Budget & Taxes (Tax Credits)

Provides for a nonrefundable apprenticeship tax credit (credit) for an eligible employer. Provides that the amount of the credit is $2,500 for each apprentice employed. Specifies procedures for claiming the credit. Requires a board to issue a license, certificate, registration, or permit to an individual to allow the individual to practice the individual's occupation in Indiana if the individual satisfies certain conditions.

Amends the economic development for a growing economy (EDGE) tax credit to: (1) authorize the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to increase the value of an EDGE credit to a company for new job creation based on the amount of expenses of the company to relocate an individual to Indiana to fill the position; and (2) explicitly permit the IEDC to provide EDGE credits to a company that is retaining an employee through a minimum of a 25% increase in hourly wages paid to the individual. Clarifies provisions that apply to IEDC certification of a fund as a qualified Indiana investment fund.

Requires the Indiana department of education to elect to participate as a covered state in the federal tax credit scholarship program for elementary and secondary education under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code (enacted in Public Law 119-21, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025). Makes conforming changes to the school scholarship tax credit in current law. Requires the governor and the department of workforce development, in consultation with the commission for higher education, to: (1) establish a process to identify eligible workforce training programs; (2) establish a process for institutions and programs to apply for recognition as an eligible workforce training program; (3) coordinate certain workforce training matters; and (4) require eligible workforce training programs to provide certain datasets to the department. Provides that the department of workforce development must maintain alignment with federal rules governing workforce Pell grants.

Amends and adds provisions regarding the regional development tax credit. Specifies the award of certain credits under the aggregate tax credit cap that the Indiana economic development corporation may certify each state fiscal year. Authorizes a county or city that is currently participating in a regional development authority to change its membership and instead participate in a new or different regional development authority.

Provides a child and dependent care refundable tax credit against an individual's Indiana adjusted gross income tax for employment related child and dependent care expenses based on the percentage of the federal child and dependent care tax credit the taxpayer claimed for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes. Provides a child tax credit against an individual's Indiana adjusted gross income tax. Provides that costs incurred: (1) for the operating costs of a child care facility operated for a taxpayer's employees; or (2) under a contract with a child care facility to provide child care services to employees of the taxpayer, or under a contract with an intermediate entity that contracts with one or more child care facilities for child care services; are qualified expenditures for purposes of the employer child care expenditure income tax credit.

Establishes an early childhood scholarship tax credit for contributions made to a scholarship granting organization that conducts a program to provide scholarships for children who attend a qualified early child care provider. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 50% of the amount of the contribution. Limits the total amount of tax credits awarded in a state fiscal year to not more than $100,000,000. Requires the department of education (department) to certify early childhood scholarship granting organizations that meet certain criteria. Requires qualified early childhood scholarship granting organizations to enter into an agreement with the department. Specifies conditions that must be included in the agreement. Provides that a school corporation that operates an early childhood education program may not limit consideration for participation in the program solely to those residing within the school district.

Provides that an individual who is a volunteer firefighter is entitled to a credit of $200 against the individual's adjusted gross income tax liability each taxable year.

Provides a child and dependent care refundable tax credit against an individual's Indiana adjusted gross income tax for employment related child and dependent care expenses based on the taxpayer's Indiana adjusted gross income and a percentage of the federal child and dependent care tax credit the taxpayer claimed for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes.