(WXIN/WTTV) — People hoping for reform with a capital “R” of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation will instead get a lower-case version.
A small handful of bills were introduced in the Indiana General Assembly that would provide various restraints or changes with the state’s chief economic development agency.
Just one is still standing.
Senate Bill 295 cleared the chamber Thursday on a 44-5 vote.
The legislation proposes two changes at IEDC. It creates two new, non-voting seats on the agency’s governing board of directors. Throughout the IEDC’s history, only the governor has chosen the directors.
The bill gives appointment power to the House Speaker and Senator President Pro Tempore to place one board member each.
The other main provision of the bill requires the IEDC to give at least 30 days’ notice to the local government before a land purchase of 100 acres or more. Notification would go to the executive branch elected leadership of the town or county.
The bill now moves on to the Indiana House for consideration.
Among the bills that died in committee was Senate Bill 249 sponsored by State Senator Spencer Deery. His legislation would have required a state permit for anyone extracting 10 million gallons or more of water.
The measure is in response to a water pipeline originally proposed by IEDC that would move water from Tippecanoe County to Boone County and the IEDC’s 9,000-acre development park known as the LEAP district.
Deery, who represents Tippecanoe County, said he was disappointed his bill did not get greater consideration, but adds he will continue to work on the issue.
