[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6071710,"mediaKeyId","3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035","parentId",3035356,"title","Senate approves bill to encourage small modular reactor projects, critics warn ratepayers could shoulder risks","audioSeconds",166,"startMs",3184109,"endMs",3350665,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035&start=3184&end=3350","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035/thumbnail_3184109.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6071710/Indiana/Senate-approves-bill-to-encourage-small-modular-reactor-projects-critics-warn-ratepayers-could-shoulder-risks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071710-1708c19f0a0edbb57df5efec9248e5b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123769&Signature=SV184Ch2dekDHU1QcW3YgXXzYQSUyDskrtoC3PElGEcAEC7ZifubuSz1~OpW1oPQuUR6vZlPHV9OVq2UVTIx~jH5eA0RYNWLNQ2UBwtkL9tqREsTvWy9dPM~crnfr~iZxMR-obxItPCx-QMAuWeCn7ynN6QX9dpmE8GewwVLAxdaF5qyxzInNgECIUCqQlzZJrflOX0caduDupfMwXohGGB3DvCrYtBpyaJQt87-V-BxKfRwgTIaFu-SRQzn9a6P51r-frHGmEnv3S65TPhjeGhrDERw48TkL47d-g0UgtK~Vh53le2uLTIDGHrpF2mqzzN~6sy0jxjvi0--BdSoWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate of Indiana","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate passed House Bill 10 07, a measure lawmakers said is intended to attract high‑wage advanced manufacturing jobs and to create an expedited pathway for large electrical customers and new generation projects, including small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The bill passed the chamber 36‑13.

Provisions and rationale
Sponsor Senator Cook said the measure contains three central elements: a tax credit for manufacturers of small modular reactors (20% of qualified investment, claimed via IEDC certification); protections for ratepayers when utilities build infrastructure for very large electricity customers by requiring large customers to cover a substantial share of the interconnection cost; and a two‑part test imposing additional review and IURC approval before utilities retire major generating units.

Supporters framed the bill as economic development and grid‑modernization policy. Senator Zaidu and others urged the chamber to keep Indiana competitive for advanced manufacturing projects and new energy jobs, saying incentives are industry standard.

Criticism and concerns
Opponents warned the bill pushes unproven technology and shifts development cost and construction risk to utility ratepayers. Senator Ford said the measure “allows utilities to recover a % of their SMR development costs even if the project is never completed,” and urged colleagues to “pump the brakes” on technology that has not yet been delivered at scale.

Senator Hundley and other critics also said the bill did not include sufficient consumer protections for ratepayers who would carry upfront project costs in their utility bills while projects are developed, and questioned waste storage, decommissioning and long‑term liability arrangements for nuclear projects.

Outcome and next steps
House Bill 10 07 passed the Senate on third reading with a vote of 36 ayes to 13 nays. The measure will now return to the House; supporters and opponents both signaled expectation of more oversight language or negotiated safeguards during conference discussions.

Votes at a glance
House Bill 10 07 — Energy / SMR incentives and large‑load protections: passed on third reading, roll call 36 ayes, 13 nays.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Indiana Senate Legislative Session Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 10 07, authorizing incentives and utility rate protections for large energy projects including small modular reactors, passed the Senate but drew strong objections from several members who said the measure shifts financial risk to utility customers.","taxTitle","2025 Senate Legislative Sessions, 2025 Legislature IN, Indiana","taxId",77717,"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},6071715,"Senate advances healthcare bills: transparency measure passes easily; hospital pricing bill sparks heated debate",531,4728545,5259670,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035&start=4728&end=5259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035/thumbnail_4728545.jpg","/articles/6071715/Indiana/Senate-advances-healthcare-bills-transparency-measure-passes-easily-hospital-pricing-bill-sparks-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071715-2dccb20e81cf9742bb0de31cf0edb2ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123769&Signature=XZ9oWD9pEN3UZ-VuiPjrx9s9PB3wnL46eEDKoxe~Hxir09BXPOYMikXKiEttPrwSE~E8IzkXL~Q6WjbTkvIGKSfMWGl1REJKnDWQsj0jTgjEsG3BezC1S7iw0fiAuvKBoJnej3SfsnHK-Jt9jhSmz68M8-pxklsKhus-t1zLWCMm-06xpYEiBUfwmnzxjuAmDIpt9AFJ7mCIPf2qayi8EJMK9koHKwNsCGz5qsaPYiiexi3GIGoXgMYeqTzRxoZtpTWp8kfJdh99ydTyZLPwoCKAqn2j2khY0Xa7BSPqsi-PHz~KDC6Hr1LuH2NS5UDBlLNzGQ5-axLhLgZcj7cCDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two separate health sector measures won floor passage with very different margins and debate tones: a broadly supported transparency and patient‑protections bill and a sharply contested hospital pricing and oversight bill.

