STATEHOUSE (July 11, 2023) – New state laws supporting Hoosiers and backed by State Rep. Brad Barrett (R-Richmond) during the 2023 legislative session are now in effect.
"We worked hard this session to provide much-needed tax relief, especially to Hoosiers whose local property tax bills were higher than expected," Barrett said. "Homeowners will start feeling the results next year and I look forward to continuing to work on this complex topic."
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, taxpayers are expected to save an estimated $430 million over the next two years via tax relief passed during the legislative session. Barrett 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.
Barrett highlighted the following new laws:
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, the state took actions 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.
Increasing Mental Health Treatment
Law enforcement will have the ability to refer low-riskndividuals suffering from a mental illness, or impairment from drugs and alcohol to the nearest mental health facility instead of the county jail. Individuals will not be turned away due to an inability to pay for services. Local mental health and addiction referral programs will also be available to help those who are incarcerated get treatment.
Protecting Hoosier Farmland
Indiana will take inventory of all the prime farmland lost in the state over the last 12 years and identify the causes of those losses. A new Land Use Task Force will utilize the information and make recommendations for how to better protect farmland while encouraging economic development.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about these and other new state laws now in effect.
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State Rep. Brad Barrett (R-Richmond) represents House District 56,
which includes all of Wayne County and a portion of Henry County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
