Initiatives to promote fiscal responsibility, improve health care, support public safety and more pass General Assembly
STATEHOUSE (April 28, 2023) – Indiana Senate Republicans are celebrating the passage of their 2023 caucus agenda focused on fiscal responsibility, improving the state's mental and public health infrastructure, lowering health care costs, ensuring public safety and protecting Hoosiers' data privacy.
"Senate Republicans offered an ambitious agenda targeting some of the issues we believe are of the utmost importance to the Hoosier state, and we are pleased to have delivered on all of those items," said Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville). "Thanks to the tireless efforts of our members, we passed meaningful legislation to help lower health care costs for Hoosiers, improve access to mental and public health care, and protect data privacy. I am incredibly grateful to work with this talented group of senators and am proud of the work we have accomplished for Hoosiers this year."
Bray also cited caucus budget priorities that are funded in the new two-year state budget.
"Fiscal responsibility is always top of mind for Senate Republicans. I'm proud to be paying down our pension obligations with a one-time $700 million commitment and providing a much-deserved pay increase for our State Police. In addition, K-12 will see a total of nearly $3 billion in new funding, mental health will get a $100 million infusion, and public health will see a $225 million investment. At the same time we are making these strategic investments, we are also cutting the income tax for Hoosiers, which is projected to save taxpayers up to $117 million in the coming year alone."
• Pave the way for transformational tax reform
Senate Enrolled Act 3, authored by State Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle)
WHAT: Form the State and Local Tax Review Commission to study the feasibility of ending Indiana's income tax and/or ending property taxes on homesteads
WHY: Indiana's tax climate consistently ranks among the best in the nation. Senate Republicans want to take a holistic look at our tax structure to ensure we remain competitive in today's economy.
• Plan for Indiana's fiscal future
Senate budget priority – House Enrolled Act 1001, sponsored by State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka)
WHAT: The state budget allocates $700 million as a one-time investment to aggressively pay down the Pre-96 Teachers' Retirement Fund, which has an outstanding liability of about $6 billion
WHY: Statehouse Republicans have paid down this pension obligation by $4 billion in the past few years alone. The sooner Indiana pays off this unfunded liability, the sooner $1 billion per year is freed up in the state budget for transformational tax cuts and important public needs.
• $50 million tax cut for small businesses
Senate Enrolled Act 2, authored by State Sen. Scott Baldwin (R-Noblesville)
WHAT: Change state tax law so more LLCs and S Corps can deduct all state tax payments on federal tax returns, resulting in what could be $50 million in federal tax savings for Hoosier businesses
WHY: This change levels the playing field for businesses – especially small businesses – when it comes to receiving a deduction on federal taxes and is revenue-neutral for Indiana.
• Build a better mental health care system for Indiana
Senate Enrolled Act 1, authored by State Sen. Mike Crider (R-Greenfield)
WHAT: Provide ongoing funding to build out a system of certified behavioral health clinics
WHY: Last year, the 9-8-8 National Suicide and Crisis Line went live, giving Hoosiers a place to call when they need mental-health support. The next step for improving our mental-health infrastructure is to make sure every person has a place to go to get care.
• Modernize Indiana's state and local health departments
Senate Enrolled Act 4, authored by State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso)
WHAT: Increase the quality of services performed by Indiana's local health departments and promote collaboration between local health departments and the Indiana Department of Health
WHY: Focusing on preventing health problems, rather than treating them, will help improve the state's poor health rankings and foster a healthy workforce.
• Require 'site of service' transparency
House Enrolled Act 1004, sponsored by Charbonneau
WHAT: For the largest hospital systems in Indiana, make sure insurance claims are paid appropriately based on the location where service was provided
WHY: Ending practices that allow inaccurate billing could save Hoosiers millions per year on medical bills.
• Help lower prescription drug costs
Senate Enrolled Act 8, authored by Charbonneau
WHAT: Require insurers to pass on the rebates they receive for prescriptions to the patients buying the medicines or to all plan members
WHY: It's common for insurers to negotiate contracts with drug companies so they get a rebate every time a person covered by their plan gets certain prescriptions. SEA 8 would ensure those savings go to the person or plan that bought the medicine.
• Promote competition in health care
Senate Enrolled Act 7, authored by State Sen. Justin Busch (R-Fort Wayne)
WHAT: End anti-competitive noncompete clauses for primary care doctors starting July 1, 2023
WHY: This change will increase the number of doctors practicing in Indiana and allow more patients to keep their preferred doctor if the physician changes employers.
• Raise pay for Indiana State Police
Senate budget priority – House Enrolled Act 1001, sponsored by State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka)
WHAT: Increase pay for Indiana State Police (ISP) and alter the pay matrix from 20 years (current timeline) to 15 years so they see an increase in pay significantly quicker throughout their career
WHY: ISP, as the state's leading law-enforcement agency, offers assistance to nearly every law enforcement agency across the state. Yet, a study conducted by the Indiana State Police Alliance revealed state troopers are among the lowest paid law enforcement officers in Indiana. ISP troopers are the cream of the crop and should be paid like it.
• Allow dangerous suspects to be held without bail
Senate Joint Resolution 1, authored by State Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford)
WHAT: Amend the Indiana Constitution to allow judges to deny bail if a suspect clearly poses a substantial risk to any other person or the community
WHY: The majority of states and the federal government allow the most dangerous suspects to be held without bail, and Indiana judges should have that discretion to protect the public.
• Restrict how companies collect and use personal data
Senate Enrolled Act 5, authored by State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne)
WHAT: Creates a "bill of rights" for Hoosier data privacy that will allow consumers to monitor how their data is being used and have it deleted if they wish
WHY: More businesses have access to our personal information, while data breaches and cybersecurity threats continue to grow. SEA 5 updates consumer protection laws to defend against those threats.
The Indiana General Assembly has adjourned for 2023. More information on bills may be found at iga.in.gov.
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