One of the areas of our advocacy work is State legislation. Many times, our members will connect with me about a bill that has an impact on the business community. For this week I thought what better way to start the week than understanding how a bill becomes a law in the State of Indiana. While I could go into more detail I decided to give you basic concept. Below is the process, enjoy!

1. Introduction: A bill can be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. A legislator drafts the bill and presents it to the clerk of the chamber in which they serve. 
2. Committee Consideration: Once a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee for review. The committee considers the bill and may make changes to it, or it may decide not to advance it any further. 
3. Committee Report: If the committee decides to advance the bill, it issues a committee report, which outlines any changes made to the bill and the committee's recommendations for further action. 
4. Floor Consideration: The bill is then debated and voted on by the members of the chamber in which it was introduced. If it passes, it is sent to the other chamber for consideration. 
5. Conference Committee: If the two chambers pass different versions of the bill, a conference committee is appointed to reconcile the differences. 
6. Final Approval: Once the conference committee agrees on a final version of the bill, it is sent back to both chambers for final approval. If it is approved, it is sent to the governor for signature. 
7. Governor's Signature: The governor can either sign the bill into law or veto it. If the governor vetoes the bill, it can still become law if a simple majority of both chambers vote to override the veto. 
8. Effective Date: If the bill becomes law, it typically takes effect on July 1 of the year it was passed, unless the bill specifies a different effective date.

Overall, the process of a bill becoming a law in Indiana is similar to the process in other states, but there may be some variations depending on the specific state's legislative procedures.

At OneZone Chamber we have four pillars that drive our purpose. In each pillar advocacy plays an important role in what we do each day. While we offer a range of services and resources to our membership, one of their most important roles is advocacy. In this blog, I will provide 5 reasons why our advocacy work is important to our membership.  

Advocacy Ensures that Businesses Have a Voice
OneZone Chamber serve as a collective voice for the business community. By engaging in advocacy work, we can ensure that the concerns and needs of businesses are heard by policymakers at all levels of government. This can include advocating for policies that support economic growth and development, as well as opposing policies that are detrimental to businesses.

Advocacy Can Shape Public Policy
We have the ability to shape public policy by advocating for policies that support the interests of businesses. We work with policymakers to develop policies that are beneficial to the business community. Advocacy can also be used to promote regulatory reform or other policy changes that can reduce the burden of government regulations on businesses.

Advocacy Can Strengthen the Local Economy
We can use advocacy work to promote economic development in their local communities. By advocating for policies that support business growth and development, we can help to attract new businesses to the area and create jobs. This can lead to increased economic activity and a stronger local economy.

Advocacy Can Build Relationships with Elected Officials
Our advocacy work can also help relationships with elected officials at all levels of government. By engaging in advocacy work, we can demonstrate our commitment to the community and build relationships with policymakers that can be beneficial in the future. This can lead to increased opportunities for collaboration and partnership between the business community and government.

Advocacy Can Help to Address Community Challenges
We can use advocacy work to address community challenges such as transportation, education, and workforce development. By advocating for policies that support these areas, we can help to improve the overall quality of life in their local communities. This can also help to attract and retain businesses and talent in the area.

In conclusion, advocacy work is an essential part of the work that we do here at OneZone Chamber. By engaging in advocacy, we can ensure that the concerns and needs of businesses are heard by policymakers, shape public policy, strengthen the local economy, build relationships with elected officials, and address community challenges. We have a unique opportunity to represent the interests of the business community and work to create a more favorable environment for businesses to grow and thrive.

You might here the acronym TIF around town, but you might not know what it is and how is it being used to create some amazing projects in Carmel & Fishers. Below is an overview of TIF and how our communities use it to create some incredible placemaking amenities we use throughout the community.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a tool that local governments use to finance community development projects by earmarking the increased property tax revenues generated by a project to pay off the financing. TIF allows local governments to finance new development projects without relying on traditional tax revenue sources. It is a powerful tool for economic development that can have a positive impact on a community in many ways.

One of the most significant benefits of TIF is that it can help spur economic growth in a community. When a new development project is financed using TIF, it creates new jobs and increases the value of the property. This, in turn, generates new tax revenues for the local government. This cycle of development and increased tax revenue can help revitalize a struggling community and make it more attractive to investors.

TIF can also be used to fund infrastructure improvements that benefit the entire community. For example, a TIF district could be used to finance the construction of a new public park, street improvements, or a new library. By using TIF to fund these types of projects, the burden of paying for them is spread out over time and is shared by all property owners in the district, not just the ones who directly benefit from the project.

In addition to funding economic development and infrastructure improvements, TIF can also be used to help address blight in a community. By targeting specific areas for redevelopment and offering incentives to developers, TIF can help attract investment to neighborhoods that have been neglected or have fallen into disrepair. This can lead to the renovation of existing buildings, the construction of new ones, and an overall improvement in the quality of life for residents.

In conclusion, Tax Increment Financing is a powerful tool that local governments can use to finance community development projects. TIF can spur economic growth, fund infrastructure improvements, address blight, and support affordable housing. When done the right way TIF can be used to promote sustainable, equitable growth and improve the quality of life for residents in a community.
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Below is a 4 Part series provided by Henry Mestetsky, Director of the Carmel Redevelopment. He gives some insight on how Carmel uses TIF in their community.
 
Part 1: Building a Better City
https://youtu.be/N2BRRBp6PV4
Part 2: Carmel’s Tax Increment Finance Strategy
https://youtu.be/-06JlXFHFuY
Part 3: How Has TIF Been Successful?
https://youtu.be/FcWr_KlmlvM
Part 4: How Does TIF Impact Schools in Carmel?
https://youtu.be/_cCbhe17t2I