Rep. Jim Pressel

Makes various changes to provisions concerning roads and transportation. Allows a taxpayer to claim a credit against state income tax liability for certain qualified railroad expenditures and qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures. Specifies the amount of the credit. Limits the total amount of credits that may be allowed in a state fiscal year and provides for the expiration of the credit. Increases the maximum rate a county containing a consolidated city (consolidated city) may impose for the county wheel tax and the county vehicle excise tax and specifies the purposes for which the proceeds of those taxes must be appropriated. Beginning in 2026, lowers the percentage of funds distributed to counties, cities, and towns (local units) from the motor vehicle highway account that must be used for construction, reconstruction, and preservation of a local unit's highways if certain conditions related to pavement quality are satisfied. Amends provisions pertaining to the Indiana finance authority's authorization to issue revenue bonds or notes, including grant anticipation revenue bonds or notes, to finance highway and road construction projects. Allows the Indiana department of transportation (department) to submit a request to the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver to toll lanes on interstate highways. Provides that, if a request for a waiver to toll lanes on interstate highways is granted, the general assembly is not required to enact a statute before tolling may occur. Allocates responsibility for bridges in a county between that county and a municipality based on the size and location of the bridge. Allows a local county road and bridge board to undertake low water crossing projects. Requires the department to ensure that information regarding funding sources for low water crossing projects is made available to county boards of commissioners and county highway departments. Provides that money in the local road and bridge matching grant (matching fund) must be allocated, transferred, and distributed for specified purposes. Specifies the timing of those allocations, transfers, and distributions. Imposes conditions on the allocations, transfers, and distributions made from the matching fund, including, in state fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2027, limitations on the ability of a local unit to apply for a grant in certain circumstances. Allows local units to use grants from the matching fund for low water crossing projects. Reduces the required local matching amounts and increases the population thresholds that apply to certain local units, if the department approves a grant from the matching fund. Restates a provision allocating 50% of the amount available in the matching fund to local units with a population of less than 50,000. Increases the speed limit on Interstate Highway 465. Requires all townships to annually adopt a capital improvement plan, which must include the balance of all unrestricted funds that exceed the township's budget for the following year. Provides that a township must transfer 30% of the amount of the balance of all unrestricted funds that exceed the township's budget for the following year to the township roads and infrastructure fund. Requires a township board to adopt a resolution if favor of providing money for the improvement and maintenance of roads and infrastructure within the township before a township transfers money for such projects. Provides, for purposes of the provisions regarding township capital improvement plans and township roads and infrastructure funds, that unrestricted funds are cash reserves that are not obligated, committed, encumbered, or restricted for specified purposes. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on roads and transportation the study of appropriate road funding formulas. Makes conforming changes.

Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) or the executive board of the state department to adopt, revise, update, or repeal rules concerning residential and nonresidential onsite sewage systems. Alters who may vote on the technical review panel, the process to resolve a tie vote, and when the panel may meet. Provides that the technical review panel may not approve an ordinance concerning residential onsite sewage systems unless certain conditions are met. Voids certain ordinances. Provides that certain updates to rules concerning residential and nonresidential onsite sewage systems are subject to standard rulemaking procedures.

Requires a unit to use data from the most recent: (1) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps; and (2) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlas; to calculate and regulate storm water runoff from a developed or undeveloped plat. Authorizes a unit to use data from the neighboring state in closest proximity to the developed or undeveloped plat under consideration. Requires a plan commission or plat committee to take action on a plat application, including meeting with any stakeholders with a financial interest in the application, not later than 30 days after receiving the application. Provides that if a plan commission or plat committee fails to make written findings and a decision granting or denying primary approval to a plat not later than 60 days after a public hearing, then the plat is considered to have received primary approval.

Allows the holder of a tobacco sales certificate (holder) to obtain a supplemental cigar sales certificate (cigar certificate) that allows the holder to sell cigars on a temporary basis at a function or event. Provides the fee for a cigar certificate is $1,000 and has a term of three years. Requires the holder to give written notice to the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) of the date and location of the function or event where the holder proposes to sell cigars. Provides that the commission's approval of the location does not authorize smoking in violation of: (1) state laws prohibiting smoking in public places; or (2) any county, city, or town smoking ordinance. Allows a restaurant proprietor who holds an alcoholic beverage retailer's permit to establish a segregated room where cigar consumption may occur, if the proprietor has the permission of the local government entity that enforces local smoking ordinances.

