Advocacy Research

Account Associate: Tate Jones

Preliminary research on the Indiana Builders Association (IBA) will help better understand the
client’s current strengths and weaknesses when beginning the campaign. Understanding what the
client does as a group that represents its membership is essential, especially with an association
that is tied into politics as much as the IBA is.
Terminology
● PAC -- A political action committee is an organization that raises money privately to
influence elections or legislation.
● Lobbying -- Lobbying occurs when an organization aims to influence politics, policies,
and representatives to serve the needs of their constituents and those who are they are
held responsible.

Political Mission
● The IBA is an organization that aims to benefit Indiana home builders through policy
reform and political influence.
● They use their influence to garner attention and support to issues affecting its members
and the greater building industry in the Indiana community, on both the federal and state
levels.
● The IBA aims to defeat bills that would harm the industry and supports bills that offer
benefits to the Indiana building industry. These issues include, but are not limited to:
○ Business Regulation
○ Taxation
○ Construction Codes & Standards
○ Insurance
○ Labor
○ Land Development
○ Energy & Environment

PACs
● Indiana Builders PAC works primarily on the state level, supporting representatives that
are pro-housing and business-friendly during election cycles and when officials begin
their terms.
● Builders United in Legislative Decisions Political Action Committee or BUILD-PAC
works on the federal level for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the
parent organization.
● There are six different “clubs” allowed those who donate to the BUILD-PAC. They are
varied in benefits and cost annually:
○ Fair Share ($25)
○ Century Club ($100)
○ Dollar-A-Day-Club ($365)
○ Gold Key Club ($1000)
○ Platinum Club ($2500)
○ Capitol Club ($5000)
● On the state level, individuals may also donate an amount as a flat, amount rather than the
annual fee.
 ○ The donation must be from $30 - $5,000 but may be selected more than once. (Ex.
You donate two amounts of $30 for $60 all around)
● The clubs are for different levels of support in the building industry and those who are
able to make larger contributions.

Topics and Issues

● Priority Issues Affecting Home Builders:
○ Workforce Development
○ Engineered Wood Products
○ Impact Fees
○ Fire Sprinklers
○ Indiana Residential Code (a statewide building code that regulates one- and two-
family dwellings households)
● The IBA also takes active advocacy towards issues during all points of the year and the
political cycle.
○ Business Regulation
■ Economic Development
■ Impact Fees
■ Foreclosure Issues
■ Homeowners Associations
■ Contractor Licensing
■ Home Inspectors
■ Mechanic’s Lien
■ Home Warranties
■ Performance & Maintenance Bonds
○ Taxation
■ Model/Speculative Home Exemption
■ Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts
■ Historic Preservation Tax Credit

○ Construction Codes & Standards

■ Statewide Building Code
■ Building Code Mandates
■ Permit & Inspection Fees
■ Green Building
■ Fire Sprinklers
■ Carbon Monoxide Alarms
○ Insurance
■ Worker’s Compensation
■ Medical Insurance
 ■ Title Insurance
○ Labor
■ Workforce Training Programs
■ Employee Classification
■ Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
○ Land Development
■ Private Property Rights
■ Eminent Domain
■ Planning & Zoning
■ Complete Streets
○ Energy & Environment
■ Onsite Sewage Systems
■ Combined Sewer Overflows
■ Mold Remediation
■ No More Stringent Than Corresponding Federal provisions
■ Wetland Mitigation
■ Lead Paint
■ Radon-resistant Construction
■ Water/Sewer Infrastructure

Political Accomplishments
● IBA Top 10 List Successes
○ Passed Right to Work law and Repealed Common Construction Wage Law
○ Passed Property Tax Breaks
○ Passed State Plan Review Changes
○ Defeated Employee Classification
○ Passed Vested Property Rights Statute
○ Passed Law Defining Townhouses as Class 2 Structures
○ Passed Developers Discount Statute
● IBA Top 10 List for Remodelers
○ Passed State Plan Review Changes & Stopped Builder/Remodeler Licensing
○ Defeated Employee Classification
○ Passed Home Improvement Fraud Law
○ Passed Home Improvement Contract Law Change
○ Defeated the Transfer of the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Programs
From the Federal Government to a State Agency
○ Defeated Onerous Provisions in Lead-Based Paint Legislation
○ Defeated Shortening Time Frame in Mechanic's Lien Statute
○ Passed Measure Requiring the State Building Commissioner to Issue
Interpretations within 10 Business Days
○ Passed Measure Allowing Remodel of Townhouses Without the Use of a Design
Professional or Obtaining a Construction Design Release from the State
○ Passed Abandoned Housing Reforms so Remodelers Can Rehab Property Sooner