Indiana Gov. Braun backs affordability push in State of the State speech

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gov. Mike Braun on Wednesday officially threw his weight behind Republican-backed measures on utility rates and housing costs.

In his second State of the State speech, the Republican governor explicitly endorsed House Republican priority bills to change how utility rates are calculated and to limit the regulations local governments can impose on design elements for housing and accessory dwelling units. He went so far as to back the bills’ authors by name–Republican Reps. Alaina Shonkweiler, of Noblesville, and Doug Miller, of Elkhart, respectively.

“There are too many Hoosier who can’t afford to own a home at all. Home prices have surged because we aren’t building enough and unnecessary regulations are driving up costs,” Braun said, adding, of Miller’s bill, “I support it 100%.”

Republicans and Democrats in both chambers have said cost-of-living issues will be their top priorities during this session. Miller and Shonkweiler’s bills carry the designations House Bill 1001 and 1002, respectively, which are reserved each session for the majority caucus’ priority bills. Democrats in both chambers have called for repealing the sales tax on utilities and creating tax-free savings accounts for first-time home purchases. Ahead of the governor’s speech, House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, told News 8 his caucus has been pushing for affordability measures for years. ...