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Local, state, and federal highlights in this week's memo include:
- Indiana Summer Study Committees Meet Ahead of 2023 Session
- Indiana’s Abortion Law On Hold
- Indiana’s College Choice Savings Plan Surpasses $20 Million
- Healthcare Premiums Expected to Spike in 2023
- Feds Announce Another Rate Hike
- Indiana Signs on to Hydrogen Coalition
- Indiana Sees Influx in New Voter Registrations
- White House Announces $3 Billion Commitment to Address Food Insecurity
- White House Releases Student Debt Relief Fact Sheet
- Congress Introduces Bill in Response to Ongoing Opioid Crisis
- Important Dates
Indiana Summer Study Committees Meet Ahead of 2023 Session
The Indiana General Assembly’s interim committees have a robust list of topics to discuss this summer. Lawmakers from these committees use their discussions to inform bills that could be authored in the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January.
Here is what was covered last week:
Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code
- Lawmakers discussed options for an improved statewide records system that would make it easier for local law enforcement to share crime statistics and information about offenders.
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The committee also reviewed new criminal justice data and considered testimony about the need to combat a rise in juvenile gun crimes across the state. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services
- Lawmakers held discussions regarding potential regulations for THC products, as well as possible decriminalization of marijuana.
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The committee will also explore restrictions around the sale of products like delta-8, including age requirements for purchasing. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Indiana's Abortion Law on Hold
What’s new: On Thursday, and Indiana judged blocked the state’s new abortion, that took effect on September 15th, from being enforced - effectively putting the new law on hold.
Why it matters: The injunction was sought by abortion clinic operators who argued in a lawsuit that the state constitution protects access to the medical procedure.
What they’re saying:
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The judge wrote “there is reasonable likelihood that this significant restriction of personal autonomy offends the liberty guarantees of the Indiana Constitution” and that the clinics will prevail in the lawsuit. The order prevents the state from enforcing the ban pending a trial on the merits of the lawsuit.
What’s next: Indiana Attorney General, Todd Rokits, issued a statement saying that his office would appeal the decision.
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“We plan to appeal and continue to make the case for life in Indiana. Our office remains determined to fight for the lives of the unborn, and this law provides a reasonable way to begin doing that.” (IBJ)
Indiana's College Choice Savings Plan Surpasses $20 Million
What’s new: Indiana Treasurer of State, Kelly Mitchell, announced on Tuesday that, for the first time, Indiana’s College Choice CD 529 Savings Plan has surpassed $20 million in assets. This milestone marks the highest balance on record for the tax-advantaged savings plan.
Why it matters:
- The FDIC-insured College Choice 529 accounts provide greater flexibility to Hoosiers who deposit or gift contributions for later spending on education after high school.
- Funds can be used at any eligible school or registered apprenticeship program, both in- and out-of-state.
- Accounts grow tax-deferred and distributions are tax-free as long as the money is withdrawn to pay for qualified education expenses like tuition, books, computers, equipment and fees.
What they’re saying:
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“Our College Choice CD program is an excellent option for education savers who prefer fixed-rate, low-risk investment options,” Mitchell said. “Having a fixed rate of return without the worry of market volatility makes this program a great option for late savers, adult learners, and those looking to diversify their future education savings.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Healthcare Premiums Expected to Spike in 2023
What’s new: According to Axios, employers, and potentially employees, are expected to see a high-than-normal health-insurance premium increase next year.
Why it matters: Employers will be put in a position where they will have to choose whether to eat the additional costs or pass the costs on to employees.
The details:
- Seven in 10 employers expect moderate to significant increases in the cost of health benefits over the next three years, according to a recent Willis Towers Watson survey.
- More than half of respondents said they plan to address rising costs by using programs or vendors that would reduce total spending.
- Less than a quarter said they'll shift costs to employees through higher premium contributions. 14% said they'll shift costs through out-of-pocket expenses.
Yes, but: Employees may not tolerate premium hikes in the current labor climate.
The bottom line: Will employer premium hikes will be politically weaponized heading into the midterm elections? (Axios)
Feds Announce Another Rate Hike
The Fed raised interest rates by 0.75 percentage points for the third straight time, and it released new forecasts that envision higher unemployment and yet higher rates in the coming months to fight inflation.
Why it matters: The signal of more rate increases ahead and the pessimistic projections for the labor market together form a clear signal of the Fed's commitment to putting a lid on soaring prices.
What they're saying: "We have got to get inflation behind us. I wish there were a painless way to do that. There isn't," Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell told reporters at a press conference. (Axios)
Indiana Signs on to Hydrogen Coalition
What’s new: Indiana has joined seven other states in joining forces in an effort to develop a more robust hydrogen market, supply chain, and workforce. The governors of each state have signed the Midwest Hydrogen Coalition Memorandum of Understanding with the goal of supporting hydrogen production in the region.
The details:
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“Investments in the development of a robust clean hydrogen market, supply chain, and workforce have the opportunity to create good-paying jobs, expand economic opportunity, promote energy independence, and improve public health outcomes,” the MOU says. “The Participating States recognize the Midwest has advantages in the production, transportation, and end-use of hydrogen to make investments in the hydrogen ecosystem attractive.”
