2024 Legislative Advocacy Agenda: Local Public Policy
Ensuring the strength of Bloomington's business climate begins at home. At the local level, the Chamber is focused on removing barriers to business growth and proactively improving the business climate of Bloomington and Monroe County. All of the issues that the Chamber weighs in on are put through a thorough member-driven process and approved by the Chamber's board of directors.
The Chamber is proud to present our annual legislative agenda for 2024.
The Chamber is proud to present our annual legislative agenda for 2024.
Regulation
Advocate for government regulations that are efficient, simple to understand and implement, and provide certainty and predictability for local businesses
- Advocate for policies and projects that foster continued growth and creation of new business and social enterprises
- Support efforts to modernize and streamline permitting, reporting, and application of business regulations
- Support zoning and policies that increase residentially zoned land and advance the development of housing
- Encourage the creation of a taskforce to address the consolidation of key government advisory boards and panels
Public safety
Support initiatives and projects that enhance capacity or enforcement and improve the perception of safety across our community
- Advocate for a holistic approach to our local criminal justice system, including support for increased resources for mental health and addiction services as both an alternative to incarceration and as a resource for those currently incarcerated
- Advocate for hospitalization and jail diversion strategies involving the STRIDE Center to support residents experiencing substance use disorder and mental health crises
- Support funding and policies to ensure retention and recruitment of well-trained, responsive law enforcement to bring Bloomington Police Department to targeted staffing levels outlined in City budget
- Support the creation of a jail facility that will include needed wrap-around services to address substance use and mental health disorders
- Advocate for increased presence and visibility of police officers and patrols throughout Bloomington and implementation of strategic community policing initiatives within the downtown boundaries
Workforce Talent & Recruitment
Advocate for policies that are designed to sustain workforce planning and development
- Promote and improve the overall well-being of workplace environments by addressing the changing and growing needs of employees
- Advocate for the construction of housing at all price points to recruit and retain a growing workforce
- Reinforce businesses and entrepreneurs that build a strong, visible, and engaged Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community
- Advocate for policies and public investments designed to attract and retain young workers (24- 40 years of age)
- Encourage partnerships between local government, education institutions, and businesses to create apprenticeship and workforce training programs specific to the needs of the community
City-Council Relations
Advocate for increased cooperation among our local elected officials to improve the quality of life and economic vitality of our region
Constituent-Centric City Services
Advocate for more responsive, helpful, and efficient city services
Downtown aesthetics & Beautification
Support initiatives that foster a thriving, clean, and bustling downtown
- Advocate for a Downtown stewardship team dedicated to the maintenance of planters, sidewalk sweeping, and general right-of-way upkeep in downtown
- Support policies that incentivize the reuse of vacant buildings in Bloomington’s downtown core
2024 Legislative Advocacy Agenda: State & Federal
The Chamber is the voice of Bloomington/Monroe County businesses in Indianapolis and Washington, D.C. By building effective, working relationships with members of the legislature, the Chamber is able to give our members regular access to lawmakers to discuss issues impacting their businesses. All of the issues that the Chamber weighs in on are put through a thorough member-driven process and approved by the Chamber's board of directors.
The Chamber's legislative agenda serves as a guide as we weigh in on issues and advocate on behalf of our members at the state and federal level.
The Chamber's legislative agenda serves as a guide as we weigh in on issues and advocate on behalf of our members at the state and federal level.
