Establishes a board to design, establish, and operate a state administered retirement program (program) that automatically enrolls specified private sector employees. Requires program compliance by certain employers that have not, in the previous two calendar years, offered a qualified retirement plan to employees. Specifies the powers and duties of the board. Specifies program requirements, including default contribution levels and program fees. Requires the board to contract with investment managers, private financial institutions, or other service providers to invest money and administer the program. Limits the liability of particular parties associated with the program. Specifies board requirements for disclosure, audits, and reports. Requires the board to adopt certain rules. Makes an appropriation.
Reduces the period during which in person absentee voting may occur at the office of the circuit court clerk or a satellite office established by the county election board to a 14 day period ending at noon on the day before election day.
Provides that courts are required to appoint counsel for eligible children with certain exceptions. Provides that a county may seek reimbursement up to 100% for expenditures related to attorney services for eligible children. Requires the commission on court appointed attorneys to: (1) establish certain guidelines for counties to be eligible for reimbursement from the public defense fund; and (2) make a report to the legislative council and budget committee not later than December 1, 2026, regarding the 100% reimbursement for attorney services provided to eligible children. Makes an appropriation.
Requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission) to adopt rules governing community solar facilities not later than July 1, 2026. Provides that, not later than 180 days after adoption of the rules, an electricity provider shall begin: (1) allowing interconnection of the electricity provider's facilities with community solar facilities in which at least three of the electricity provider's customers have entered into a subscription; and (2) crediting the electricity provider's subscribing customers for the amount of electricity from the community solar facility for which the customer subscribes. Requires the commission to: (1) establish an interconnection working group composed of representatives of electricity suppliers and other stakeholders with respect to electric utility service; and (2) implement the working group's recommendations regarding creation, revision, or elimination of policies, processes, tariffs, rules, or standards relating to the interconnection of community solar facilities and electricity suppliers as necessary for transparent, accurate, and efficient implementation of community solar facilities.
Amends the property tax exemption for property used by a for-profit provider of early childhood education, including by requiring the provider to offer age appropriate curriculum and by excluding from the exemption tangible property that has been granted a homestead standard deduction. Provides a partial property tax exemption for an employer that provides child care on the employer's property for the employer's employees, and for the employees of another business if the employer and the other business enter into an agreement that outlines the terms under which the child care is to be provided. Specifies the conditions that must be met to obtain the partial property tax exemption. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services, in consultation with the early learning advisory committee, to: (1) evaluate and make recommendations; and (2) submit a report; regarding child care. Amends the maximum levy growth quotient to base the six year average calculation on the yearly wage growth for state and local government employees in Indiana and the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index. Requires the true tax value of a privately owned wastewater facility to be determined by applying the income capitalization approach. Provides that, if the application of the income capitalization method for an assessment year results in a zero or negative assessment, the privately owned wastewater facility is exempt from property taxation for that assessment year. Requires assessing officials in an assessment of residential deed restricted property to only use or consider sales of other residential deed restricted property as a comparable sale property for purposes of a sales comparison analysis.
Requires the governing body of a school corporation to adopt rules establishing a safety plan that provides steps for the school corporation to request assistance from the department of child services (department) to ensure a student is receiving appropriate intervention. Requires a preventative services provider to immediately report to the department if: (1) an individual to whom the preventative services provider is providing preventative services is not substantively participating in the services; and (2) the individual presents an immediate risk to the safety of a child. Requires the department to initiate an assessment not later than five days after receiving a report from school personnel regarding alleged child abuse or neglect. Allows the department to release unredacted reports to a school's designated liaison under certain circumstances. Adds bullying or abusive behavior as a factor for finding a child to be a child in need of services if other specified circumstances are met.
HB 1535 would make it a sentencing factor (aggravator) for judges to consider when sentencing someone convicted of a crime if that person is or has been an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. It directly affects non-citizens convicted of offenses in this state, potentially leading to harsher sentences. The key mechanism is adding immigration status - specifically being unlawfully present - as a factor judges must weigh during sentencing, without changing the underlying crime or penalties. This is a procedural change to sentencing guidelines, not a new criminal law.
With certain exceptions, requires a municipality that initiates an annexation to file with the court an annexation petition approved by the signatures of: (1) at least 51% of the owners of land not exempt from property taxes in the annexation territory; or (2) the owners of at least 75% in assessed valuation of land not exempt from property taxes in the annexation territory. Requires the court to hold a hearing if the petition has the necessary signatures. Adds provisions for determining the validity of signatures. Provides that a landowner may enter into an agreement to consent to a future annexation in certain circumstances. Eliminates the following: (1) Remonstrances and remonstrance waivers. (2) Reimbursement of remonstrator's attorney's fees and costs. (3) Adoption of a fiscal plan for voluntary annexations requested by 100% of landowners in the annexation territory. (4) Settlement agreements in lieu of annexation. (5) Provisions regarding contiguity of a public highway.
Provides that on January 1, 2027, in all counties except Marion County, the following occur: (1) Township government is dissolved. (2) The county executive assumes the powers and duties of township trustees with regard to fire protection and emergency services (fire services). (3) An elected county trustee assumes the powers and duties of township trustees regarding township assistance. Specifies that, on January 1, 2027, the following occur: (1) All fire protection districts and fire protection territories are dissolved. (2) Fire services are provided in accordance with a county fire protection and emergency medical services plan (county plan). (3) The county emergency management director is responsible for the day to day operations of administering the county plan. Provides that all incorporated towns with a population of less than 1,000 are required: (1) to report not later than November 1, 2025, and every November 1 every four years thereafter as to the services provided to residents, and operating costs; and (2) to be dissolved by the county legislative body if the town's operating costs exceed the expenditures for delivery of services to residents.
Requires the Indiana department of transportation to include the state motto or slogan, "The Crossroads of America", or the variation "Crossroads of America", on the face of a welcome sign installed at an entry point to Indiana on an interstate, a highway, a street, or a road.
Provides that the division of family resources (division) may waive contribution requirements for certain approved applicants of the school age child care program. Requires the division to adopt rules specifying cost and expense standards for transporting a child to a facility where the child does not attend school. Makes an appropriation.
HB 1337 would exempt Indiana from observing daylight saving time, meaning the state would permanently remain on Central Standard Time year-round instead of changing clocks in spring and fall. This bill directly affects all Indiana residents and businesses, eliminating the twice-yearly clock adjustments. The key provision is a permanent shift to standard time, removing the requirement to "spring forward" and "fall back." The bill does not change Indiana's time zone but ends the seasonal time changes mandated by federal law. (Note: This is a procedural bill focused on time observance, not a broader policy change.)
