STATEHOUSE, (WOWO) – Indiana House Democratic lawmakers introduced “The Hoosier Homefield Advantage” package on Tuesday. They say this is all an effort to boost the state’s sports economy.
The package includes bills such as requiring cash payment options at athletic events, prohibiting charges for streaming high school sports, and designating a state holiday after the Super Bowl.
Additionally, the legislation aims to attract professional sports franchises to Northwest Indiana and develop the e-sports industry. Proposed amendments include investing in professional wrestling events and a sales tax exemption on children’s athletic gear. The bills are making progress in various House committees, with a focus on enhancing Indiana’s sports industry.
State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster), House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne), State Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Indianapolis), State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) and State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) offered the agenda to unite Hoosiers across the political spectrum, pointing out that Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between love sports.
The legislation included in it is as follows:
House Bill 1534
-Written by GiaQuinta, this bill would require that school districts and charter schools offer cash payment options at athletic events starting in July.
-This bill had its first reading on Jan. 21 and was referred to the Committee on Education.
House Bill 1541
-Written by GiaQuinta, this bill would prohibit schools from charging to stream high school sporting events.
-This bill had its first reading on Jan. 21 and was referred to the Committee on Education.
House Bill 1517
-Written by Gore and co-authored by Indiana State Rep. Ethan Manning, a Republican from West Indiana, this bill would establish American Professional Football Day as a state holiday on the Monday after the Super Bowl.
-This bill had its first reading on Jan. 21 and was referred to the Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform.
House Bill 1292
-Written by Indiana State Rep. Earl Harris, a Democrat from East Chicago, and co-written by Manning, Indiana State Rep. Timothy O’Brien, a Republican from north of Evansville, and Indiana State Rep. Doug Miller, a Republican from the Elkhart area, this bill would establish the northwest Indiana professional sports development commission.
-This bill had its first reading on Jan. 13 and was first referred to the Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform. This bill was recommitted to the Committee on Ways and Means on Monday.
House Bill 1608
-Written by Indiana State Rep. Kyle Miller, a Democrat from Fort Wayne, this bill would require the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to study methods and strategies to help the state develop the e-sports industry.
-This bill had its first reading on Jan. 21 and was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development.
The two amendments that were also incorporated in “The Hoosier Home Field Advantage” proposal include:
-An amendment by Gore to institute a sales tax exemption on children’s athletic gear.
-An amendment by Indiana State Rep. Mike Andrade, a Democrat from Munster, that would require the Indiana Sports Corporation to invest money received from the statewide sports and tourism bid fund as necessary to attract and promote professional wrestling events.