House Bill 10 03: transparency and patient protections
Senator Charbonneau, presenting House Bill 10 03, listed a range of changes intended to reduce surprise bills and increase transparency for laboratory and imaging costs, speed good‑faith estimates, and streamline credentialing. Charbonneau said the bill also asks state agencies to examine interoperability and prior‑authorization practices.

The bill passed with near‑unanimous support: the clerk announced 48 ayes and 1 nay. Supporters described the measure as incremental, consumer‑oriented improvements; the vote tally reflected broad bipartisan buy‑in.

House Bill 10 04: price transparency, all‑payer study and conditional nonprofit rules
A separate package, House Bill 10 04, drew far more contentious debate. Senator Garten described it as a study and intervention approach: the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would study statewide average hospital prices and require nonprofit hospital systems above a threshold to align their prices to that statewide average within four years or risk losing tax‑exempt status. Garten also said the bill would require additional public reporting — including PBM and TPA reporting — and carve a set of protections for rural hospitals.

Opponents warned the proposal would force nonprofit hospitals to forfeit community benefits, abandon charitable programs and in some cases convert to for‑profit ownership to avoid penalty. Senator Brown, speaking against the measure, said the bill’s definition of what counts as community benefit would exclude many services hospitals provide today and called the approach “punitive.” He argued the change would jeopardize services in towns where hospitals already operate on thin margins.

Supporters framed the bill as the state stepping in after hospital systems failed to be transparent on pricing despite repeated requests. Garten cited a 2022 letter from legislative leaders asking hospital systems to bring prices in line and said few responded; he called the proposal a measured next step. Senator Zay, who pressed for stronger PBM accountability across the session, described the package as a major step toward unseen transparency on rebates and spread pricing.

Roll calls and next steps
House Bill 10 03 — transparency bill: passed on third reading, roll call 48 ayes, 1 nay.
House Bill 10 04 — hospital pricing & oversight: passed on third reading, roll call 29 ayes, 19 nays.

Both bills now go back to the House or to conference committee; HB1004’s provisions that would create price targets and potential penalty mechanisms are expected to prompt additional negotiation.","The Senate passed a health industry transparency bill (House Bill 10 03) overwhelmingly and approved a separate hospital pricing and oversight bill (House Bill 10 04) after a contentious debate over price caps and community benefits. HB1003 passed 48‑1; HB1004 passed 29‑19.",{"_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},6071720,"Senate approves sweeping education code cleanup, removes statutory social‑emotional learning language",3930,4042537,7973025,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035&start=4042&end=7973","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035/thumbnail_4042537.jpg","/articles/6071720/Indiana/Senate-approves-sweeping-education-code-cleanup-removes-statutory-socialemotional-learning-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071720-8d2dbbb19660fe56b39f87b096fe1adb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123769&Signature=XwGvIV8goont9xDrMIZJw3lJVydOeBQ0UTmqE2mIdIbIFGzUL3xu~~g6m2chYvM-TYh-lh7N0yXT9XBw3gLSoh0tNzqPq0vSKufiuNgl1tYm3fryduhnKaXdGyjoBSzkUez6Gf5-cGzFZlsYIOlcmrHQeg1EakkN3HnDo7dppEpec9jScYJBaPKOJuulSc9tTkCchnERwEtYICkDASi41Msgmtk9oT7GyePzSm2nuq0NiOsOcOevKkMX~qnOm0hQJdK2vLOgj0YpLaPIFQU1F0-390To8X8H3LDRilKsYDY69zvbv~EklQMfZ~4kay7wyj0CT2MKeb~X3~hDUeocNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A sweeping education code “clean‑up” bill that removes more than a hundred outdated statutory provisions and some current policy language cleared the Senate amid strong disagreement about the role of social‑emotional learning in schools.

The bill’s author, Senator Ross, described House Bill 10 02 as a large technical overhaul: “We spent an awful lot of time on this bill…there’s some 200 plus sections of code that are affected by cleaning this up,” he said on the floor, adding that the bill removes duplicative or obsolete items.

Why it matters: Supporters and many school stakeholders said the bill reduces unnecessary regulatory burden on local school systems and modernizes code. Opponents accused sponsors of using the “deregulation” label to remove substantive protections and expectations—most prominently language endorsing social‑emotional learning (SEL) and trauma‑informed practices—from state law.

Floor dispute focused on SEL and the secretary of education’s qualifications. Senator Yoder argued the bill removed statutory recognition of social‑emotional learning and that the change was substantive, not merely technical: “When we decided to say that social emotional learning will not be a value that we say every child…we actually decided to take that out of this bill,” Yoder said on the floor.

