Here are some key issues that have been debated during Indiana’s legislative session in 2023 1:
- Taxing Matters: Legislators approved speeding up individual income tax rate cuts that were first approved a year ago. No action, however, was taken toward stemming double-digit percentage increases in property tax bills that many homeowners are seeing across the state this year because higher sales prices have pushed up property value assessments.
- Voucher Eligibility: Republicans made tens of thousands more students eligible for state money toward paying private school tuition. The broader eligibility provisions are projected to grow the voucher program from the current 53,500 students to some 95,000 students in two years — and nearly double the state’s cost to about $600 million a year.
- Transgender Issues: Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed a bill that will prohibit transgender youth from accessing medication or surgeries that aid in transition and mandate those currently taking medication to stop by the end of the year. The law goes into effect July 1 but faces a federal lawsuit seeking to block it.
- Public Health Expansion: Counties could start offering broadly expanded public health services under a program endorsed by legislators. The expansion pushed by Holcomb aims at improving the state’s poor national rankings in areas such as obesity, smoking and life expectancy and upgrading local emergency services.
If you’re interested in learning more about Indiana politics, you can check out the following resources:
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce provides an overview of their top legislative priorities for 2022.
- IndyStar has compiled a list of where Indiana Senate candidates stand on key issues such as marijuana legalization, abortion, immigration, and student loans.
- U.S. News & World Report provides an overview of key issues debated during Indiana’s legislative session in 2023.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
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