Rep. David Abbott

Reduces the required percentage amount of the motor vehicle highway account distributions that counties, cities, and towns must use for the construction, reconstruction, and preservation of highways from 50% in current law to 40% in calendar years beginning January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2025. Provides that, for a period in which the reduction applies, the term "preservation" includes both snow removal and expenditures for deicing road salt or similar deicing agents. Requires counties, cities, and towns that apply the reduced required percentage amounts authorized under the bill to submit to the local technical assistance program (LTAP) at Purdue University in conjunction with the Indiana department of transportation a detailed itemization of the uses of the funds in the calendar year that were for: (1) purposes other than construction, reconstruction, and preservation; and (2) preservation that included only snow removal and expenditures for deicing road salt or similar deicing agents. Requires the LTAP to present a statewide aggregate report of the results received from counties, cities, and towns to the budget committee for each year.

Allows the judges of the Elkhart circuit and superior courts to appoint four full-time magistrates and beginning January 1, 2024, to appoint two additional full-time magistrates. (Current law allows for the appointment of two magistrates.)

Allows a disabled veteran who rents a dwelling as a principal place of residence to claim an additional renter's deduction of up to $3,000 from the disabled veteran's adjusted gross income.

Repeals the law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana. Specifies that certain persons who are not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun are not required to obtain or possess a license or permit from the state to carry a handgun in Indiana. Prohibits certain individuals from knowingly or intentionally carrying a handgun. Creates the crime of "unlawful carrying of a handgun" and specifies the penalties for committing this crime. Allows particular individuals who do not meet the requirements to receive a handgun license and are not otherwise prohibited to carry a handgun in limited places. Allows a resident of Indiana to obtain in certain circumstances a license to carry a handgun in Indiana. Makes theft of a firearm a Level 5 felony. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming amendments and repeals obsolete provisions.

Provides for the mechanism for underground storage of carbon dioxide in Indiana. Provides that the new chapter does not apply to the carbon sequestration pilot project established pursuant to IC 14-39-1. Makes conforming changes.

Repeals code provisions regarding commercial fishing on Lake Michigan. Removes the requirement that the director of the department of natural resources (department) send, to a person who has a license that is placed on probationary status, notice that includes a description of the amount of child support in arrears and an explanation of the procedures to pay child support arrearage. Repeals the mussels license issued by the department. Provides that a law enforcement officer or an employee of the department is not liable for the destruction of a permitted animal that escapes an enclosure and poses a threat to public safety. Provides instances when a construction permit for a floodway is not required to remove a logjam or mass of wood debris that has accumulated in a river or stream. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2022, the director of the department shall not exercise authority to remove or eliminate an abode or residence from a floodway if the abode or residence was constructed before January 1, 2022. (Current law provides that the director of the department shall not exercise the authority if the residence or abode was constructed before January 1, 2020.) Provides that before July 1, 2023, the department shall adopt a license for the removal of trees; channel maintenance; and bank reconstruction, repair, and stabilization in a floodway. Provides that a local floodplain administrator shall utilize the best floodplain mapping data available as provided by the department and located on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal when reviewing a permit application for a structure or a construction activity in, or near, a floodplain. Provides that a contract to purchase timber must be in writing. Allows the collection of damages for costs associated with a claim or action, including attorney's fees, or damages specified in a contract with a timber buyer or a person who cuts timber but is not a timber buyer. Requires a timber buyer to keep complete and accurate records for at least five years after a transaction. Allows the director of the department to suspend a timber buyer's license for not more than 90 days before a final adjudication if the director of the department finds that the holder of the timber buyer's license poses a clear and immediate danger to public health, safety, or property if allowed to continue to operate. Provides that the director of the department may renew the suspension for periods of not more than 90 days. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Eliminates and renames divisions and bureaus that have been merged by the department of natural resources (department) due to reorganization that occurred within the department. Establishes the Indiana state park inns authority (authority) as a body corporate and politic for the operation, management, and administration of inns and associated facilities by the department. Allows the authority to purchase service credit (subject to certain conditions) for prior service by an employee of the authority. Eliminates the separate hunting license by including a crossbow and bolt in the licensure for archery equipment permitted to be used. Requires the division of fish and wildlife to meet with representatives of certain organizations concerning certain issues and to submit recommendations to the general assembly. Makes conforming changes.

Prohibits a person that owns or possesses a specified animal from allowing a member of the public to come into direct contact, or enter into a proximity that allows for or permits direct contact, with the specified animal. Prohibits the department of natural resources from adopting a rule to designate additional specified animals. Requires that a person who owns a specified animal must have a commercial animal dealer, breeder, or exhibitor's license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture. Provides that a violation of the law is a Class B infraction. Excludes from the substance of the bill physical contact or proximity between certain persons and a specified animal. Defines terms.

Specifies that the amount of excess combined reserves that may be transferred to the pre-1996 account in 2022 may not exceed $2,500,000,000. Reduces the individual adjusted gross income tax rate from 3.23% in 2022 to 3.15% in 2023 and 2024. Phases down the individual adjusted gross income tax rate after 2024 depending on certain conditions being met. Allows a taxpayer to elect a special property tax valuation method for mini-mill equipment. (Current law allows the method to be used only for certain integrated steel mill and oil refinery/petrochemical equipment.) Repeals the utility receipts and utility services use taxes. Requires a utility that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for the approval of rates and charges to file a rate adjustment with the IURC that adjusts the utility's rates and charges to reflect the repeal of the utility receipts tax. Requires a utility that is subject to the utility receipts tax and not under the jurisdiction of the IURC to adjust the utility's rates and charges to reflect the repeal of the utility receipts tax. Requires each utility to provide notice to the utility's customers that the adjustment in rates and charges reflects the repeal of the utility receipts tax. Specifies taxpayer procedure for the repeal of the utility receipts and utility services use tax. Provides that the office of the secretary of family and social services may not enter into a final contract that would implement a risk based managed care program or capitated program for the specified Medicaid population before January 31, 2023. Makes conforming changes.

Reaffirming the commitment of sister ties between Indiana and Taiwan.