Rep. Craig Snow

Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to designate 15 economic development regions throughout Indiana. Establishes a regional economic development commission (commission) for each economic development region. Provides for the membership of each commission. Requires each commission to establish or designate a primary administrative entity (entity) to carry out a strategic comprehensive economic development plan for the region. Sets forth the duties of a commission and entity.

Provides a credit against state tax liability for expenses incurred in the manufacture of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in Indiana. Establishes procedures under which certain energy utilities may request approval for one or more of the following from the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC): (1) An expedited generation resource plan (EGR plan) to meet customer load growth that exceeds a specified threshold. (2) A generation resource submittal for the acquisition of a specific generation resource in accordance with an approved EGR plan. (3) A project to serve one or more large load customers. Sets forth: (1) the requirements for approval of each of these types of requests; (2) standards for financial assurances by large load customers; and (3) cost recovery mechanisms for certain acquisition costs or project costs incurred by energy utilities. Amends the statute concerning public utilities' annual electric resource planning reports to the IURC to provide that for an annual report submitted after December 31, 2025, a public utility must include information as to the amount of generating resource capacity or energy that the public utility plans to retire or refuel with respect to any electric generation resource of at least 125 megawatts. Provides that for any planned retirement or refueling, the public utility must include, along with other specified information, information as to the public utility's plans with respect to the following: (1) For a retirement, the amount of replacement capacity identified to provide approximately the same accredited capacity within the appropriate regional transmission organization (RTO) as the capacity of the facility to be retired. (2) For a refueling, the extent to which the refueling will maintain or increase the current generating resource accredited capacity or energy that the electric generating facility provides, so as to provide approximately the same accredited capacity within the appropriate RTO. Requires IURC staff to prepare a staff report for each public utility report that includes a planned electric generation resource retirement. Provides that if, after reviewing a public utility's report and any related staff report, the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statute's prescribed reliability adequacy metrics, the IURC shall conduct an investigation into the reasons for the public utility's inability to meet these requirements. Provides that if the public utility's report indicates that the public utility plans to retire an electric generating facility within one year of the date of the report, the IURC must conduct such an investigation. Provides that: (1) a public utility may request, not earlier than three years before the planned retirement date of an electric generation facility, that the IURC conduct an investigation into the planned retirement; and (2) if the IURC conducts an investigation at the request of the public utility within that three year period, the IURC may not conduct a subsequent investigation that would otherwise be required under the bill's provisions unless the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statutory reliability adequacy metrics as of the time the investigation would otherwise be required. Provides that if a CPCN is granted by the IURC for a facility intended to repower or replace a generation unit that is planned for retirement, and the CPCN includes findings that the project will result in at least equivalent accredited capacity and will provide economic benefit to ratepayers as compared to the continued operation of the generating unit to be retired, the CPCN constitutes approval by the IURC for purposes of an investigation that would otherwise be required. Provides that if, after an investigation, the IURC determines that the capacity resources available to the public utility will not be adequate to allow the public utility to satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirements and the statute's prescribed reliability adequacy metrics, the IURC shall issue an order: (1) directing the public utility to acquire or construct; or (2) prohibiting the retirement or refueling of; such capacity resources that are reasonable and necessary to enable the public utility to meet these requirements. Provides that if the IURC does not issue an order in an investigation within 120 days after the initiation of the investigation, the public utility is considered to be able to satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statutory reliability adequacy metrics with respect to the retirement of the facility under investigation. Provides that if the IURC issues an order to prohibit the retirement or refueling of an electric generation resource, the IURC shall create a sub-docket to authorize the public utility to recover in rates the costs of the continued operation of the electric generation resource proposed to be retired or refueled, subject to a finding by the IURC that the continued costs of operation are just and reasonable. Makes a technical change to another Indiana Code section to recognize the redesignation of subsections within the section containing these provisions.

Allows a state agency to use artificial intelligence software to prepare information and projections for the state budget. Requires a state agency to provide a quarterly report to the budget committee that details the requests submitted by the state agency for new federal funds or to participate in a new federal program. Provides that, in addition to the quarterly reports, a state agency may not immediately accept an award of new federal funds in certain circumstances or participate in a new federal program before a report has been reviewed by the budget committee. Specifies the contents of the report that must be submitted for budget committee review. Requires a state agency to provide the state comptroller with a contract for inclusion in the Indiana transparency website not later than 30 days after the contract is fully executed. Requires that permanent full-time positions which have been vacant for 90 days or more be reviewed and either reauthorized or eliminated by the budget director. Requires the budget director to provide a quarterly report to the governor's office regarding those positions that were reauthorized or eliminated by the budget director in the preceding three months. Requires a state agency to provide quarterly reports to the budget committee regarding the state agency's active contracts. Provides for the reversion of funds appropriated to a state agency for expenses related to a contract that are unused after the end of the contract term. Requires the department of administration (department) to develop certain contract language to be included in state contracts of $500,000 or more. Requires a state agency to provide a report to the budget committee concerning amendments to a contract that: (1) increase the maximum contract amount by not less than $500,000; or (2) for a contract with an initial maximum contract amount of not less than $500,000, extend the term of the contract by not less than six months. Prohibits a state agency from entering into a nonpublic contract. Requires all contract opportunities of state agencies to be posted in the form of a request for proposals or a request for quotations on the department's website at least 30 days prior to the contract being awarded. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services and the office of Medicaid policy and planning to do the following: (1) Review monthly reports on the Medicaid program service utilization to identify trends and risks within the state Medicaid program. (2) Post publicly on the office of the secretary of family and social services's website monthly financial reports or expenditures and revenues for each state Medicaid program and commentary providing context for each monthly financial report. (3) Submit a quarterly report to the budget committee.

