CAC staff attended and monitored a handful of hearings and coalition meetings this week. We’re following more than fifty bills with the legislative session’s final bills handed down by Thursday. By the week’s end 1,000 separate pieces of legislation had been filed.

On Tuesday, we attended the first meeting of the House Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee. House Bill 1173, authored by Rep. Jim Pressel (R) speaks to utility scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) and the approval process required to build the facilities. The bill is prompted by concerns over the lack of emergency preparedness in communities where they  have been deployed.  Numerous stakeholders testified on the bill, almost all neutral and expressing their desire to work with the author of the bill to improve the language. The Chairman announced that he would hold the bill for two weeks, before bringing it before the Committee for a vote. The Chair indicated that he would hear House Bill 1007, a priority bill for the House Republicans, this coming Tuesday, but a committee hearing has not yet been formally announced. 

On Wednesday in House Ways and Means Committee, we testified in support of Rep. Chuck Goodrich’s (R-Indianapolis) House Bill 1290 which increases the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 15% from 10%. More from our colleagues at the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute on the EITC and why this tax policy stands to lift Hoosiers out of poverty. HB1290 has not been scheduled for a vote yet—we are hopeful to see it on a forthcoming committee schedule. We also support Sen. Ron Alting’s (R-Lafayette) SB270 which recouples the state Earned Income Tax Credit with that of the federal rate. SB270 has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

Thursday brought us the first hearing of the Senate Utilities Committee. We testified on the two bills they heard, including Senator Greg Walker’s (R-Columbus) SB33, which seeks to study the decommissioning and recycling of devices used to generate solar and wind power. We spoke in support of the legislation which originally dealt with only photovoltaic devices but was amended to include wind power devices. SB33 passed 10-0 and will be on 2nd reading as soon as Monday, which means it may be further amended.

Also heard was Senator Andy Zay’s (R-Huntington) SB221 which requires the state to conduct an energy audit of the Indiana Capitol Complex. SB221 originally contained language to require the feasibility of a state strategic coal reserve but that language was removed by an amendment before discussion of the bill even began. Because of its perceived fiscal impact, SB221 will be recommitted to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. SB221 passed 10-0. The hearing on these bills was covered by Indiana Public Broadcasting and Indiana Environmental Reporter. 

Items upcoming this week

• We expect both the House and Senate Utility committees to meet this week, as well as other committees of import. However, committee meetings for our relevant subject matter areas haven’t yet been posted for next week at the time of this report. We will update you via our social media - make sure you stay tuned!

• We’ll be updating regularly throughout Week 3 of the Legislature. Follow our social media for an up-to-date detailing of our work at the Indiana State Capitol. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Respectfully submitted,

Kerwin Olson & Lindsay Haake