INDIANAPOLIS – – New state laws supporting Hoosiers and backed by State Reps. Alan Morrison (R-Brazil) and Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) during the 2023 legislative session are now in effect.
“Making sure Hoosiers keep more of their money remained one of my top priorities this session, and we made great progress,” Morrison said. “We also passed legislation to make sure more Hoosier families than ever before have options when choosing schools that offer the best fit for their kids.”
Most legislation passed during the recent session took effect at the beginning of the state’s new fiscal year on July 1.
Under the state’s newly passed state budget, taxpayers are expected to save an estimated $430 million over the next two years via tax relief passed during the legislative session. Morrison said thanks to the acceleration of individual state income tax cuts, hardworking Hoosiers will have one of the lowest rates in the nation by 2027. Indiana’s K-12 spending makes up about half of the state’s $44.6 billion budget, and lawmakers supported increasing student funding by 10% over the next two years. In addition, parents will no longer pay textbook and curricular fees.
“Indiana is in a strong fiscal position, and we were able to cut income taxes for hardworking Hoosiers even faster than originally planned,” said Heaton, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Doing that while funding essential services and investing for the future shows our state is one of the best for raising a family, earning a living and starting a business.”
Local lawmakers also highlighted the following new laws:
Providing Tax Relief for Homeowners
Property tax dollars are collected and spent locally, and help pay for schools, police and fire protection, and other local government services. Heaton said to help counter the rise in local property tax bills, Heaton said the state took action to provide about $100 million in property tax relief for homeowners beginning next year. Hoosiers can expect a temporary increase to the supplemental homestead tax deduction and additional limits on property tax levy growth.
Supporting a Diverse Energy Plan
Morrison said Indiana’s new statewide energy plan is based on five pillars, including reliability, resiliency, stability, affordability and environmental sustainability. To ensure the dependability of future energy sources, utilities will also have to increase their electric generating capacity to cover demand within their territory even in extreme weather events.
Protecting Children from Harmful Material
Hoosier children would not be able to access obscene and harmful content at K-12 public school libraries. Heaton said parents and local community members can request content be reviewed for reshelving or removal, and school boards will review requests during their next public meeting. Parents could also appeal a decision.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about these and other new state laws now in effect.