Against the backdrop of a global pandemic and its economic fallout, and a period of racial reckoning, the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly was unlike any on record. Yet, despite a challenging climate of physical distancing and partisan divides, the Indy Chamber Business Advocacy Team was pleased to log several significant victories for its legislative priorities—thanks to the strong support from members – as the legislature found common ground on some key issues and benefitted from some unexpected fiscal gains.
This Wrap-Up will report the wins, losses, and a few “ties” where we believe more could be done—all while delivering insight into the discussions and debates along the way.
READ THE 2021 WRAP-UP
The past year has tested Central Indiana businesses like never before – struggling with the economic consequences of a global pandemic, shouldering the burden of operating safely for their employees and customers, and serving a community working to heal its divisions.
The Indy Chamber’s 2021 Legislative Agenda includes proposals for helping employers reopen safely, with the resiliency to succeed in the post-COVID recovery. Our agenda acknowledges that this recovery will be fueled by a skilled and diverse workforce, participating in a more equitable economy.
READ 2021 PRIORITIES
The Indy Chamber’s 2020 legislative agenda was an ambitious yet practical set of priorities for the ‘short’ (non-budget) session of the Indiana General Assembly. It was a ten-week sprint that started with the optimism of a heady revenue forecast and ended with governments at all levels grappling with a global pandemic and the growing threat of recession. In between, we made progress on each of our top issues.
REVIEW THE WRAP
Virgil once said, “The greatest wealth is health.” To paraphrase this philosophy, we believe a prosperous region starts with healthy citizens, and healthy regions make a thriving state. The Indy Chamber’s 2020 Legislative Agenda – “Healthy State. Healthy Economy.” – focuses on improved health, a productive workforce and the power of regionalism as prescriptions for economic growth.
READ OUR 2020 PRIORITIES
We’re keeping our sights high. But lofty goals are built on strong foundations.
Review Our Priorities
Across these priorities, our message to the General Assembly was clear and consistent: the Indy region will continue to be Indiana’s economic engine – keep our region open for business, and open up new opportunities for our people, employers and communities.
Review the 2018 Agenda
The 2018 short session was just a little too short for several bills. We’ll consider these temporary setbacks; bills may die but the issues they represent have plenty of life.
2018 Legislative Wrap Up
All around us, Hoosiers are on the move – as vaccination numbers keep rising, more workers head downtown, restaurants and retailers are rebounding, and Memorial Day weekend even featured the familiar roar of engines from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as live crowds (!) watched Helio Castroneves hoist the Borg-Warner trophy…
As promised, we’re delivering our 2021 legislative “wrap-up” – ironic quotation marks because the General Assembly never actually adjourned, and headed back to the Statehouse on Monday for the usual technical corrections and to override Governor Holcomb’s veto of SB5, complicating local efforts to act during a public health…
The 2017 session of the Indiana General Assembly featured significant advances on many issues of interest to employers across the Indianapolis metro. Comparing the final outcomes to the Indy Chamber legislative agenda, there are certainly differences to be found on policy details and spending priorities; in a few places, progress stalled. But overall, lawmakers made smart investments in a more competitive business climate and a healthy economy.
Download Agenda OutcomesThe 2017 session of the Indiana General Assembly featured significant advances on many issues of interest to employers across the Indianapolis metro. Comparing the final outcomes to the Indy Chamber legislative agenda, there are certainly differences to be found on policy details and spending priorities; in a few places, progress stalled. But overall, lawmakers made smart investments in a more competitive business climate and a healthy economy.
Download Agenda Outcomes