OneZone Chamber announces 2025 legislative priorities

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OneZone Chamber has announced its 2025 legislative priorities for local lawmakers to address during the legislative session at the Indiana Statehouse. This year OneZone will concentrate its efforts on childcare and workforce development.

OneZone’s focus will be on a variety of areas including childcare, road funding, cigarette tax, workforce development and talent attraction, entrepreneurship, and property taxes.

On improving childcare policies. OneZone Chamber supports increased access to quality educational programming for Hoosier children – specifically for childcare and pre-kindergarten programs. OneZone supports regulatory change to decrease undue burdens on facilities. Additionally, OneZone supports innovative ideas to grow the workforce to meet the needs of employers and employees.

Quality childcare and pre-kindergarten programs are essential to grow our future talent pipeline and promote a strong educational foundation before starting a formal K-12 education. In addition, quality programming for children allows parents to have the ability to participate in the workforce, have financial stability, and even continue furthering their own education. Decreasing regulatory burdens for childcare providers allows for increased access and availability and allows them to focus on providing quality care.

“We saw great discussion in the 2024 session around childcare and hope to build off the momentum,” OneZone President and CEO Jack Russell said. “We look forward to working with our Hamilton County legislators on creating a strong foundation for Hoosier children while finding new and innovative ways to allow parents to participate in the workforce.”

OneZone Chamber advocates for increased federal, state, and local funding for infrastructure projects, supporting a more equitable funding formula and transparent allocation processes. Engaging stakeholders – businesses, residents, and advocacy groups – is key to addressing community needs. Strong infrastructure supports the movement of goods, services, and people, reducing costs, improving supply chains, and attracting businesses. Additionally, infrastructure projects create jobs and promote economic growth by encouraging business investment and expansion.

OneZone Chamber supports increasing the tobacco tax and implementing taxes on vaping and e-cigarette products as a means to reduce tobacco use. Indiana’s high rates of tobacco use cost businesses over $6 billion annually due to healthcare expenses, absenteeism, and lost productivity. Raising the cost of cigarettes and vaping products can discourage usage and improve health outcomes, ultimately reducing the financial burden on businesses and the state. This approach promotes a healthier workforce and helps curb the long-term costs associated with tobacco-related health issues.

On workforce the focus will be to support policies and incentives that encourage attracting, training, and retaining talent to meet the needs of the current and future workforce. OneZone believes while the labor market remains robust, the number of qualified workforce participants continues to dwindle, with job vacancies causing problems for industries across the board.

It is critical that Indiana allows businesses to remain competitive and, thus, spurring growth in existing and future economic development. This could include policies that: encourage quality of place and infrastructure investments that attract and retain talent; remove overly burdensome regulations; and keep Indiana’s tax climate business-friendly.

“Workforce plays an important role as we look to attract talent, not just in neighboring states but across the country,” Russell said. “We will continue to be a voice for businesses to help attract and retain talent.”

OneZone Chamber recognizes the essential role entrepreneurs play in driving innovation, job creation, and economic growth and is committed to advocating for policies that foster a supportive environment for entrepreneurial success in Indiana. This includes promoting small business financing, offering tax incentives to attract private investment in early-stage ventures, and streamlining regulatory processes. By championing innovation, technology, and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, OneZone aims to ensure the community remains a hub for business development and economic opportunity. Supporting entrepreneurship benefits all stakeholders and fuels long-term economic prosperity.

OneZone Chamber supports meaningful property tax reform policies that promote fairness and economic growth. Any proposed reforms must be carefully crafted to avoid shifting the tax burden from residential properties onto businesses and should consider replacement revenue for local governments. A thriving business environment depends on fair and predictable taxation that encourages long-term investment and supports economic prosperity. While reform may address inefficiencies in the current system, it is essential that such changes do not undermine the business community or hinder local governments’ ability to grow and remain competitive.

As the session approaches, make sure to attend the January, February, and March Eggs & Issues. Hear from state legislators on these topics and more. The first Eggs & Issues will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 10 at The Bridgewater Club. You can learn more by visiting OneZoneChamber.com.