By KARA BROOKS
Office of Governor Mike Pence

Gov. Mike Pence has signed HEA 1403, the Regional Cities Initiative, which creates a framework for neighboring communities to work together to promote economic development on a regional basis in order to attract talent and investment. The bill, which was part of the governor’s agenda for the 2015 legislative session, also creates the Regional Cities Fund that will help leverage public and private investment in areas that will drive economic development. The governor signed the bill at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors’ meeting Wednesday.

“Indiana is the best place to grow a business in America. To continue to attract new investment and talent across our state, we must grow locally and think regionally,” said Pence. “The Regional Cities Initiative will encourage collaboration among Hoosier communities to develop ways to bolster investment, attract talent, and continue Indiana on a pathway to economic growth and success. I appreciate the efforts of the Indiana legislature to achieve this important legislation for the benefit of both Hoosiers and our economy as a whole.”

The governor also signed a number of other agenda bills that are geared toward strengthening Indiana’s economy:

• HEA 1303, which provides highly-skilled professionals a voluntary alternative to licensing, eliminates arbitrary barriers to employment, and reduces costs for consumers by giving them the information they need to make better choices about services they buy and people they hire.
• SEA 441, to simplify the tax code, which will reduce the paperwork burden for Hoosiers and incentivize investment in Indiana.
• SEA 412, which requires electric utilities to file energy efficiency plans with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in order to ensure more affordable and reliable energy for Hoosiers.

“As we look to the future of Indiana, it is imperative that we advance innovative ways to strengthen our state,” said Pence. “The bills I signed today continue our work in this regard through less regulation, a simpler tax code, and more affordable energy for both Hoosiers and the businesses that operate in Indiana. I am grateful to the Indiana General Assembly for authoring and supporting these bills which will go far in growing Indiana’s economy.”

The governor also signed non-agenda bill SEA 436, which establishes a statewide exemption of business personal property taxes for taxpayers with less than $20,000 in assessed value in a county, eliminating the tax for 50 percent of all filers.