ICAN 2023 Session Summary
End of Session Summary
The legislature adjourned sine die in the early morning hours of April 28, 2023. This update is a list of the ICC’s watched bills in the 2023 session.
The budget bill contained several Indiana Catholic Conference priorities:
School Choice: the Choice Scholarship program expanded to include families with household income of up to 400 percent the income threshold for federal free and reduced lunch. This comes out to 220k/year for a family of four. Nearly 97 percent of families in Indiana now qualify. The budget also eliminated pathways into the Choice Scholarship program.
Mental health crisis: funding for mental health came in at $50 million per year, short of the recommended $130 million the ICC advocated for alongside many other groups.
Earned Income Tax Credit: the budget coupled the state EITC with the federal EITC, which removes unnecessary penalties for foster parents, married couples, and families with more than two children.
Women and family support: Real Alternatives, which administers funding for pregnancy resource centers around the state, received $7 million in the biennial budget.
Food bank funding: doubled funding compared to the 2021 budget.
Conservation: 10 million for land conservation and 30 million for trails.
This bill created community mental health crisis infrastructure, including a mental health crisis hotline, mobile mental health crisis response teams, and mental health crisis centers. Although the framework was created, the funding contained in the budget was less than the estimated amount needed to fully fund its implementation.
SB265 Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
After many years of advocating for an expansion to TANF, the income eligibility and payment amounts were increased in SB265. Although the change will not take effect until 2025, this will bring targeted relief to the lowest income Hoosiers.
HB1568 Pharmacist Contraceptive Prescriptions
This bill was passed by the General Assembly despite the ICC’s objections and suggestions for improvement. It will allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptive pills and patches.
This bill requires childcare and pre-k facilities to test drinking water for lead contamination and was supported by the ICC.
SB334 Simplified SNAP Application
This bill will allow simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications for older adults and people with disabilities.
These bills of interest all died at some point in the session.
HB1009 Pregnancy and Childbirth Expenses
SB364/HB1243 Paid Family and Medical Leave
SB335 Climate Solutions Task Force