Senators who supported the overhaul said local school officials and district leaders had asked for less prescriptive state code and that many changes are housekeeping. Senator Goode and other supporters noted stakeholder backing for many of the bill’s elements.

Outcome and next steps: The Senate passed House Bill 10 02 on third reading, roll call 31 ayes to 18 nays. The bill goes back to the House and could be the subject of further negotiation in conference. Because the measure edits many parts of the state education code, interest groups on both sides said they expect follow‑up work and potential clarifying amendments in the coming weeks.

Votes at a glance
House Bill 10 02 — Education code clean‑up (deregulation): passed on third reading, roll call 31 ayes, 18 nays.","The Senate passed House Bill 10 02, a large 'deregulation' education bill that strips many older statutory provisions and removes several mentions of social‑emotional learning from state code. The measure passed 31‑18 after heated floor debate.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6071724,"Senate passes $46.8 billion two-year budget after hours of debate",3894,164115,4058570,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035&start=164&end=4058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3035356-c847d67b78c14b48c9dbbc61e3865035/thumbnail_164115.jpg","/articles/6071724/Indiana/Senate-passes-468-billion-two-year-budget-after-hours-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071724-519d228fe0a5c2a9c15627f83e5739a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123769&Signature=BIH9oq2sRQxK6r5JRFldkMpW7~iH4MmJu7DlKy5QZmbplWzpjvp5iMUIGO2qbiv3qtZwZtw9RjrrLtQ5vMWN4JQYXIx8YUJAxueif2TxZoya1jsnOyigFYjqEqpWlKsMa~YLtGrpBFSEia~HUl-ws2aWpEQfTAa9WTMys5w9sfUIViW-e9uVymsoAENzDUsXsnLN7Pb20Yuu-5jWOEyB4OQx0EA7mFggwpF8KL6wcs3H5xqbBEqwimiuWRf3MS7xPGn~UUNDEqRpeWlJE88MhOjMWoMaqY0jYeqewIZL9IfCNsMpSWWFFFGQWwFkdTz6tJMQ5miO1QLAJWcqTTnzxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators approved a $46.8 billion, two‑year state budget after a day of debate over Medicaid growth, K‑12 funding and the size of the state’s reserves.

Senator Mischler presented the package on the Senate floor and repeatedly described the bill’s trade‑offs in blunt, numeric terms. “So, we have a $46,800,000,000 budget,” Mischler told the chamber as he reviewed spending for K‑12, Medicaid and higher education.

Why it matters: The bill frames next two years of state policy—how much the state will pay for schools, Medicaid and public safety—and sets the baseline for later adjustments when the revenue forecast is released. Lawmakers across the ideological spectrum acknowledged difficult tradeoffs as Medicaid spending and school formula costs climb.

The Senate version raises K‑12 tuition support, increases special education and English‑learner funding and fully funds the Medicaid forecast. Mischler said the budget “leaves $3,000,000,000 each year in reserves” and explained the decision as a hedge against a thin structural surplus in year two.

Opponents and supporters both praised staff work but split on priorities. Senator Kidora, an outspoken critic during floor debate, thanked the budget team but said the bill does not address a number of priorities she called essential — including the Medicaid waiver wait list and child care access — and told colleagues she would vote no. “But those were the reasons that I shared today that will compel me today at this point to vote no on the budget,” Kidora said.

Senator Goode urged support, repeatedly calling the bill a blend of “compassion and common sense,” and noting the Senate version increased K‑12 tuition support and maintained public health funding despite statewide cost pressures.

On the floor several senators acknowledged hundreds of amendments filed earlier in the week and lamented items that did not make the final cut. Senators from both parties urged additional work in the coming weeks before conference with the House, after the revenue forecast is released.

The vote and next steps: The Senate placed House Bill 10 01 on passage, the roll call showed 40 ayes and 9 nays, and the chamber approved the bill. The measure will go back to the House and, if both chambers remain at odds, likely to conference committee where members from both chambers will negotiate final changes.

What to watch: Revenue forecast numbers that will arrive within days; conference negotiations between Senate and House leaders; whether the House or Senate moves to restore any of the amendments that failed this week.

Votes at a glance
House Bill 10 01 — Biennial budget: passed on third reading, roll call 40 ayes, 9 nays (machine tally announced on floor).","The Indiana Senate approved House Bill 10 01, the two-year state budget, after hours of debate over Medicaid costs, school funding and reserve levels. The bill passed 40-9 on third reading.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves bill to encourage small modular reactor projects, critics warn ratepayers could shoulder risks

Senate advances healthcare bills: transparency measure passes easily; hospital pricing bill sparks heated debate

Senate approves sweeping education code cleanup, removes statutory social‑emotional learning language

Senate passes $46.8 billion two-year budget after hours of debate