| Cutting Taxes for All Taxpayers Thanks to many years of fiscally conservative leadership, Indiana is in a fortunate economic position. With state revenues continuing to outpace expectations, the General Assembly recently passed tax cuts for Indiana. House Enrolled Act 1002 phases down Indiana’s income-tax rate to 2.9% and could save taxpayers up to $1 billion once fully implemented. This phased-in tax reduction is contingent on state revenue continuing to grow, ensuring we are still practicing fiscal responsibility. Indiana residents will also benefit from HEA 1002 repealing the state’s utility receipt tax, which will help combat rising utility costs. HEA 1002 requires utility companies to reduce their rates and pass the savings from this tax cut on to their customers. Lastly, this legislation pays down pension debt in order to keep our promises to retired teachers. These tax cuts come on top of the automatic taxpayer refund that was triggered at the end of fiscal year 2021, meaning not only will Indiana residents have taxes reduced going forward, but they will also receive a tax credit of about $125 per taxpayer after filing this year. I take great pride in the fact that Indiana can simultaneously return money to taxpayers, cut taxes and pay down debt, and I will continue to prioritize fiscally responsible policies like these during my time as your state senator. |
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| Permitless Carry Clarified The Indiana General Assembly passed House Enrolled Act 1296 this session, which removes the requirement to get a permit to carry a firearm. I have received some questions about what is now allowed and what is prohibited, and I am happy to help clarify what exactly this legislation does for Indiana. First, this bill has made it to the governor’s desk, and it is awaiting his signature before becoming law. The governor can also veto this legislation or let it become law without his signature. If HEA 1296 becomes law, this bill is not effective until July 1, 2022, so the permit requirement remains in place until then. Once July 1 comes, any individual wanting to purchase a firearm from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer will still have to undergo a background check in order to complete the purchase, just as they have always done. The FFL dealers will check the FBI’s National Instant Background Check System to verify if the individual is flagged or a proper person under federal law to possess a firearm. Individuals will not be required to complete fingerprint testing. With HEA 1296 in place, a person who has successfully purchased a handgun will not need to take any additional steps to get a license before carrying. However, this legislation still allows a private property owner to control who can carry a firearm on their property. Additionally, there will continue to be some individuals who cannot legally carry a handgun in public, even though there is no permit requirement. This includes individuals with certain past criminal convictions, for example. Click here to view the list of individuals who are not permitted to carry a handgun, and if discovered by law enforcement, may face criminal charges. With the passage of this legislation, Indiana joins 23 other states in affirming the right of law abiding citizens, who are otherwise legally able to possess and carry a firearm, to responsibly carry that firearm for self-defense without first having to ask the government for permission. If you have any questions about this legislation and how to determine if you can carry a firearm after July 1, 2022 without a permit, you can contact me at Senator.Leising@iga.in.gov. |
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