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Bad Bills, Bad Bills, whatcha gonna do!

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Bad Bills, Bad Bills, whatcha gonna do!

Sarah Blessing

and

Scott Aaron Rogers

Jan 12, 2025

Transcript

Indiana elected officials are busy writing bad bills that hurt everyday working people. They want to strip away local power and dismantle township firehouses, town councils, make it harder for libraries to get funding, and hurt early voting. How can we stop these bills from seeing the light? Sarah, Scott, and guest Brian Tincher explain these terrible plans, why local is better, and give tips for fighting back. Please like and subscribe, spread the word, and let's protect our precious communities.

Senator Gary Byrne

Republican, District 47

Address

200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone

800-382-9467

Senate Bill 283

Library governance.

Introduced Senate Bill (S)

Authored by:

Sen. Gary Byrne.

Digest

Eliminates the authority of public libraries to impose an ad valorem property tax as a "taxing unit". Requires a public library to prepare and submit a recommended annual budget to the fiscal body of the county in which the territory of the public library is located to provide the revenues necessary for the operation and maintenance of the public library by a special tax levy, a specific appropriation, or both. Provides that a special tax levy for public library purposes is included in the calculation of the maximum permissible property tax levy for the county.

Senate Bill 287

School board matters.

Introduced Senate Bill (S)

Authored by:

Sen. Gary Byrne, Sen. Blake Doriot.

Digest

Requires candidates for school board offices to be nominated in the same manner as candidates for all other elected offices are nominated. Repeals the current statute relating to nomination of candidates for school board offices. Repeals other superseded statutes and makes conforming changes. Modifies the annual amount that the governing body of a school corporation may pay a member of the governing body from $2,000 (under current law) to an amount not to exceed 10% of the lowest starting salary of a teacher employed by the school corporation.

House Bill 1230

School board elections.

Introduced House Bill (H)

Authored by:

Rep. J.D. Prescott.

Co-Authored by:

Rep. Doug Miller, Rep. Robert Heaton, Rep. Michelle Davis.

Digest

Provides that for school board offices, each candidate's affiliation with a political party or status as an independent candidate must be stated on the ballot.

Senate Bill 284

Early voting.

Introduced Senate Bill (S)

Authored by:

Sen. Gary Byrne.

Digest

Reduces the period during which in person absentee voting may occur at the office of the circuit court clerk or a satellite office established by the county election board to a seven day period ending at noon on the day before election day.

Representative Karen Engleman

Republican, District 70

Address

200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone

800-382-9841

House Bill 1233

Local government reorganization.

Introduced House Bill (H)

Authored by:

Rep. Karen Engleman.

Digest

Provides that on January 1, 2027, in all counties except Marion County, the following occur: (1) Township government is dissolved. (2) The county executive assumes the powers and duties of township trustees with regard to fire protection and emergency services (fire services). (3) An elected county trustee assumes the powers and duties of township trustees regarding township assistance. Specifies that, on January 1, 2027, the following occur: (1) All fire protection districts and fire protection territories are dissolved. (2) Fire services are provided in accordance with a county fire protection and emergency medical services plan (county plan). (3) The county emergency management director is responsible for the day to day operations of administering the county plan. Provides that all incorporated towns with a population of less than 1,000 are required: (1) to report not later than November 1, 2025, and every November 1 every four years thereafter as to the services provided to residents, and operating costs; and (2) to be dissolved by the county legislative body if the town's operating costs exceed the expenditures for delivery of services to residents.