Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith asks Governor Mike Braun to veto property tax bill

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith is asking Governor Mike Braun to veto Senate Bill 1.

If signed into law by Braun, the bill would make changes to Indiana’s property tax structure. Property tax reform was one of the core issues Braun campaigned on last year.

The plan Braun’s campaign released last July proposed property tax cuts for homeowners, a property tax bill cap and a reformation of the referendum process.

The version of SB1 that passed out of the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee was designed to give some Hoosiers a tax credit of up to $200 starting as soon as next year. The bill also proposed tax credits for fixed-income seniors and disabled veterans.

When the Indiana House of Representatives passed the bill on Thursday, Braun applauded SB 1’s progress.

“SB 1 offers meaningful tax relief for Hoosiers,” Braun wrote in a statement on X. “The plan to CUT, CAP, and REFORM means relief now and systemic changes for the future to protect taxpayers. Thank you to the House for their hard work, and I look forward to the Senate sending this to my desk for signature next week!”

Though the bill does not feature all the language Braun wanted to see in it, the governor has said he will sign it. In a statement Braun, said he would move forward with the bill if Amendment 36 was approved.

“I am proud to announce that with Amendment 36 to Senate Bill 1, we have agreed upon a plan to bring historic property tax relief to Hoosiers,” a statement Braun released on Thursday said. “I am grateful for the leadership of Speaker Todd Huston and President Pro Tem Rod Bray and for the ways they have partnered with us to deliver this meaningful tax relief to Hoosiers. I encourage House members to support this amendment and urge the Senate to then take action quickly to get it to my desk for signature.”

Previous reporting indicates that Amendment 36 would increase the amount of money Indiana homeowners could save over the next three years. The amendment could offer homeowners savings of up to $300 a year.

Before Amendment 36 was introduced, Braun had threatened to veto the property tax bill. In a post on X, Beckwith seemed to encourage Braun to reconsider his decision to sign or veto the bill.

“I’ve been on the phone ALL DAY with Hoosiers and government officials alike talking about the SB1 Property Tax Bill that the legislature is sending to the Governor,” Beckwith wrote on X. “NOBODY understands this thing… including me! On that basis alone, we can’t let this become law. The Gov. needs to VETO this thing, call a special session and demand the legislature pass something that the average Hoosier can understand without hiring army of lawyers and accountants!!”

As of 10:46 p.m. Braun had not responded to Beckwith on social media. FOX59/CBS4 reached out to Braun’s office for a statement on SB 1, but had not heard back as of this article’s publication.

Democrats who oppose SB 1 have previously argued that it could cut $1.4 billion in funding for local governments — including $750 million for local schools — over the next three years. Democratic lawmakers have also argued that, because the bill allows municipalities to impose a local income tax of up to 1.2%, SB 1 could actually increase income taxes for some Hoosiers.

On Thursday, Indiana Senate Republicans indicated discussions pertaining to SB 1 will likely continue over the weekend. Before the bill reaches Braun’s desk, the Senate needs to approve it.