Rep. Jack Jordan: Protecting taxpayers, funding critical priorities

Indiana House Republicans released their amendment to the proposed state budget for the next biennium. Representative Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) said, “As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and chairman of its Budget Subcommittee, I made sure to protect taxpayers while funding critical priorities, including education and public safety.”

House Republicans have worked for over a decade to reduce Hoosiers' tax burden, cutting taxes yearly and saving taxpayers over $20 billion since 2013. The proposed budget allows the state to continue cutting the income tax rate to 2.95% next year and 2.9% in 2027.

Representative Jordan said, “The proposed budget would also increase K-12 education funding by $560 million, or more than 4% over the biennium. To expand school choice to all Hoosier families, the remaining income limit for the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program would be removed, and funding would be allocated for Career Scholarship Accounts to expand work-based learning opportunities and Education Scholarship Accounts to support students with special needs.”

To enhance public safety, the proposed budget would create a public prosecution fund to provide needed financial support for county prosecutors (House Republican priority bill, HB 1006) and support the state's High-Tech Crime Unit and the Commission on Improving the Status of Children. 

In the news release, Rep. Jordan said, “To support and grow Hoosier communities, the Residential Housing Infrastructure Assistance Program would receive $25 million yearly over the next two years to help local governments pay for infrastructure projects for new housing (House Republican priority bill, HB 1005). Key economic development programs like the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund and Manufacturing Readiness Grants would be funded. New tax credits would be enacted to support capital investments in rural areas and upskill more Hoosier workers.”

For more information on House Bill 1001 is available here. Visit iga.in.gov to follow the legislative session, which must conclude by April 29.