What they’re saying:
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“Strong partnerships and collaborations with our neighbors will foster a robust hydrogen ecosystem that will spur future growth in Indiana,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in written remarks. “The Regional Hydrogen Coalition represents an opportunity for Hoosiers to benefit from this growing industry here in the Midwest.”
Go deeper: You can read the full MOU by clicking here.
(IBJ)
Indiana Sees Influx in New Voter Registrations
Since the May primary, nearly 55,000 Hoosiers have registered to vote; however, more than half those new voters registered after the U.S Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Why it matters: According to the Indiana Election Division, nearly 29,000 new Hoosier voters have registered since the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs decision.
What they’re saying:
Lauren Ganapini, executive director for the Indiana Democratic Party
- “The Indiana Republican Party banned safe and legal abortions for Hoosiers, and voters are ready to hold them accountable for this shameful government overreach. Only a woman, her family, and her doctor should make these healthcare decisions – not politicians – and the uptick in voter registration is a welcoming sign ahead of a critical election year. Hoosiers want to see more balance in their state government, and Democrats implore voters to see that a vote for a Democrat is a vote to restore common-sense at the statehouse. That includes repealing the state’s ban on abortion, restoring a woman’s right to choose, and ending the Indiana GOP’s extremist agenda for good.”
Kyle Hupfer, Indiana Republican Party Chairman
- “It’s not surprising. As we travel the state, we are seeing intensity and excitement everywhere we go. Hoosiers are fired up to send a strong message that Indiana values life and that the agenda of Washington Democrats that has kept the country bouncing from one crisis to the next is unacceptable. It’s clear Indiana is ready to do its part to break the Democrat stranglehold on Washington, D.C.”
The bottom line: What impact will this have on the upcoming midterm elections? (Indy Politics)
White House Announces $3 Billion Commitment to Address Food Insecurity
What’s new: During the United National General Assembly on Wednesday, President Biden announced a plan to commit nearly $3 billion to address global food insecurity, an issue that has been worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
What they’re saying:
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“It’s Russia’s war that is worsening food insecurity, and only Russia can end it,” Biden said, stressing that the sanctions multiple countries have levied on Russia allow it to continue exporting food and fertilizer.
The details:
- Roughly $2 billion will be directed to global humanitarian assistance through the US Agency for International Development, known as USAID. It will provide food and nutrition aid, safe drinking water, health care and other relief.
- The funding also includes $220 million through the Department of Agriculture for eight new school feeding projects that would benefit children in Africa and East Asia.
- Another $178 million through the Department of Agriculture will be used for development projects around the globe to promote climate-smart agriculture and address the root causes of migration in Central America.
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A $150 million commitment will also be made from the U.S. to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program. (The Hill) (CNN)
White House Releases Student Debt Relief Fact Sheet
Last week, the White House released a fact sheet that outlined state-by-state data on how the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan for student debt relief will benefit borrowers in all fifty states.
Why it matters: The student debt relief plan will help borrowers and families continue to recover from the pandemic and prepare to resume student loan payments in January 2023.
By the numbers: Nearly 90% of relief dollars will go to those earning less than $75,000 per year – and no relief will go to any individual or household in the top 5% of incomes in the United States.
In Indiana:
- An estimated 856,400 borrowers will be eligible for student debt relief
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An estimated 555,500 number of Pell Grant borrowers will be eligible for student debt relief. (White House)
Congress Introduces Bill in Response to Ongoing Opioid Crisis
What’s new: Indiana Senator Mike Braun, and several other Senators, have introduced a bill that would potentially charge drug dealers with federal felony murder if they deal drugs, specifically fentanyl, that lead to an overdose death.
What they’re saying:
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“Fentanyl is killing young Hoosiers and cutting a path of destruction through the Midwest,” said Braun. “If you are peddling this poison you should pay the price We’ve intercepted 1.2 million pounds of illegal drugs (since the beginning of 2021), over 16,000 pounds of fentanyl. That’s approximately 3.7 billion lethal doses coming into the country, enough to kill the population ten times over.”
Dive deeper:
- Fentanyl overdose is now the number one cause of deaths for people between the ages of 18 and 45, in America.
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In Vanderburgh County, for instance, there were a record number of overdose deaths last year, 60 percent of which were from fentanyl. (WIBC)
Important Dates
- Tuesday, September 27th at 10am - Interim Study Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications
- Wednesday, September 28th at 1:30pm - Interim Study Committee on Roads and Transportation
- Thursday , September 29th at 10am - Housing Task Force
- Monday, October 3rd at 11am - Interim Study Committee on Financial Institutions
- Tuesday, October 4th at 10:30 am - Interim Study Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
- Tuesday, October 4th at 12pm - Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services
- Wednesday, October 5th at 10am - Interim Study Committee on Government
- Wednesday, October 5th at 1pm - Interim Study Committee on Child Services
- Monday, October 17th at 1pm - Interim Study Committee on Pension Management Oversight
- Wednesday, October 19th at 10am - 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force
- Thursday, October 20th at 10am - Housing Task Force
- Thursday, October 20th at 12pm - Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services
- Thursday, October 27th at 10am - Housing Task Force
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