I was proud to support major tax cuts during the 2023 legislative session. Most importantly, Indiana's income tax will drop to 2.9% over the next four years. This permanent tax cut is expected to save Hoosiers over $1 billion by 2027, including more than $100 million in 2024 alone.

In addition:

• Indiana doubled the income tax deduction parents can claim for a new child.
  
  
• Members of the Armed Forces and National Guard will be totally exempt from state income tax on their military pay starting in 2024.
  
  
• Hoosier businesses, especially small businesses, will see over $50 million in federal tax savings through a new law making more LLCs and S corps eligible for a federal tax deduction already available to larger corporations.
  
  
• Indiana coupled the earned income tax credit to the federal credit requirements as of Jan. 1, 2023, which will make it easier for families to claim the credit in Indiana and save them an estimated $20 million per year.
  
  
• Going forward, the General Assembly will review our entire state and local tax system and consider ways to lower the income tax and/or property taxes on homes.
  

EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Mental health is an issue affecting many individuals, families and communities. According to the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, approximately 22% of Hoosiers experience mental illness each year, and half with serious mental illness go untreated. That's why Indiana's new state budget allocates an additional $100 million for mental health resources. This new funding is being used to lay the groundwork to expand the number of certified community behavioral health clinics throughout Indiana and increase crisis response services, which is a Senate Republican priority.

Hoosiers should also be aware of the following resources.

• The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available by dialing 9-8-8, allows a caller to speak with a trained crisis specialist.
  
  
• BeWellIndiana is a free confidential resource to call if an individual is feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed or alone. Simply dial 2-1-1 to be connected to a crisis counselor.

Many of Indiana's health statistics – on smoking, obesity, infant mortality and more – rank among the lowest of the 50 states. SEA 4 from the 2023 session is intended to improve our public health efforts by offering counties an optional grant to expand the services of their local health departments. Counties that voluntarily choose to receive the grant funding will offer more public health services targeted at some of Indiana's key drivers of poor health. Services include tobacco cessation, maternal and child health care, and disease prevention.

We all know access to reliable high-speed internet service is a necessity in today's economy. Over the past several years, Indiana has made great strides in expanding internet access, especially in rural communities. Since its inception in 2019, the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program has awarded more than $248 million to bring broadband to over 68,000 homes and businesses in unserved areas of Indiana.