Session sentiments remain divided—just like the legislative session itself

On Aug. 24, the Indiana General Assembly declared “sine die,” effectively ending the 2025 legislative session. Out of the hundreds of bills that made it to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk, here are the favorite and least favorite in the eyes of Indiana lawmakers and other stakeholders from both sides of the aisle.

Indiana Chamber

The 2025 legislative session concluded with many victories and losses for both parties, with no bill drawing more controversy than the state budget, House Bill 1001.

David Ober, Indiana Chamber senior vice president of business operations and finance, shared two of his favorite bills and one bill he opposed.

“Two longtime Indiana Chamber goals passed this session as aspects of comprehensive bills: reforming business personal property tax (in Senate Bill 1), which is key for Hoosier small businesses, and increasing the state’s cigarette and vaping taxes,” Ober said. “That’s long been a priority of ours to provide a needed improvement to workforce health, so we’re quite pleased that was put into the budget bill (HB 1001) as well.”

Another bill Ober found favorable was House Bill 1461, a bill that introduces a range of changes to Indiana’s transportation funding system, including new tax credits, increased local tax rates and expanded grant flexibility.

“House Bill 1461 is another favorite as it provides much-needed infrastructure funding for local governments by increasing flexibility in transportation taxes,” Ober said. “Providing local units with a means of securing additional revenue for road and bridge projects and enhancing the state’s transportation network will benefit businesses and citizens alike.”

While the Chamber sees many bills as positive, Ober found comfort in House Bill 1032 failing to make it through the session.

“Among the bills we opposed, the defeat of House Bill 1032 concerning foreign interests was significant. We understand the need to safeguard national security, but the bill was overly expansive in its treatment of business and property ownership by individuals and entities associated with a foreign adversary,” Ober said.

“As drafted, it risked discouraging legitimate foreign investment, displacing current employees and creating unnecessary disruptions to business operations and financial planning.”

 —Caleb Crockett

Sen. Rodney Pol

Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, was elected to the Indiana Senate in 2021, but despite being a relative newcomer, he has worked his way into the role of chair for the Indiana Senate Democratic caucus.

Pol takes great pride in his ability to work across the aisle.

“Persistence, patience and collaboration are necessities in that building,” said Pol.

His proudest moment of the session was saving two bills from dying: SB 409, a bill providing workplace protections for families with students that have Individualized Education Programs and attendance issues, and HB 1416, for which Pol proposed an amendment that requires gas stations to hang up human trafficking awareness signs.

“I challenged the industries that had concerns to work with Rep. Bartlett and I to keep the protections for victims alive while meeting their business concerns,” said Pol. “Working across the aisle, we were able to keep the protections and the teeth in the bill.”

However, the curse of being the minority party in a Statehouse run by a supermajority party seems to weigh on Pol, in particular with the passing of the controversial SB 1, a bill that will lower homestead tax credits, give money to charter schools and cut Indianapolis Public Schools funding.

“I can’t help but feel that I failed our local communities and school districts by not being able to stop the detrimental effects of SB 1 and the budget cuts,” said Pol.

Democrats all session also voiced their disapproval of SB 289, which made headlines for becoming the “anti-DEI” bill.

Pol gave insight into how, despite the passage of those two items, he is continuing to gain support for the Republican opposition.

“I’ve been hosting town halls, and the locals are incredibly worried, and you can’t help but feel like giving it your all wasn’t enough,” said Pol. “I don’t give up though, so it’s fuel for the fire going into the next session to right the ship.”

—Schyler Altherr