Budget proposal includes two IBA-supported programs

This week, Governor Braun's administration presented its budget proposal to the State Budget Committee. The plans include $700 million in state expenditure cuts, full Medicaid funding, an expected voucher expansion and $400 million added to the rainy-day fund. The state budget’s next big step will be when House Republicans unveil their proposal next month. Read more. 

“While it’s very early in the process, we appreciate that funding is included in the 2026-27 budget for two IBA-supported programs,” said IBA CEO Rick Wajda. The current budget includes $25M for housing infrastructure assistance and $2M for the Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation to address workforce shortages by providing entry-level construction training, assisting K-12 schools with classroom materials, and promoting careers in construction.

IBA sets legislative priorities

The Indiana Builders Association’s 2025 legislative priorities address our member’s most pressing issues. We look forward to working with state lawmakers, Governor Braun and other stakeholders to address these and other concerns impacting the construction industry, ensuring continued economic growth for Indiana.

1. Continued funding for programs that provide housing infrastructure & workforce development
2. Allow builders to utilize qualified third-party inspectors for new home construction
3. Align local ordinances with Indiana’s Construction Stormwater General Permit
4. Protect the use of gas-powered equipment

Nearly 1,200 bills filed as of week 2

Since the Indiana General Assembly reconvened for the "long" legislative session on Jan. 8, nearly 1,200 bills have been released. Of those, representatives file about 6.8 bills each in the 100-member House, while the Senate, with half as many members, files an average of 9.6 bills per senator. 

Resources for Navigating the Legislative Session
Builders Bill Track – attached is a list of bills that IBA's advocacy team is tracking

Find a Bill | Find a Committee
Floor Calendar: Senate | House

Committee Schedule: Senate | House

House Republicans release legislative agenda, includes IBA-supported legislation 

House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) released House Republicans' priorities for the 2025 legislative session to protect taxpayers, streamline government and empower Hoosiers. The agenda includes HB 1005, authored by Rep. Miller (R-Elkhart), which prioritizes funding for communities with forward-thinking land use policies e.g., allowing duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes in areas zoned primarily for single family residential homes, reducing minimum lot sizes and square footage requirements, and donating vacant land for affordable housing development. The bill also allows a qualified third party to perform plan reviews and inspections of one and two-family dwellings and townhouses to ensure maximum efficiency. Finally, the bill also appropriates $25M from the state general fund to the Residential Infrastructure Assistance Fund for the biennium to provide loans for housing infrastructure benefiting political subdivisions, which is included in Governor Braun’s budget proposal. This is a priority bill for IBA. Watch for a call to action in the weeks ahead and be ready to reach out to your State Representative to support the bill. 

Bill establishing ag conservation easements clears committee, while bill to roll back farmland property taxes is held

Rep. Culp (R-Rensselaer), a fourth-generation farmer, has authored or co-authored nearly a dozen bills this session pertaining to farming and agriculture, two of which were heard in committee this week. HB 1234 passed the House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development 8-2 and includes the following: 

• Establishes an agricultural land protection program to allow the state or a county fiscal body to purchase agricultural conservation easements throughout the state and also acquire agricultural conservation easements by gift or bequest.
• Establishes the agricultural conservation easement fund to provide funding for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements throughout the state. 
• Creates the Indiana Land Protection Board with three members - the director of the ISDA, a representative from the Indiana Farm Bureau, and an Indiana farmer chosen by the other two members.
• Makes an appropriation. 

HB 1192, also authored by Rep. Culp, adjusts the calculation for farmland property values. According to the bill’s fiscal note, farmers would pay $33.2 million less in 2027 and $34 million less in 2028. The bill was heard in the House Committee on Ways and Means and was held for further consideration. 

One other farmland bill to keep an eye on is House Bill 1265, authored by Rep. Greene (R-Shelbyville). The bill establishes the Hoosier Homestead program administered by the Indiana State Dept. of Agriculture to maintain a registry of farms owned by the same family for at least 100 years and allows Hoosier Homestead farms to remonstrate against eminent domain efforts. Read more. The bill was heard in the House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and was held for further consideration.

Senate Committee hears testimony on engineering and unemployment insurance bills

The Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor heard testimony on Senate Bill 101, authored by Sen. Niemeyer (R-Lowell), which provides a new pathway to registration as a professional engineer for an individual with at least 25 years of engineering experience who also passes the required examination on the individual's first attempt. The Committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 123, authored by Sen. Alexander (R-Muncie), reduces the maximum amount of regular unemployment benefits to 14 times the individual's weekly benefit (currently the maximum amount of regular unemployment benefits is 26 times the individual's weekly benefit or 28% of the individual's wage credits, whichever is less.). Department of Workforce Development Chief of Staff Joshua Richardson testified that on average, claimants collect 11 and half weeks of benefits and the state offers about 47% of a claimant’s pay, with a statutory cap of $390 weekly. The National Federation of Independent Business’ Indiana chapter testified in support of the bill because small firms are still struggling to fill open positions with qualified workers and the bill emphasizes “fiscal responsibility”. Both bills were held for further consideration. 

Fire protection districts dissolved in one bill, see services expanded in another

HB 1233, authored by Rep. Engleman (R-Georgetown), and HB 1113, authored by Rep. Zimmerman (R-North Vernon) pertain to fire protection districts. Rep. Engleman’s bill dissolves fire protection districts on January 1, 2027, while Rep. Zimmerman’s bill expands the services provided by fire protection districts to include EMS and prevention of other hazards.  Rep. Zimmerman’s bill passed the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety 9-0 with the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association testifying in support of the bill. Rep. Engleman’s bill awaits a hearing in the House Committee on Local Government. 

Bill proposes creation of new small-business focused state office

Rep. Teshka (R-North Liberty), authored HB 1172 to create the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation tasked with providing resources to small businesses. Read more.

Committee meetings next week on bill’s of interest

Home Builders Day at the Statehouse is March 10

Join us on March 10 for Home Builders Day at the Indiana Statehouse! This annual event offers members the opportunity to meet with state lawmakers to discuss priority issues affecting the home building industry and is held in conjunction with our Board of Directors and committee meetings. Register by February 24 for the discounted rate.