STATEHOUSE (July 12, 2023) – New state laws supporting Hoosiers and backed by local lawmakers during the 2023 legislative session are now in effect.
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, authored by State Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton), taxpayers are expected to save an estimated $430 million over the next two years via tax relief passed during the legislative session.
“Our state’s next budget is a big win for families, students, K-12 education and mental health,” Thompson said. “With our strong fiscal footing, we were able to responsibly cut taxes, pay down debt and wisely invest in our future.”
Thompson 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. Through a substantial expansion of school choice, nearly all Hoosier families will be able to send their child to the school that best meets their needs.
Local lawmakers also highlighted the following new laws:
Improving Mental Health Services
To increase access and availability of quality care, State Rep. Craig Haggard (R-Mooresville) said Indiana will launch a new statewide infrastructure for mental health services through House Enrolled Act 1001, including expanding the number of behavioral health clinics. The 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline will expand through Senate Enrolled Act 1, which Haggard and State Rep. Becky Cash (R-Zionsville) co-sponsored, to ensure Hoosiers in crisis have someone to call, somewhere to go and someone to respond during an emergency.
“We know that Indiana is facing a mental health crisis, and we prioritized boosting resources and services in our local communities and across the state,” Cash said. “We’re moving in the right direction, and I’m looking forward to working together next session to continue making Indiana a place where all Hoosiers can succeed.”
With House Enrolled Act 1006, authored by State Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon), law enforcement will have the ability to refer low-risk, non-violent individuals suffering from a mental illness, or impairment from drugs and alcohol to the nearest mental health facility instead of the county jail. Local mental health and addiction referral programs will also be available to help those who are incarcerated get treatment.
“Connecting individuals to treatment will help curb crime and provide our hardworking police officers another tool to keep our communities safe,” Steuerwald said. “This law was unanimously supported, and I appreciate the teamwork that went into crafting it and getting it across the finish line.”
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. To help counter the rise in local property tax bills, Thompson authored a law 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.
“We took action to help homeowners who received higher-than-anticipated property tax bills this year,” Haggard said. “We made changes to give locals more flexibility to take action now and we also ensured Hoosiers will see relief moving forward.”
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about these and other new state laws now in effect.