Prohibits, subject to specified exceptions, a county, municipality, township, or neighborhood or homeowners association from adopting or enforcing an ordinance, order, regulation, resolution, policy, or similar measure that: (1) prohibits or restricts the use, sale, or lease of a motor vehicle or outdoor equipment; (2) distinguishes between motor vehicles or outdoor equipment; or (3) results in differing regulatory standards for motor vehicles or outdoor equipment; based on the fuel source that powers the motor vehicle or outdoor equipment. Requires political subdivisions located within five miles of the end of a runway of a publicly owned, public use airport to adopt an airspace overlay zoning ordinance.

Requires the bureau of motor vehicles commission to notify the election division if the voter registration form being transmitted is for an applicant who applied for or was issued a temporary credential.

Provides that certain licensing requirements relating to vehicle merchandising do not apply to distributors or manufacturers that are not located in Indiana. Provides that if certain persons engage in the business of buying, selling, or trading motor vehicles on a Sunday, those persons commit a Class B misdemeanor. Amends current law that establishes a mandatory training program that applicants for a used motor vehicle dealer license must complete. Provides that except as part of a change in dealer business entity type, a holder of a dealer license or endorsement may not take certain actions with respect to the dealer license or endorsement. Makes conforming changes.

Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a water or wastewater utility (utility) that is not under the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for the approval of rates and charges shall submit a report on the utility's asset management program (program) to the IURC on a quadrennial basis according to a schedule prescribed by the IURC. Provides that a utility's report must include information: (1) demonstrating the utility's efforts to implement the Indiana finance authority's guidelines for asset management programs; and (2) certifying that: (A) the utility has the technical, managerial, legal, and financial capability to support those efforts; and (B) for a report submitted after December 31, 2026, the governing body of the utility has completed a training or continuing education program, as required under the bill, at least one time during the four year reporting period. Provides that evidence that a utility has submitted an asset management program to the Indiana finance authority (IFA) in connection with an application for a grant, loan, or other financial assistance may be provided by the utility to satisfy the requirement to demonstrate the utility's efforts to implement the IFA's guidelines for asset management programs. Requires the IURC to adopt before October 1, 2025, a general administrative order (GAO) setting forth the: (1) information required to be included in a utility's report; (2) procedures for submission of the report, including a simplified alternative reporting form that a utility with less than 1,000 customers may elect to submit; (3) quadrennial reporting schedule for submitting a report; and (4) criteria to be used by the IURC in making certain determinations about a utility's asset management program. Provides that the IURC shall verify on a quadrennial basis: (1) the sufficiency of each utility's program; and (2) the program's compliance with the IURC's GAO. Provides that if the IURC determines that specified deficiencies exist with respect to a utility's program, the IURC: (1) shall notify the utility of the deficiency and provide the utility a time frame in which the utility must correct the deficiency; and (2) may require the utility to undergo an informal rate review. Provides that if a utility receives two consecutive notices of a deficiency from the IURC: (1) the IURC shall assert jurisdiction over the rates and charges of the utility; and (2) the utility must undergo base rate cases under the statutory procedure that applies to wastewater utilities that have been issued two enforcement orders by the department of environmental management. Provides that if a utility receives three consecutive notices of a deficiency over the course of three consecutive verifications, the IURC may initiate a receivership proceeding with respect to the utility. Authorizes the IURC to enter into an agreement with: (1) the department of environmental management; and (2) the Indiana finance authority; to carry out these requirements. Authorizes the IURC to delegate its authority to: (1) review reports submitted by utilities under the bill's provisions; and (2) issue determinations and notices of deficiency; to technical staff, subject to the right of a utility to appeal a determination by technical staff to the full IURC. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, the governing body of a utility must, on at least a quadrennial basis, complete a training or continuing education program that: (1) includes instruction on specified topics; and (2) is offered by: (A) the IURC; (B) the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure research and extension program; or (C) a statewide not-for-profit association for rural water or wastewater utilities.

Changes the amount of a public work project that a board may perform using its own workforce, without awarding a contract, from an estimated cost of less than $250,000 to an estimated cost of less than $375,000, adjusted annually to account for inflation. Provides that the department of local government finance shall annually publish the adjusted cost estimate threshold on the department's website. Removes the distinction between a political subdivision that is a school corporation and a political subdivision that is not a school corporation for the cost of a public work project that is not subject to certain procedures. Provides that if a federal grant is to be issued to fund a portion of the construction on a public work project, the successful bidder has 90 days to proceed with the contract. Provides that plans and specifications approved by an architect or engineer are not required for certain public work on a public building.

Provides that the following are eligible for a mobile integration healthcare grant: (1) an emergency medical services provider agency that is operated by a county; (2) an emergency medical services provider organization; and (3) a hospital; if certain conditions are met.