Establishes the administrative rules review committee. Requires an agency to submit a rule, including an executive order, and the latest version of the regulatory analysis with any supporting documents to the office of fiscal management and analysis of the legislative services agency to estimate the fiscal impact on state and local government. Provides that if the fiscal impact is estimated to be greater than $300,000 in any two year period, the rule and supporting documents shall be provided to the administrative rules review committee for review. Provides that the rule described may not take effect unless authorized by a bill enacted by the general assembly, unless the governor certifies that an emergency exists and the rule is necessary to address the emergency. Specifies that a rule enacted to address an emergency expires after one year.
Provides that if a proposed economic development project includes proposed construction or establishment of a facility that will consume an average of at least 500,000 gallons of water per day in ordinary operation (water intensive facility), the Indiana finance authority (IFA) may not approve a bid for the project, the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) may not grant a job creation incentive for the project, and a local unit may not provide financing for the project unless the IFA, IEDC, or local unit: (1) provides notice of the proposed water intensive facility to the water utility that provides water utility service to the proposed location of the water intensive facility; (2) receives from the water utility a plan for provision of water utility service to the water intensive facility; (3) determines that the water utility's plan adequately ensures that: (A) the water utility can reliably meet both the ordinary and peak water demand of the water intensive facility; and (B) incremental costs of supplying water to the water intensive facility will be allocated to and paid by the water intensive facility; and (4) provides the water utility's plan to the local plan commission.
Abolishes the assessment of tangible property after December 31, 2026, and the imposition of property taxes after December 31, 2027. Provides that a political subdivision may not issue any new bonds, notes, or warrants, or enter into any leases or obligations to be paid from property tax revenue, or that include a pledge to levy property taxes if other funds are insufficient. Provides that: (1) no property tax increment financing district or allocation area may be established, amended, or renewed; and (2) no bonds, leases, or other obligations may be issued, entered into, or extended for a property tax increment financing district or allocation area. Provides that a school corporation may impose an annual fee to replace the loss of revenue previously collected by the school corporation from the imposition of an operating referendum tax levy or school safety referendum tax levy. Prescribes procedures for the fixing and reviewing of a political subdivision's budget. Prohibits the imposition of new levies for controlled projects, operating referenda, and school safety referenda. Abolishes the offices of county assessor and township assessor. Extends the sales and use tax application to transactions involving services, except for health care or mental health services (including insurance premiums for policies covering these services) and services provided for charitable tax exempt purposes. Establishes the local revenue sharing fund (fund) into which revenue from the portion of revenue from the extended sales and use tax is to be deposited. Requires the state comptroller to distribute to taxing units the portion of all the state sales and use tax revenue attributable to services from the fund. Continually appropriates money from the fund. Requires the legislative services agency to prepare legislation for introduction in the 2027 regular session of the general assembly to make appropriate required changes in statutes. Makes corresponding changes.
Requires the department of correction to issue a certificate of eligibility for rehabilitative release (certificate) to certain convicted persons. Provides that a certificate must be issued to the following: (1) A person sentenced for a crime other than murder who is at least 60 years of age, and has served at least 20 years in the department of correction. (2) A person serving a sentence for murder who is at least 62 years of age, and has served at least 30 years in the department of correction. Allows a convicted person who has received a certificate to file a petition for sentence modification without the consent of the prosecuting attorney. Provides certain criteria that the court must consider when ruling on a petition for sentence modification. Allows a court to grant a petition for sentence modification if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that: (1) the convicted person is no longer a danger to public safety; (2) the convicted person has demonstrated significant rehabilitative efforts, including participation in educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs; and (3) the interest of justice supports sentence modification. Allows the state public defender to represent a convicted person on a petition for sentence modification that is based upon a certificate. Allows certain convicted persons to file a petition for sentence reduction. Requires a petition for sentence reduction to identify information related the convicted person, sentence sought to be reduced, and evidence in support of the request. Allows a court to dismiss an incomplete petition or set a hearing on a properly filed petition. Requires that notice of a hearing be served on the petitioner, convicted person, counsel, department of correction, prosecuting attorney, and the victim or witness. Requires a court to appoint a public defender to represent the convicted person. Provides that the court is to take certain factors into consideration when deciding a petition for sentence reduction. Specifies that if the evidence supports that the convicted person does not present a significant safety risk to the community, there is a rebuttable presumption that the convicted person's sentence should be reduced by at least 20%. Requires the court to issue a final appealable order with findings of fact.
