Area: StateCities: Indianapolis, MuncieCounties: Delaware County, Marion CountyPeople: Sue ErringtonMFP Tags: Indiana Senate, Indiana PoliticsTopics: GovernmentTypes: News
Week in Review at the Indiana General Assembly from State Senator Sue Errington, D-Muncie
State legislators returned to Indianapolis this week to convene the second regular session of the 115th Indiana General Assembly. Referred to as the short session, legislators will spend the next 10 weeks considering legislation dealing with critical issues facing our state. Both House and Senate committees began hearings this week on bills introduced in their respective chambers. Upon committee approval, legislation will advance to the chamber floor for consideration by the full body. Legislation voted out of its house of origin will then proceed to the opposite chamber where the process will repeat itself. By law, legislators have until March 14th to conclude business. The following brief summary highlights some of this week’s Senate activities.
Property tax reform dominated the first week of session. This year's primary focus will be on proposals that will bring about major and permanent property tax relief. Many bills have been introduced which deal with some part of the property tax system. One initiative, Senate Joint Resolution 8, proposes that property taxes be eliminated entirely. However, since almost 50% of property taxes are paid by non-homeowners, a non-partisan fiscal analysis has demonstrated that most homeowners would pay higher taxes overall in the form of higher sales and income taxes to replace the lost property tax revenues.
The Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy considered several property tax proposals including Senate Joint Resolution 1 which would require the General Assembly to exempt homesteads from taxes on more than 1% of the assessed value of the property, limit taxes on other kinds of property and provide mobile homes with a tax exemption to the same extent as real property. Senate Bill 12 would allow for a credit for excessive property taxes starting in 2010. Senate Bill 17 would make changes to the way tax increment finance (TIF) bonds are approved, issued and paid. Senate Bill 18 would place limitations on debt by enacting major changes on how certain bonds are paid from property taxes. Senate Bill 21 would provide county councils the ability to apply the 2007 homestead credit as a credit against the property tax liability or as a refund.
Legislation which would begin the process of eliminating the office of elected township assessor was heard by members of the Senate Committee on Local Government and Elections. Errington is a co-author of Senate Bill 16 which would also provide that each appraiser who performs assessments on behalf of a county property assessment contractor would be required to have a Level Two Assessor-Appraiser certification. This legislation was recommended by the Commission on Local Government Reform.
Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee began their review of several initiatives dealing with property tax reform. Senate Joint Resolution 3 calls for limits on school property tax levies. Senate Bill 1 would place limits on school and child welfare levies. Senate Bill 14 proposes the elimination of state property tax levies. Senate Bill 15 would make changes to property tax credit and deduction filing deadlines.
In other news, the Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor considered Senate Bill 51 which pertains to the reemployment of retired teachers. The proposal would reduce the waiting period after which a retired member of the Indiana State Teachers' Retirement Fund may be reemployed and continue to receive a retirement benefit. Current law sets this threshold at 90 days. The bill would reduce this period to 30 days providing additional flexibility for retired teachers to return to teaching. Several other states have enacted similar legislation.
Action taken by the Senate Committee on Energy and Environmental Affairs on Senate Bill 45 moved the state a step closer to becoming a part of the Great Lakes Compact. This compact is a regional agreement among states that border the Great Lakes that will provide a uniform set of standards to help monitor, manage and protect these water resources.
Upcoming events and deadlines
- January 15 - State of the State Address
- January 16 - State of the Judiciary Address
- January 29 - Second reading deadline-house of origin
- January 30 - Third reading deadline-house of origin
To stay informed about legislation moving through the Indiana General Assembly, log on to www.in.gov/legislative/. From this site, you can research bills, review committee calendars and legislative floor calendars, view full bill texts and watch Senate and House sessions as well as some committee hearings which are broadcast live.
In addition, citizens can stay informed on bills scheduled for action in the House and Senate chambers through a free on line program available at www.BillWatch.in.gov/. This program allows you to track up to ten bills. Email notifications are sent once per day if action is taken on tracked bills and/or resolutions. If no action is taken, e-mail notifications will not be sent.
Feel free to contact me with your comments and concerns regarding pending legislation or other matters pertaining to state government. To reach me:
- send correspondence to: Statehouse, 200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
- call toll-free 1-800-382-9467.
- send emails to www.S26@iga.in.gov or visit my web site at www.in.gov/S26
Source: Senator Sue Errington's Office
Technorati Tags: News State Delaware County Government Indiana Politics Indiana Senate Indianapolis Marion County Muncie Sue Errington 
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