right direction. The percentage of employers reporting that the supply of qualified applicants doesn't meet their needs has dropped from 72% in 2021 to 52% in 2023. While 67% of respondents reported leaving jobs open in the past year due to underqualified applicants, this has dropped from 74% in 2022. Nonetheless, 42% indicated that attracting and retaining workers remains their biggest challenge.

Identifying the external factors negatively impacting talent attraction & retention, employers responded that childcare and housing were top issues. Despite this, only 13% reported either onsite childcare or an offsite partnership and only 7% reported some sort of childcare subsidy or reimbursement. The State Chamber pointed to a new $25 million Employer-Sponsored Childcare Fund and the adoption of policy recommendations by an interim study committee, but more time is needed to see whether business take advantage of this fund and whether the recommendations are adopted by the full legislature.

I took advantage of early voting at Election Central.   My residency is in Bloomington District 5.  Unfortunately there were no contested races on my ballot.  Even the at-large council races have clear winners before election day.    However, do not sleep on the MCCSC Referendum that allows every resident in the school district to make their voice heard. 

This referendum is coming only a year after MCCSC put forward a voter mechanism for pay increases in salary for both teachers and administrative staff members.  Voters approved that measure by more than 2/3rds.  This time around, funding goes toward pre-school and secondarily certification/credit fees students incumber.  Listening to Monroe County Commissioners meeting this morning,  Commissioner Githens indicated a 50 percent capacity issue with early-childhood care from a BEDC report.  We were fortunate enough to have MCCSC Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hauswald at the Chamber's Advocacy Council who did an excellent job of explaining the need, the plan, and the cost.  The debate has become muddled with a pair of Herald Times pieces HERE and HERE.  However, talking with several key stakeholders in the early childhood education area, those pieces were misleading in some of their claims.  The plan has been worked out to include both increases capacity and provide passthrough funds to Level 3 and 4 to families that meet the income requirements.  

The Chamber is proud to have played a role in convening business leaders and service providers for a conversation regarding mental health, substance use disorder, and homelessness. This insightful conversation gave service providers the opportunity to discuss best practices and areas for growth while business leaders were able to highlight some of the serious concerns they have. We believe that creating a space for providers and the community to come together was important for a frank and honest discussion. As our President Eric Spoonmore alluded to, this issue is not unique to Bloomington. Our city, however, can distinguish itself in its response by working together to come up with compassionate and practical solutions. We look forward to further conversations followed by actions to achieve those ends.
​This event was chalk full of information and any one topic could be the subject of a dissertation. What caught my attention—particularly as it relates to the business community—was the talk about the need for people to stand by the side of those going through various crises to help them find the solid footing they need. One panelist mentioned the work Cook has done to provide second chance employment opportunities while also offering a wide range of services and resources to help people get the support they need. As the saying goes, “It takes a village”, and our business community can be part of that village. In conjunction with service providers, we should look at how we can work to lower barriers for employment for those with patchy work history or criminal records. We should look at how we can implement different programs and services to help people make the most of their second chances. One question from the audience asked how members of the community can make a difference even if it is by dedicating an hour of their day once a month. If our business community can help set up mentoring programs or a buddy system to help provide support for those in need, that can go a long way in making a difference. Relationships are the most important way to help people make it through tough times and a dedicated program to help foster these relationships can truly make a difference. I believe we can help be that village of support.

The full recording of the event is avaible below and can also be found on CATS via this link.
We asked our panelists some follow-up questions from audience members after the event. You can view their responses here.