LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7310 NOTE PREPARED: Apr 21, 2025
BILL NUMBER: SB 516 BILL AMENDED: Mar 27, 2025
SUBJECT: Economic Development.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Buchanan BILL STATUS: Enrolled
FIRST SPONSOR: Rep. Lopez
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The bill establishes the Office of
Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The bill also specifies the duties of the office.
Oversight of Certified Technology Parks (CTPs): The bill transfers oversight responsibilities of CTPs from
the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Annual Report: The bill provides for the submission of an annual report of the activities of an innovation
development district (IDD) as to financial information pertaining to tax increment financing districts in an
IDD to the: (1) fiscal body of the county, city, or town; and (2) Department of Local Government Finance
(DLGF).
Land Purchase Notice: The bill provides that before the IEDC may purchase land in a county that in total
exceeds 100 acres whether acquired in one transaction or a series of transactions, the IEDC must first give
notice, in writing, to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the land is located (and to
the mayor of a city if the land is located within a city) not later than 30 days before the closing date for the
purchase or purchases. The bill also requires the IEDC to provide to the Budget Committee a copy of the
notice being provided to the local unit in which certain land is being purchased.
Economic Development Site Tour: The bill provides that if the IEDC extends an offer to one or more voting
or nonvoting members of the Budget Committee to tour a potential economic development site that may
receive state assistance in undertaking the project, the IEDC shall simultaneously extend the same offer to
all voting and nonvoting members of the Budget Committee.
IEDC President Appointment: The bill requires the Governor to appoint the president of the IEDC, who shall
serve at the pleasure of the Governor and report to the Secretary of Commerce. (Under current law, the
Secretary of Commerce is the president of the IEDC.)
Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA): The bill repeals the statute that expires the
SB 516 1 CIRDA.
Effective Date: Upon passage; July 1, 2025.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Establishing the Office
of Entrepreneurship and Innovation is estimated to increase General Fund expenditures by approximately
$1.8 M for staff salaries and fringe benefits in FY 2026, with these costs estimated to increase to $1.9 M in
FY 2027. The bill does not appropriate funds for the programs the agency will manage. Estimated costs can
be reduced to the extent the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation works in conjunction with the IEDC
to utilize vacant staff positions or unexpended appropriations.
Oversight of CTPs: The bill requires the transfer of the oversight responsibility from the IEDC to the Office
of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The workload changes should be able to be implemented within existing
resource levels.
Annual Report: The bill provides that the IEDC and the local government in which an IDD is designated must
submit a report to the local fiscal body and the DLGF containing the IDD’s activities and financial
information by April 15 each year. This requirement is expected to increase the workload of the IEDC and
local executives. The task can be accomplished within existing resource and funding levels.
Land Purchase Notice: The bill requires the IEDC, before purchasing land in a county that exceeds 100
acres, to first give written notice to the board of county commissioners in which the land is located and the
mayor if the land is located within a city, not later than 30 days before the closing date for the purchase. The
bill also requires the IEDC to provide a copy of the notice to the Budget Committee. These requirements can
be implemented within existing resource levels.
IEDC President Appointment: The bill requires the Governor to appoint the president of the IEDC and the
Secretary of Commerce separately. This requirement would increase the cost to the extent the salary and
benefits would be paid to the new president of the IEDC. The estimated annual cost is between $287,000 and
$370,000. The bill also requires the president to report to the Secretary of Commerce, which could increase
administrative costs marginally.
Additional Information - The State of Illinois currently maintains an Office of Entrepreneurship and
Innovation. Over the past five fiscal years, the Office has averaged annual expenditures of $28.4 M per year
and maintained an average of approximately 23 full time equivalent positions. These annual costs include
salary and benefits as well as expenditures on developing and administering programs to promote small
businesses, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the state of Illinois.
Assuming the difference between Illinois’ General Fund expenditures compared to Indiana, establishing an
Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation is expected to require 10 full time equivalent positions.
As of December 2024, the IEDC maintained six vacant positions (that were not for interns), valued at
approximately $882,000 in annual salary. Using the salary for these positions as a baseline, annual personnel
costs (salary and fringe benefits) for these 10 positions are estimated to be $1.8 M in FY 2026 and $1.9 M
in FY 2027.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: CIRDA: Under current law, the CIRDA will expire July 1, 2025.
SB 516 2 Repealing the statute that expires the CIRDA would continue the current workload and expenditures for
CIRDA. The CIRDA is governed by a strategy committee, which is required to meet at least quarterly. The
CIRDA is required to pay the cost of an annual financial audit by a certified public accountant, which must
be approved by and under the direction of the State Examiner. The CIRDA must issue a report annually to
the Legislative Council, State Budget Committee, the IEDC, and the executive, fiscal body, and legislative
body of each member of the CIRDA concerning its operations and activities during the preceding year.
Explanation of Local Revenues: CIRDA: According to the IEDC, as of October 18, 2024, it has awarded
$45 M in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 matching funds to the
central Indiana READI region, which is led by CIRDA. The bill could lead to the IEDC continuing to provide
funding support to the CIRDA after June 30, 2025.
State Agencies Affected: Governor, IEDC, State Board of Accounts.
Local Agencies Affected: Eligible political subdivisions within the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Information Sources: Illinois Comptroller Database; December 2024 Staffing Report; FY 2024 Reversion
Data; State of Indiana Transparency Portal;
IEDC, Central Indiana Moves Forward with READI 2.0 Developments to Advance Quality of Place, October
18, 2024,
https://iedc.in.gov/events/news/details/2024/10/18/central-indiana-moves-forward-with-readi-2.0-develop
ments-to-advance-quality-of-place.
Fiscal Analyst: Qian Li, 317-232-9671; Bill Brumbach, 317-232-9559.
SB 516 3