[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6082641,"mediaKeyId","2936725-310e54797c107e9c63b6e682ec404b50","parentId",2936725,"title","Committee advances House Bill 1007 after hours of debate over small modular reactor incentives and ratepayer protections","audioSeconds",4406,"startMs",530000,"endMs",4936000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2936725-310e54797c107e9c63b6e682ec404b50&start=530&end=4936","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2936725-310e54797c107e9c63b6e682ec404b50/thumbnail_530000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6082641/Indiana/Committee-advances-House-Bill-1007-after-hours-of-debate-over-small-modular-reactor-incentives-and-ratepayer-protections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082641-9224f195152c0dae7e04c405f6932441/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413679&Signature=bztYEovPreBuBSv83anARMnUnh6XY0dhAqBhLYOHl1FqgDQrKXR3qVhvZq0ephJpIrk9CL0tz4HZz51lVEmNuOopRqLYPzOZbj9O0V3QriuXBdodC4M1E-GKbzsgFJJ40bQHfVPeZyxnKfGabmldgiFhXlm4k7uDXngw5uAkxTpNMZoox3NEonJOrcq92KpCrjJp0m~8RgFj0dy9lNV3XrLU8eToJyGt5d-H4yOPPqu4VdfC15Wzh23I6XHnqupEXj9IRSaKnNGQpgcdjgcDvPzwnZqX9eNjU3HdVKIZnOUGT1i-3V7nCX1xC4mVot3SGSPRmCqFd5LJ9pg5FD4AbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Indiana State Legislature","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 1007, a broad package that would create a 20% state tax credit for expenditures to build manufacturing plants for small modular reactors (SMRs) and expand utility preconstruction cost recovery (so-called QIP), advanced out of the Tax and Fiscal Committee on a 10-3 vote after more than two hours of questioning and three public witnesses opposing the measure.

Representative Saluday, who presented the measure, told the committee, “This is an important bill, it's a lot of pages, but there are about 5 things that need to be addressed,” and outlined provisions ranging from a 20% manufacturing tax credit to changes to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) review process for plant closures and a new process for large-load customers seeking 150 megawatts or more.

Why it matters: The bill would use state tax incentives to encourage SMR manufacturing in Indiana, and it would let utilities recover certain engineering and predevelopment costs through a QIP mechanism the sponsors say lowers financing costs for construction. Opponents told the committee that the technology is unproven or commercially limited in the U.S., that project development costs can balloon, and that the QIP and other recovery mechanisms could shift substantial financial risk to ratepayers, including schools, cities and other public entities.

Key provisions and debate

- Manufacturing tax credit: The bill would allow a 20% state tax credit for costs “incurred in manufacture of a small modular reactor” — sponsors said that credit applies to the manufacturing plant and not to the utility that installs a reactor. Representative Saluday said the credit is intended to attract manufacturing facilities to Indiana; he said three entities had expressed interest in locating in the state.

- QIP and predevelopment cost recovery: The bill expands a Quality Infrastructure Project (QIP) mechanism that lets utilities recover up to 80% of preconstruction planning, engineering and other project development costs through rate adjustments that are reviewed and monitored by the IURC. Sponsors said QIP reduces interest expense compared with up-front bond financing; critics warned it effectively uses ratepayers as the lender for projects that may never be completed.

- Plant closure and large-load protections: The measure requires IURC review before closing a coal plant to ensure economic benefit to consumers and adequate replacement capacity; and it requires that very large customers (above a megawatt threshold specified in the bill) assume a substantial share of development risk before special expedited review and certificate-of-public-convenience-and-necessity (CPCN) treatment are granted.

Public testimony and concerns

Three witnesses opposed the bill. William Paraskevis, a long-time Indianapolis resident, said he opposed HB1007 and criticized both the manufacturing credit and the QIP changes, noting that recent SMR projects have been canceled for cost and subscriber concerns. \"Section 4 provides a mechanism for utilities to increase rates for development costs for SMRs, which will be passed along to regular ratepayers,\" Paraskevis testified.

David Van Gilder of the Hoosier Environmental Council said the technology is expensive and that ratepayers would be asked to shoulder risk created by demand from data centers and other large-load customers. \"We rise in opposition to HB1007,\" he said.

Kevin Olson, Executive Director of Citizens Action Coalition, told the committee the fiscal note and impact statements were incomplete and repeated concerns that the bill would require ratepayers — including public entities and schools — to subsidize project development costs years before a project delivers service.

