*HB1172.2*
February 6, 2025
HOUSE BILL No. 1172
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DIGEST OF HB 1172 (Updated February 5, 2025 4:40 pm - DI 125)
Citations Affected: IC 4-3.
Synopsis: Office of entrepreneurship and innovation. Establishes the
office of entrepreneurship and innovation (office). Requires the office
to: (1) develop and administer programs to support the growth of small
business, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Indiana; (2) direct and
oversee programs and sources of funding related to the growth of small
business, entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation in Indiana; (3)
work to strengthen policies and programs supporting the growth of
entrepreneurship in Indiana; (4) coordinate with state agencies and
other state funded entities to align services and programs related to
entrepreneurship and starting and scaling a business; (5) work with
funded entities on identifying strategies and metrics around the
disbursement of funds to measure funds reaching rural communities
and other underrepresented socioeconomic communities; (6) work with
stakeholders and organizations supporting entrepreneurship to enhance
learning and skills, provide technical support, and expand access to
resources for entrepreneurs across Indiana; and (7) develop and
administer programs to support and encourage youth entrepreneurship,
including supporting students and teachers in fostering entrepreneurial
skills.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Teshka, Snow, King, Morris
January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Commerce, Small Business
and Economic Development.
January 30, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass. Referred to Committee on Ways and
Means pursuant to Rule 126.3.
February 6, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass.
HB 1172—LS 6942/DI 134 February 6, 2025
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1172
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
offices and administration.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 4-3-28.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]:
4 Chapter 28.1. Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "director" refers to the director
6 of the office of entrepreneurship and innovation appointed under
7 section 4 of this chapter.
8 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "office" refers to the office of
9 entrepreneurship and innovation established by section 3 of this
10 chapter.
11 Sec. 3. The office of entrepreneurship and innovation is
12 established.
13 Sec. 4. (a) The secretary of commerce shall appoint an
14 individual to be the director of the office of entrepreneurship and
15 innovation.
16 (b) The director:
17 (1) serves at the secretary of commerce's pleasure;
HB 1172—LS 6942/DI 134 2
1 (2) is entitled to receive compensation in an amount set by the
2 secretary of commerce subject to the approval of the budget
3 agency under IC 4-12-1-13; and
4 (3) is responsible to the secretary of commerce.
5 (c) The director is the chief executive and administrative officer
6 of the office.
7 (d) The director may appoint employees in the manner provided
8 by IC 4-15-2.2 and fix their compensation, subject to the approval
9 of the budget agency under IC 4-12-1-13.
10 (e) The director may delegate the director's authority to the
11 appropriate office staff.
12 Sec. 5. The office shall do the following:
13 (1) Develop and administer programs to support the growth
14 of small business, entrepreneurship, and innovation in
15 Indiana.
16 (2) Direct and oversee programs and sources of funding
17 related to the growth of small business, entrepreneurship,
18 technology, and innovation in Indiana.
19 (3) Work to strengthen policies and programs supporting the
20 growth of entrepreneurship in Indiana.
21 (4) Coordinate with state agencies and other state funded
22 entities to align services and programs related to
23 entrepreneurship and starting and scaling a business.
24 (5) Work with funded entities on identifying strategies and
25 metrics around the disbursement of funds to measure funds
26 reaching rural communities and other underrepresented
27 socioeconomic communities.
28 (6) Work with stakeholders and organizations supporting
29 entrepreneurship to enhance learning and skills, provide
30 technical support, and expand access to resources for
31 entrepreneurs across Indiana.
32 (7) Develop and administer programs to support and
33 encourage youth entrepreneurship, including supporting
34 students and teachers in fostering entrepreneurial skills.
35 Sec. 6. The office may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to carry out
36 the duties, purposes, and functions of this chapter.
HB 1172—LS 6942/DI 134 3
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Commerce, Small Business and
Economic Development, to which was referred House Bill 1172, has
had the same under consideration and begs leave to report the same
back to the House with the recommendation that said bill be amended
as follows:
Page 2, line 17, delete "Indiana, including the" and insert
"Indiana.".
Page 2, delete lines 18 through 38.
Page 2, delete lines 41 through 42.
Page 3, delete lines 1 through 5.
Page 3, line 6, delete "(6)" and insert "(4)".
Page 3, line 9, delete "(7)" and insert "(5)".
Page 3, line 13, delete "(8)" and insert "(6)".
Page 3, line 17, delete "(9)" and insert "(7)".
Page 3, delete lines 20 through 42.
Page 4, delete lines 1 through 11.
Page 4, line 12, delete "7." and insert "6.".
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to HB 1172 as introduced.)
MORRIS
Committee Vote: yeas 10, nays 2.
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COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was
referred House Bill 1172, has had the same under consideration and
begs leave to report the same back to the House with the
recommendation that said bill be amended as follows:
Page 1, line 13, delete "governor" and insert "secretary of
commerce".
Page 1, line 16, delete "governor's" and insert "secretary of
commerce's".
Page 2, line 1, delete "governor" and insert "secretary of
commerce".
Page 2, line 3, delete "governor." and insert "secretary of
HB 1172—LS 6942/DI 134 4
commerce.".
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to HB 1172 as printed January 30, 2025.)
THOMPSON
Committee Vote: yeas 22, nays 1.
HB 1172—LS 6942/DI 134