State revenue beats projections again
The Indiana State Budget Agency better-than-expected collections from sales tax, individual income tax, corporate tax, and interest revenues were the primary drivers of March’s performance.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
Biden set to propose toughest-ever rules on car pollution to spur EVs
Automakers are cautioning that the trajectory for EVs and emission reductions depends on factors outside their control, including investments in charging infrastructure and critical mineral production.
Indiana lawmakers debate bill allowing parents to challenge ‘obscene and harmful’ library materials
A bill that seeks to ban materials deemed “harmful to minors” in school and public libraries drew sharp debate Wednesday at the Indiana Statehouse, especially from librarians, who argued that such a policy would open them up to criminal charges.
It’s big vs. small as banks square off to avoid new rules after failures
U.S. banks are pitted against each other as regulators move to strengthen oversight after a series of failures undermined confidence in the financial system.
GOP plan to boost Indiana pre-grad training facing pushback
House Bill 1002, a priority bill for the House GOP caucus and the leading high school reform measure moving through the legislature, seeks to expand work-based learning in Indiana high schools, like apprenticeships and internships.
Opponents say mixed beverage bill could raise prices for consumers
A bill letting beer wholesalers cash in on lucrative liquor-based drinks would “expand their monopolistic advantage” and hike prices for consumers, argues a leading wine and liquor organization.
UPDATE: TikTok CEO grilled by skeptical lawmakers on safety, content
A nearly six-hour grilling of TikTok’s CEO by lawmakers brought the platform’s 150 million U.S. users no closer to an answer as to whether the app will be wiped from their devices.
Bill advancing Indiana’s carbon sequestration projects moves forward
Senate Bill 451 is part of a years-long effort to move forward the construction of carbon capture and sequestration projects, while also giving special privileges to an Indiana company that is preparing to undertake the nation’s largest carbon dioxide storage project.
Battery components maker to invest $1.5B in Terre Haute
Oregon-based battery component producer Entek plans to add nearly 650 jobs by the end of 2027.
Indiana pension system contracts with conservative anti-ESG firm
The contract with anti-ESG firm Strive Advisory, LLC and its co-founder Vivek Ram is capped at $150,000 — with conservative Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy set to earn $4,000 per hour for ad hoc work.
TikTok dismisses calls for Chinese owners to sell stakes
Meanwhile, lawmakers in both the House and Senate have been moving forward with legislation that would give the Biden administration more power to clamp down on TikTok.
Three utility-related bills pass the Indiana House
Two of the bills–one establishing utility receiverships and another increasing the cap on pay that trustees on utility boards can earn–received no opposition, passing with a unanimous vote.
Government races to reassure U.S. that banking system is safe
In response to the crisis, regulators guaranteed all deposits at the two failed banks and created a program that effectively threw a lifeline to other banks to shield them from a run on deposits.
IEDC paying premium for farmland for Boone County tech district
The quasi-government entity has secured roughly 9,000 acres of land in Boone County for its LEAP Lebanon Innovation and Research District.
Money debate begins in Statehouse over transition to green energy
A bill advancing through the Legislature would add natural gas to the list of clean-energy projects state utility regulators could consider for a financial incentive known as “construction work in progress,” or CWIP for short.
Stalled tax plan to revive IPS pushes charters, district further apart
The district’s unique portfolio of charters and traditional public schools, created nearly a decade ago by IPS leaders and state lawmakers, has left both populations fighting for funding.
Indiana’s third-party testing on toxic train-derailment waste comes back clear
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered continued third-party dioxin testing of any and all subsequent loads of soil coming to Indiana from the East Palestine, Ohio, train crash site.
U.S. sues to block JetBlue from buying Spirit Airlines
The Justice Department said the $3.8 billion acquisition would hurt cost-conscious travelers who depend on Spirit to find cheaper options than they can find on JetBlue and other airlines.
Bank sues to block Biden’s pause on student loan payments
SoFi Bank argues the moratorium has no legal basis and has cost the bank, known for its refinancing business, millions of dollars in profits.
3 northern suburbs prepare to select new mayors
Change is coming to Carmel, Westfield and Zionsville as a trio of mayors prepares to step aside and a roster of candidates looks to fill those shoes.