Questions from committee members focused on several points: the difference between the manufacturing tax credit and project-installation costs, the size and timeline of SMR projects, how the 80% QIP recovery interacts with existing rate-case processes, protections for ratepayers if a project stops or a company goes bankrupt, and whether the IURC will have adequate time and resources under the bill’s expedited timelines. Senator Randolph said multiple times he had \"a lot of questions\" and was not ready to support the bill without clearer language on who bears what costs. Senator Fedorra said she opposed the bill, calling it “using Hoosiers as the banking institution” to finance projects without sufficiently understood fiscal impacts.

Outcome and next steps

The committee moved the bill to the floor by a committee vote reported as 10–3. Sponsors said they would continue technical work as the bill proceeds; opponents said they will continue to press for stronger ratepayer protections and fuller fiscal documentation.

\"If they don't come here, you get nothing,\" Representative Saluday said in defense of offering incentives to attract manufacturers; opponents replied that the potential costs and recovery mechanisms were insufficiently defined.

Votes at a glance

- Committee motion: Move House Bill 1007 to the floor as introduced (motion made and seconded). Outcome: approved; tally reported 10 yes, 3 no.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tax and Fiscal Policy April 8, 2025 9:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 1007, a broad package that would create a 20% state tax credit for expenditures to build manufacturing plants for small modular reactors (SMRs) and expand utility preconstruction cost recovery (QIP), advanced out of the Tax and Fiscal Committee on a 10-3 vote after extended questioning and public opposition.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature IN, Indiana","taxId",77679,"location","Indiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6082632,"Committee approves multi-part local government bill including TIF cleanup; amendment restores apartments to base",365,5506000,5871000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2936725-310e54797c107e9c63b6e682ec404b50&start=5506&end=5871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2936725-310e54797c107e9c63b6e682ec404b50/thumbnail_5506000.jpg","/articles/6082632/Indiana/Committee-approves-multi-part-local-government-bill-including-TIF-cleanup-amendment-restores-apartments-to-base","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082632-656db9658da061df9b3389929bd266d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413679&Signature=g1fSRxhVuHmLE9Ge3QRElhCIweW0Ac5Dp7btk4LkwV~HIh~2LCKmyNALOB-7j9WmUiL~l4xBpXrPYvx3QFYlU896-xT1K7G3MohBu6Ig0qYgLEv~m5r9~69Ffbu~xTApxWWb9q2npPRx3YBbATIul-nnkxXc~73MDS4n772fFx8PwAvAV1vT3ZlXQYdb6CSSO1IJrd6Dr6hhfxMy8hr~aizAmHUUneGVqaiaAyNV-gAYiJqFBPIz10g9Hoez1p8SlWwBt9PJV9Gx0z3GspS72Wd-sJqcqT9miP~yezpu0nHR6fZwNkLoVIuF6aZBaR3mF7V~S02fsjR29fsP4dEOGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 1641, a multi-part bill covering local government housekeeping items, passed the Tax and Fiscal Committee with an amendment from Senator Baldwin that restored apartments to the TIF base and added clarifying language about mixed-use projects. Representative Meltzer described the remaining provisions as cleanups requested by local governments and agencies.

Why it matters: The bill contains multiple changes that affect city and county practices, from executive-session authority for attorneys to expanded signatory authority for burial transit permits and modest increases to the value of land county commissioners may buy or sell without special procedures.

Key provisions and committee action

- TIF and Senator Baldwin amendment: Baldwin's amendment reinstates apartments as eligible to be included in tax-increment financing districts (TIFs) after a prior change from the Department of Local Government Finance. She said the amendment also avoided unintentionally capturing homesteads, and the sponsors agreed to revisit mixed-use condominium edge cases on second reading if needed.

- Executive sessions and attorney-client communications: The bill adds language allowing local governing bodies to conduct executive-session discussions to negotiate contracts and to include attorney-client communications in executive sessions while preserving public voting for final decisions.

- Administrative cleanups: Other sections streamline the sales-disclosure form filing for local units to match state law, consolidate golf-cart ordinance language across code titles, reduce city-hospital board meeting frequency from 12 to 10 annually to ease scheduling, authorize additional local health department staff to sign burial transit permits for common-carrier transport, and align build-operate-transfer language for school renovations.

- County contracting and land purchase authority: The bill increases the threshold for county commissioners to purchase or sell property without additional approval from $1,000 to $50,000, and clarifies that county contracts should go before commissioners as intended.

Vote and committee direction

The committee approved HB1641 and Baldwin’s amendment by roll call; the committee reported the bill to the floor with an 11–0 tally (as reported in the session record). Sponsors said they would double-check code language affecting mixed-use condominium units and that they expected to file a second-reading amendment if needed to preserve mixed-use development capture.

