Makes certain changes to state educational institution (institution) policies that involve: (1) disciplinary actions; (2) tenure review or promotion; and (3) student reports. Removes a prohibition on the award of admission, enrollment, employment, benefits, hiring, reappointment, promotion, or tenure on the basis of a viewpoint expressed in a pledge or statement. Repeals the following: (1) A provision concerning an employee or group of employees establishing an official institution, school, college, or department position on certain issues. (2) A provision concerning an institution's duty to report certain information to the commission for higher education (commission). (3) A provision concerning the commission's duty to report certain information to the budget committee (committee). Changes certain procedures regarding the appeal of a student report. Removes a requirement that an institution submit certain data concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion to the committee.
SB 340 would limit annual property tax increases for primary residences (homesteads) to a maximum of 2% each year, regardless of changes in a property's assessed value. This directly affects homeowners who live in their primary residence, preventing their annual tax bill from rising faster than 2% even if local property values increase significantly. The bill's key mechanism sets a hard cap on the year-over-year growth of tax liability, ensuring steady, predictable costs for affected homeowners. The bill is currently pending in the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee after being introduced on January 13, 2025.
Increases the membership of the Indiana senate to 100 members and the membership of the Indiana house of representatives to 200 members. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.
Provides that a political subdivision must upload a digital copy of every contract entered into after December 31, 2025, to the Indiana transparency website (website). Changes the individual responsible for submitting a statement attesting that a political subdivision uploaded a contract entered into in the preceding year to the website from the executive of the political subdivision to the fiscal officer of the political subdivision. Requires the department of local government finance to develop and implement an application programming interface that would allow a political subdivision to upload multiple contracts at once directly from the political subdivision's network to the website.
Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to establish state maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in water provided by public water systems. Provides that maximum contaminant levels established by the state department: (1) must be protective of public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations; and (2) may not be less stringent than any maximum contaminant level or health advisory promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Provides, for purposes of certain laws, that the term "major political party" refers to: (1) with respect to the state, any of the parties whose nominees received more than 2,500 votes statewide for secretary of state in the last election; or (2) with respect to a political subdivision, any of the parties whose nominees received more than 250 votes in that political subdivision for secretary of state in the last election. Provides that a political party whose nominee received at least 2,500 votes but less than 25% of the votes cast for secretary of state at the last election shall nominate the party's candidates at a state convention and for certain local offices at a county convention. Permits a petition of nomination for an independent or minor political party to be signed by 250 registered voters in the election district that the candidate seeks to represent.
Establishes a solar energy system tax credit. Provides that a taxpayer is entitled to a credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability for a taxable year in which the taxpayer makes a qualified investment in a solar energy system equal to the lesser of: (1) 25% of the qualified expenditures made during the taxable year; or (2) $50,000. Requires the Indiana utility regulatory 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 supplier shall begin: (1) allowing interconnection of the electricity supplier's facilities with community solar facilities in which three or more of the electricity supplier's customers have entered into a community solar subscription; and (2) crediting the electricity supplier's subscribing customers for the amount of electricity from the community solar facility for which the customer subscribes.
Provides that, for any work week beginning on or after July 1, 2025, the minimum wage paid to certain employees is 0.008% of the governor's annual salary. (Under current law, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.)
Prohibits discrimination based upon an individual's status as an active member of the armed forces, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Expands nondiscriminatory public policies of the state to include sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and national origin as protected classes.
Provides that: (1) a referendum authorizing a school corporation to impose property taxes to pay debt service on bonds or lease rentals on a lease for a specified controlled project; (2) a school corporation operating referendum tax levy; or (3) a school corporation school safety referendum tax levy; may be placed on the ballot only at a general election.
Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to include a question regarding the requirements for yielding the right-of-way for: (1) an authorized emergency vehicle; (2) a stationary recovery vehicle; or (3) a disabled stationary vehicle with active flashing signals; in the knowledge test for a learner's permit or a driver's license. Provides that an applicant who incorrectly answers the question automatically fails the test.
Provides that a contractor that employs 10 or more employees on a design-build public works project must provide its employees access to a training program applicable to the tasks to be performed in the normal course of the employee's employment with the contractor on the public project. Provides that a tier 1 or tier 2 contractor that employs 50 or more journeymen must participate in an apprenticeship or training program that meets certain standards. Requires design-builders and any member of a team working on a design-build public works project to comply with certain statutes. Provides that a public agency awarding a contract for a construction manager as constructor project may not take certain actions based on a bidder's, offeror's, or contractor's entering into, refusing to enter into, adhering to, or refusing to adhere to an agreement with a labor organization.
