ERIC HOLCOMB’S 2019 NEXT LEVEL AGENDA

Protect Indiana’s AAA State Economy

Pass Indiana’s 8th straight balanced budget
Keep Indiana pensions funded, debt low, and maintain $1.8 billion in cash reserves

Modernize Indiana’s Tax Code to Attract Investments

Make the Venture Capital Investment tax credit transferable to attract more private investments into Indiana companies
Update the Headquarters Relocation Tax Credit to attract small companies to plant their flag in Indiana, diversifying the state’s ecosystem
Update the Redevelopment Tax Credit for more private investment in Indiana
Update the Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit to help employers make investments in modernizing their manufacturing equipment
Provide innovation grants for small businesses that partner with Indiana colleges to keep the state on the cutting edge for research and development
Make Indiana a more attractive place to locate a business by moving Indiana to a market-based sourcing state – only taxing income from services sold in the state, not earnings outside of Indiana

Attract Talent

Attract and recruit talented veterans by exempting military pensions from state income tax

Implement Indiana’s plan to invest $32 billion into our state/local roads and bridges over the next 20 years
Complete I-69 three years ahead of schedule, connecting Indianapolis and Evansville by 2024
Eliminate stoplights and install new interchanges on U.S. 31, moving toward freeway status between Indianapolis and South Bend
Connect 400,000 unserved Hoosiers to high-speed, affordable broadband Internet access
Make America’s best airport even better, with more nonstops flights connecting Indianapolis to points around the country and world, along with more flights to Indiana’s incredible regional airports than ever before
Move forward with the West Lake expansion and double tracking the South Shore Line rail projects
Build out a statewide hiking, biking, and riding trail network – with funding for local projects and large legacy projects
Complete due diligence on potential construction of a fourth water port near Lawrenceburg

Support Hoosier Students & Teachers

Increase K-12 public school funding
Increase teacher pay in 2019 & 2021 to retain and attract talented teachers and make Indiana competitive with surrounding states
Increase the Teacher Supplies Tax Credit from $100 to $500
Provide funding for computer science training for teachers so every student is receiving quality computer science by 2021
Expand On My Way Pre-K by 500 low-income students (3,000 to 3,500) and increase quality learning center capacity
Move the appointment of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to 2021

Develop a 21st Century Skilled & Ready Workforce

Increase Workforce Ready Grants for job seekers and job creators, and require that approved training includes credential attainment
Introduce every high school student to different career pathways with a course that helps them prepare for post-secondary options
Change career and technical education funding to be weighted to courses that lead high school students to earn postsecondary credential attainment before they graduate
Expand flexibility under the Workplace Specialist Permit to recruit more career and technical education instructors
Pursue more federal Pell Grant flexibility to allow students to use these grants to obtain industry certificates and credentials
Tie a percentage of educator Professional Growth Points to activities that broaden their understanding of local and state career opportunities
Fund local grants to help regional stakeholders deliver more direct career advising
Initiate the 21st Century Talent Region pilot in 12 communities to bring a systems approach to attract, connect and retain talent
Better align successful inmate re-entry programs by moving the HIRE program from the Department of Workforce Development to the Department of Correction
Encourage upward mobility by enhancing the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) to bridge the transition between HIP and private insurance

Promote Safety

Bring more mental health resources and safety enhancements to Indiana schools
Reduce caseloads, increase pay and extend services and safety enhancements at the Department of Child Services

Support Health

Decrease the infant mortality rate by conducting substance abuse screenings on high-risk mothers
Improve the health care and wellness of state employees through a new partnership with OurHealth

Attack the Drug Epidemic

Expand recovery housing for Hoosiers who are recovering from the opioid crisis
Establish a medication-assisted treatment pilot program for jail inmates
Launch more family recovery courts to provide Hoosier families struggling with substance abuse with holistic care
Set standard requirements for office-based opioid treatment providers

Pass a bias crimes law, which would ensure judges can sentence more severely when a crime targets a group – even if there may only be one actual victim
Modernize state computer systems to provide better customer service to taxpayers
Streamline state boards and commissions, including at the Department of Homeland Security and the Professional Licensing Agency

2019 Next Level Agenda