Representative Meltzer urged the committee to approve the amendment and the remainder of the bill as a package, saying the changes responded to requests from local officials and agencies. With the amendment, the committee advanced the bill to the floor.

","House Bill 1641, a multi-topic local government cleanup bill, cleared the Tax and Fiscal Committee after a Senator Baldwin amendment restored apartments to the tax-increment financing (TIF) base and other provisions clarified executive-session authority, burial transit permits, jail litigation procedures, and county contracting limits.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6082637,"House Bill 1616, DNR agency bill, clears committee with technical changes to historic tax credit and submerged lands",485,4997000,5482000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2936725-310e54797c107e9c63b6e682ec404b50&start=4997&end=5482","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2936725-310e54797c107e9c63b6e682ec404b50/thumbnail_4997000.jpg","/articles/6082637/Indiana/House-Bill-1616-DNR-agency-bill-clears-committee-with-technical-changes-to-historic-tax-credit-and-submerged-lands","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082637-8fa93f994f6d89cafda19bbe05312a24/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413679&Signature=OlXqxlOyuATnoOoL6LvQT1HeUSMmNpXX4yPfxSyInvzkF7Ai9VfFitkVblcwXo4w8Ex-iqn2GoVj1foK4NBjn50CaRTJlUQ8cSCpull7zzWZlEKKTVmh0DggtPkCkywJjiAUecRmZ4l1Yarc00dj-kMS8-GPXVCcYtlY3NqQ~gBaDkW9sAL~Unh-B43aw8Yq1csShZVhgWmSwsgrPiusx5KcPMSzmzgYN1WcidFAwV5859zjHlYKK8Ysw5PHW5A5h2qHk4zHJ4Y5w4gqZNceikYDNvKamZ6LUViGD-SPMdNpsvD-O5n9JyGztYkWO~XdDhcxnxzUB7--sOtAkPNVPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 1616, the Department of Natural Resources agency bill, moved out of the Tax and Fiscal Committee without opposition after sponsor and agency witnesses described small, technical changes intended to improve administration of existing programs.

Representative Glick (sponsoring in the House) and Representative Lindau presented the measure, which the presenters and a DNR legislative director described as a relatively short agency bill with three main elements: a notice procedure for subsurface mineral interests when unpaid taxes put those interests into tax sale; a change to the historic rehabilitation tax credit structure intended to spread credits among more taxpayers (adding a $10,000 cap to a subset of credits to avoid concentration in very large projects); and a mechanism allowing the Department of Natural Resources to establish submerged land preserves to protect shipwrecks and other underwater cultural resources in Lake Michigan and the Ohio River.

Why it matters: The changes are primarily administrative and intended to better protect property owners and to preserve submerged historic resources. DNR representatives told the committee they had worked with industry and local auditors on the text.

Details and discussion

- Subsurface mineral interests: The bill adds a procedure to notify surface owners when subsurface mineral rights are at risk of transfer via tax sale; sponsors said language was the best practicable step to protect surface owners and that DNR and the auditors association participated in drafting.

- Historic rehabilitation tax credit adjustments: The bill narrows an annual cap scenario so that very large projects cannot exhaust the program; DNR requested the change after testimony that one large project had consumed a disproportionate share of available credits in the past.

- Submerged land preserves: DNR told the committee it has identified 14 potential shipwreck sites and one wrecked airplane that could qualify for protection; the bill establishes statutory authority for DNR to create preserves and adopt protection rules.

Vote and next steps

The committee passed HB1616 by a unanimous voice/roll call reported in committee (12–0 as reported). DNR said the House had approved the measure 97–0 and that Senate Natural Resources had also cleared it 8–0; sponsors said the bill is intended to tidy up existing law and improve DNR’s ability to protect certain underwater cultural resources.

Ending note: The bill was described repeatedly as concise agency cleanup language rather than broad policy change; sponsors and DNR staff urged the committee to move it forward so local governments and property owners get clearer administrative procedures.

","A short agency bill from the Department of Natural Resources that clarifies notice for subsurface mineral tax sales, narrows annual historic rehabilitation tax credit caps to broaden residential application, and establishes a process for submerged land preserves advanced from committee unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances House Bill 1007 after hours of debate over small modular reactor incentives and ratepayer protections

Committee approves multi-part local government bill including TIF cleanup; amendment restores apartments to base

House Bill 1616, DNR agency bill, clears committee with technical changes to historic tax credit and submerged lands