HB 1298 reclassifies marijuana and THC from Schedule I (the most restrictive category for drugs with no accepted medical use) to Schedule III (a less restrictive category with recognized medical uses) under state law. This change directly affects individuals using or selling marijuana, businesses operating cannabis businesses, and law enforcement handling related cases. The bill achieves this by updating the state's controlled substances schedule and making necessary adjustments to other laws that reference the old classification. As a result, marijuana and THC would be treated under a less restrictive legal framework, potentially easing some regulatory barriers.
Provides that a wine retailer whose wine sales represent at least 60% of the annual gross income from the premises may allow customers to obtain sealed bottles of wine by self-service for consumption off the licensed premises.
Authorizes a county or municipality to adopt and enforce an ordinance that regulates the use of an automated traffic enforcement safety device (device) to detect certain violations. Provides a civil penalty for a violation. Specifies that a civil penalty must first be applied to defray the cost of the installation, operation, and maintenance of the device. Specifies the manner in which the remaining money from the civil penalty must be distributed. Prohibits: (1) reporting a violation on a driving record; (2) using a violation to determine rates for motor vehicle insurance; (3) assessing points under the point system by the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) for a violation; and (4) reselling data collected by an agent operating a device. Requires notification to the bureau, and the suspension of the registration of a motor vehicle if a violation is not paid. Makes conforming changes.
Requires a hospital to: (1) inform a woman in premature labor of the hospital's capabilities of treating the born alive infant and managing a high risk pregnancy; and (2) if the hospital's capabilities interfere with the woman's care, provide this information before the woman is admitted to the hospital. Provides that if a born alive infant is transported to a hospital with an appropriate perinatal level of care, the woman must be offered an opportunity to be transported to the same hospital. Requires a local prosecuting attorney to investigate and seek criminal prosecution if the prosecuting attorney has probable cause to believe that a health care provider may have knowingly or intentionally: (1) violated the requirements concerning the treatment and care of a born alive infant or mother or the professional standards of practice through the health care provider's actions or inactions; and (2) caused harm or death to the born alive infant or mother.
Repeals the Hoosier alliance against drugs, the advisory committee on the oral history of the general assembly, and the Wendell L. Willkie memorial commission. Removes expired provisions located within Indiana Code sections. Limits collective bargaining with school bus drivers to the subjects allowed in collective bargaining with teachers. Provides that the prohibited subjects of collective bargaining with teachers apply to collective bargaining with school bus drivers. Makes conforming changes and technical corrections.
Allows counties to adopt an ordinance to impose a surcharge of not more than $2 in addition to the fees charged by the department of natural resources (department) for entry into state parks and state recreation areas. Requires the department to collect the surcharge and to report and pay the surcharge to each county treasurer. Provides that the revenue collected is to be used for purposes related to first responders and infrastructure improvements. Provides that the surcharge may not be imposed on a person who holds an annual pass.
Prohibits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits recipients from using SNAP benefits to purchase accessory foods, including: (1) energy drinks; (2) sweetened beverages; (3) soft drinks; (4) corn or potato chips; and (5) prepared desserts, including cookies, candy, ice cream, cakes, and pies. Allows SNAP recipients to purchase hot prepared chicken that is not fried or breaded using SNAP benefits. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply for a waiver or authorization to implement the prohibition and allowance if a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is required, and allows a delay in implementation until the waiver or authorization is received. Requires the Indiana department of health (department) to include promotion of healthy eating as part of the department's promotion of health and wellness activities, including by developing and making available materials that provide guidance on purchasing and preparing healthy foods on a limited budget.
Prohibits the exclusion of otherwise admissible evidence based on a violation of the Constitution of the State of Indiana, the Constitution of the United States, or the laws of the United States or Indiana unless certain conditions apply. Provides that an appeal from a court's order excluding evidence may be taken directly to the supreme court.