Economic development & Job creation
Develop and strengthen a framework that supports the needs of business
- Advocate for policies and initiatives that address talent retention and recruitment, including support for programs that train people with disabilities and people who were formerly incarcerated
- Promote initiatives to recruit, retain, and develop innovative leadership opportunities with an intersectional lens to promote advancement for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community
- Promote and protect Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane as a primary regional job provider, including continued support for Certified Tech Park funding and continued investments in the Trades District
- Advocate for policies and legislation that address our community’s affordable/workforce housing shortage including recommendations taken by the Indiana Legislative Services Agency Housing Commission
- Advocate for local, state, and federal investments to upgrade facilities and improve infrastructure to the Monroe County Airport
- Advocate for collaborative local intergovernmental solutions that provide wider access to critical infrastructure including water and sewer connectivity
- Advocate for long-term strategies and vision for the I69 corridor that will leverage the proximity and assets of Crane, Indiana University, and Indianapolis to bring economic benefits to Monroe County
HealthCare
Promote policies to further fund mental health and addiction services and opportunities for local businesses to manage their healthcare costs
- Advocate for an increase to the state tax on cigarettes and for taxing electronic cigarettes and vaporizers
- Explore and advocate for ways to reduce healthcare costs for businesses while ensuring employees have access to affordable and high-quality healthcare options
Inflation
Advocate for policies that continue to right-size the balance between economic growth and cost of goods
- Support and promote policies designed to ease continual supply chain issues
- Advocate for policies that lessen cost burdens on small and local businesses
Education & Workforce Development
Create educational opportunities to ensure a diversified and highly-skilled workforce
Preschool and K-12 Education
Higher Education
Preschool and K-12 Education
- Expand state-supported Pre-K and childcare programs and eliminate current barriers that prevent families from accessing affordable, high-quality childcare
- Promote statewide strategies to address the statewide teacher shortage, including programs to encourage students to pursue a career in education and a commitment to equitable teacher pay
- Encourage development of entrepreneurship programs & vocational training for technical fields to develop a qualified workforce
- Urge accountability for charter schools in line with public K-12 local education agencies
Higher Education
- Support increased investment in higher education and its associated initiatives, particularly at Indiana University’s and Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campuses
- Support institutional innovation and flexibility to best meet the needs of students and their future employers
- Encourage federal lawmakers to help close the innovation deficit by decreasing the gap between needed and actual federal investment in research, through advocacy with the Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition
- Promote mechanisms that facilitate the transfer of academic research to the business sector, including support for spin-offs and startups using university intellectual property
- Encourage the expansion of learning opportunities for both degree-seeking and non-traditional degree programs through increased financial assistance and elimination of barriers for such programs
2024 Legislative Advocacy Agenda: Chamber Programming
We asked members for feedback as to how the Chamber’s advocacy arm can be of best use. Based on the aggregated results, we have identified some programmatic efforts to help keep our members informed
- Nonpartisan policy memos and white papers intended to help inform members of the impacts of proposed legislation
- Providing space (and convening meetings) for dialogue between stakeholders on issues that affect our members and our community
- Technical workshops to give our members a greater understanding of the regulations and policies that may impact their (ex. zoning/permitting & tax code)
2024 Legislative Advocacy Agenda: Legislative Tracker
We're tracking legislation of interest to Chamber members throughout the session of the Indiana General Assembly. Click here to go directly to the Indiana General Assembly bill-tracking site, where you'll find information about all proposed legislation. See below for summaries of the legislation we're tracking.
If you'd like us to track a particular piece of legislation, contact the Chamber at advocacy@chamberbloomington.org. KEY DATES/DEADLINES Jan. 9: Deadline for filing Senate bills Jan. 11: Deadline for filing House bills January 16: Last day Senate bills may be assigned to Senate committees Feb. 5: Last day for 3rd reading of House bills in House Feb. 6: Last day for 3rd reading of House bills in House Mar. 4: Last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in House Mar. 5: Last day for 3rd reading of House bills in Senate Mar. 14: Last day for adjournment of both houses |
Senate legislation
Senate Legislation
Green text = Bills that have been signed into law. Red text = Bills that did not meet the next deadline.
Senate Legislation being tracked for 2024 will be updated in the coming weeks!
Senate Legislation being tracked for 2024 will be updated in the coming weeks!
Bills Sponsored by Senate Members Who Represent Parts of Monroe County
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Shelli Yoder (District 40): Click here.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Eric Koch (District 44): Click here.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Eric Koch (District 44): Click here.
house legislation
House Legislation
Green text = Bills that have been signed into law. Red text = Bills that did not meet the next deadline.
House Legislation being tracked for 2024 will be updated in the coming weeks!
House Legislation being tracked for 2024 will be updated in the coming weeks!
Bills Sponsored by House Members Who Represent Parts of Monroe County
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Peggy Mayfield (District 60): Click here.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Matt Pierce (District 61): Click here.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Dave Hall (District 62): Click here.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Bob Heaton (District 46): Click here.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Matt Pierce (District 61): Click here.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Dave Hall (District 62): Click here.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Bob Heaton (District 46): Click here.