Indiana Bills

Specifies that the term "radiation" includes sound waves commonly used for sonography. Prohibits a person from performing sonography unless the person is licensed by the Indiana department of health.

Creates contest based raffles for charity gaming. Defines a "contest based raffle" as the selling of tickets or chances to win a prize award based on the result of a specific event or contest, including a sport horse competition.

Provides tax credits for: (1) the sale of higher ethanol blend; and (2) the: (A) sale of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel; and (B) blending of biodiesel or renewable diesel. Provides that the amount of the higher ethanol blend tax credit is $0.05 per gallon of higher ethanol blend sold at the taxpayer's fueling station. Provides that the total amount of higher ethanol blend tax credits that may be awarded for a state fiscal year may not exceed $10,000,000. Provides that the amount of the tax credit for blended biodiesel or renewable diesel is computed as follows: (1) $0.05 per gallon of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel of at least 5% but not more than 10%: (A) sold at the taxpayer's fueling station; or (B) sold by a distributor directly to the final user. (2) $0.10 per gallon of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel that is more than 10% but not more than 20%: (A) sold at the taxpayer's fueling station; or (B) sold by a distributor directly to the final user. (3) $0.18 per gallon of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel that is more than 20%: (A) sold at the taxpayer's fueling station; or (B) sold by a distributor directly to the final user. (4) For a person who blends biodiesel or renewable diesel the product of: (A) $0.035; multiplied by (B) the number of gallons of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel that is more than 5% and produced by blending biodiesel or renewable diesel at a terminal located in Indiana. Provides that the tax credit for blended biodiesel or renewable diesel is refundable. Provides that the total amount of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel tax credits that may be awarded for a state fiscal year may not exceed $5,000,000.

Requires a state employee health plan to provide coverage for anti-obesity medication and intensive behavioral and lifestyle therapy for an eligible individual.

Requires the department of local government finance (department), in a manner determined by the department, to include on every real property tax statement educational information regarding the eligibility and procedures for the over 65 property tax deduction and for various property tax deductions available to veterans.

Provides that, for purposes of receiving a grant from the military relief fund, eligibility criteria shall be based on the financial need of the applicant regardless of the applicant's income or assets.

Excludes from Indiana adjusted gross income distributions made from a 529 college choice education savings plan (529 account) that are not used to pay qualified higher education expenses but that satisfy each of the requirements under Section 126 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. Provides that such distributions are not subject to the: (1) penalty provisions established by the board of directors of the Indiana education savings authority; or (2) repayment provisions for the income tax credit for contributions to an individual's 529 account.

Provides that, if more than 50% of students who have legal settlement in a school corporation were enrolled in a school that is not operated by the school corporation on the 2024 fall average daily membership count date, the school corporation must be dissolved and all public schools of the school corporation must be transitioned to operating as charter schools. Establishes a new governing board, requirements, and procedures regarding the dissolution and reorganization of the applicable school corporations.

Provides that an offender against children who: (1) is required to register as a sex offender for life; and (2) knowingly or intentionally resides within 1,000 feet of certain areas owned, maintained, and governed by a homeowners association or property owner's association; commits a sex offender residency offense, a Level 6 felony.

Establishes a grant program to provide grants to counties, cities, towns, or townships (local units) for the funding of eviction related services for tenants facing an eviction action. Authorizes local units to apply for grants. Requires the Indiana housing and community development authority to administer the grant program. Makes an appropriation.

HB 1147 expands the definition of "bias crime" to include gender identity as a protected characteristic. This means crimes motivated by bias against someone's gender identity would now be treated as bias crimes under state law. The bill directly affects individuals who experience hate-based violence or threats due to their gender identity. It is currently pending in the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code after its initial introduction.

HB 1145 decriminalizes the possession of two ounces or less of marijuana by removing criminal penalties for this offense. It directly affects individuals caught with small amounts of marijuana, replacing potential jail time or criminal records with possible civil fines. The key provision eliminates misdemeanor charges for simple possession within the specified limit, shifting enforcement to a civil penalty system. This bill does not legalize marijuana use or sales, only changes the legal consequences for personal possession of small quantities.