Increases the threshold that applies to public works projects for which the department of natural resources may use its employees to perform the labor and supervision for the project. Removes the sunset of provisions that authorize the sale of bonds at a negotiated sale. Amends provisions pertaining to the investment of public funds in certain depositories. Requires the fiscal officer (rather than the executive) of a political subdivision to upload certain contracts to the Indiana transparency website (website). Permits the political subdivision to identify an individual other than the fiscal officer to upload contracts to the website. Provides that the change to the agricultural base rate in Senate Bill 1 does not apply for the January 1, 2025, assessment date to land in inventory. Repeals the increase in the personal property tax exemption for the 2025 assessment in Senate Bill 1, but retains the increase of the personal property tax exemption to $2,000,000 for the 2026 assessment date and thereafter. Removes an exception to provisions added in Senate Bill 1 exempting depreciable personal property placed in service after January 1, 2025, from the 30% minimum valuation floor if property tax revenue that is attributable to the depreciable personal property is pledged as payment for bonds, leases, or other obligations. Repeals the local property tax credits for veterans enacted in Senate Bill 1 and reinstates the property tax deductions in current law for veterans that were expired under Senate Bill 1. Provides that the personal property online submission portal (portal) may be used to file a personal property return until 2026. Repeals (effective January 1, 2026) the provision requiring the establishment of the portal and makes corresponding changes. Adds requirements for the filing of a petition for review of land values. Amends a provision pertaining to the assessment of solar land. Provides for the assessment of community land trust property and a property tax credit for community land trust property. For purposes of public utility companies, specifies that the period of time that a taxpayer may file an objection with the department of local government finance (DLGF) is not later than 15 days after the notice is postmarked. Provides, for particular calendar years, that all or part of a building is deemed to serve a charitable purpose and is exempt from property taxation if it is owned by certain nonprofit entities. Establishes a maximum entry fee per unit that may be charged by a continuing care retirement community to qualify for the property tax exemption. Adds, for particular calendar years, continuing care retirement communities, small house health facilities, and qualified residential treatment providers to the list of exempt entities for purposes of another property tax exemption. Provides that the DLGF may (as opposed to shall) adopt certain rules with respect to property of an exempt organization used in a nonexempt trade or business. Amends the requirements that must be satisfied to receive a property tax exemption for property used by a for-profit provider of early childhood education. Establishes a partial property tax exemption for an employer that provides child care on the employer's property for the employer's employees and certain other employees. Amends certain notice and procedural provisions applicable to proceedings before the Indiana board of tax review. Clarifies the deadline for submitting amended certified net assessed value amounts. Specifies the calculation of the maximum permissible property tax levy for certain units that fail to comply with certain budget and tax levy review and adoption procedures. Adds provisions that: (1) require the DLGF to increase the maximum permissible property tax levy for certain qualifying municipalities for property taxes first due and payable in 2025 to include all debt service levies of the qualifying municipality for property taxes first due and payable in 2025; (2) specify that the adjustment is a one time and permanent increase; (3) modify the: (A) local income tax trust account threshold percentage of a county that contains a qualifying municipality (for purposes of determining whether the county shall receive a supplemental distribution); and (B) certified share allocation determination for a qualifying municipality; and (4) prohibit the use funds from the state general fund to make up certain local income tax related shortfalls. Provides temporary one time increases for the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levies for Shelby County and the Shelby County solid waste management district. Provides that the county treasurer is not required to mail or transmit a statement for property that is exempt from taxation and does not have a reported assessed value. Requires the DLGF, in a manner determined by the DLGF, to include on the coupon page of each property tax statement educational information regarding the eligibility and procedures for various property tax benefits available to certain taxpayers. Provides that a tract or item of real property owned by a political subdivision may not be sold at a tax sale. Removes a provision requiring the county executive to provide an annual report to the legislative council concerning certain tax sales. Provides that property tax assessment board of appeals members' terms must be staggered for a two year period and begin on January 1. Provides that a property tax payment made by a check processing company received after the due date for the property taxes is considered to be made on or before the due date if the taxpayer provides reasonable evidence that the payments were made on or before the due date. Reestablishes the deduction for aircraft entitling a taxpayer to a deduction from the assessed value of abatement property in each year in which the abatement property is subject to taxation for ad valorem property taxes. Provides a sales tax exemption for sales by agricultural commodity trade associations made at the state fair. Provides certain sourcing rules for the adjusted gross income of an investment partnership. Defines "investment partnership" and other related terms. Specifies that an electing entity or pass through entity shall be permitted to claim a credit for taxes withheld or paid on the entity's behalf. Allows an electing entity to make elections to claim certain state tax liability credits and sets forth requirements that apply to those elections. Expands the physician practice ownership tax credit against state tax liability to practicing physicians (instead of only primary care physicians) who have an ownership interest in a physician practice and meet other eligibility criteria. Limits the total amount of physician practice ownership tax credits that may be awarded in a state fiscal year. Specifies that a volunteer fire department that applies to the county adopting body for a distribution of local income tax revenue that is allocated to public safety purposes must do so through the fiscal officer of the unit served by the department. Allows the Fountain County council to adopt a resolution to make a one time transfer from the county jail revenue fund to the county general fund to be used for specified purposes. Allows revenue generated from a special purpose local income tax rate in Starke County to be used to operate and maintain the county jail and related facilities. Increases the amount of the local collection assistance fee. Provides a presumption of reasonable cause exception to the penalty for failure to file a return in the case of certain small partnerships. Amends the provisions to conform to the reasonable cause exception applicable to the failure to file penalty available under federal tax procedures (IRS Rev. Proc. 84-35, 1984-1 C.B. 509). Authorizes numerous local units to impose food and beverage taxes. Allows the town of Shipshewana to increase its food and beverage tax. Removes language excluding transactions that occur at a historic hotel from the Orange County food and beverage tax and amends provisions that apply to the uses of the tax revenue. Repeals provisions authorizing the imposition of food and beverage taxes in Wayne County. Reallocates the amounts of revenue received from the Vanderburgh County innkeeper's tax that is deposited in certain funds. Authorizes certain counties to impose an innkeeper's tax under separate enabling statutes. Allows Brown County to increase its innkeeper's tax rate. Prohibits the deposit or transfer of money in an innkeeper's or food and beverage tax fund into any other fund, or deposit or transfer of money from any other fund into an innkeeper's or food and beverage tax fund. Requires a local unit that imposes a food and beverage tax (as part of its required annual reporting) to provide to the state board of accounts a consolidated financial statement for the preceding year. Requires the state board of accounts to: (1) determine whether or not local units imposing a food and beverage tax, and other entities that receive a distribution of food and beverage tax revenue, are in compliance with current reporting requirements and applicable statutory requirements; and (2) submit a report of its findings to the legislative council. Provides for a reduction of the percentage of gross revenue to be paid to a unit of local government by a holder of a cable franchise. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for an amendment to each home and community based services Medicaid waiver for certain eligibility criteria related to asset limit thresholds. Specifies that certain school corporation property tax referenda are eligible to be on the ballot in an election held in the fall of 2025. Applies certain access to financial data requirements to charter schools. Restores language in a provision amended by Senate Bill 1 regarding optional revenue sharing with charter schools. Specifies that a minimum population for application of certain provisions concerning: (1) the assessment of industrial facilities; (2) the general government of counties; and (3) the division of powers of certain counties; is 450,000 (instead of 400,000). Allows a county fiscal body to make loans of money for not more than 10 years (rather than five years under current law) and issue notes for the purpose of refunding those loans. Allows a person who is: (1) engaged in the business of renting or furnishing, for periods of less than 30 days, certain lodging facilities located within an economic development district; and (2) liable for a special benefits assessment for the property; to charge a fee of not more than $1 per night. Provides that the northwest Indiana regional development authority must be reimbursed for amounts deposited in the blighted property demolition fund not later than July 1, 2027 (instead of July 1, 2026). Requires local units to make semiannual fire service reports to the state fire marshal which, in turn, is required to submit the data reported to the legislative council. Provides for funding for cultural institutions. Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate interim study committee the task of studying certain issues relating to property exempt for charitable purposes. Amends a 2025 law requiring certain disclosures concerning appointed officers to provide that if an appointed board is a subgroup of an elected body that is appointed entirely: (1) from the body's elected members; and (2) by a member or members of the elected body; the appointed board may publish a board member's name and elected title in the board's meeting notice or agenda with a link or web address to the website where information of each board member's appointment and term is published. Removes provisions enacted by HEA 1001-2025 that: (1) treated the local government investment pool as a financial institution; and (2) considered the seven day yield published weekly by the treasurer of state to be a quote for purposes of the law governing the deposit and investment of public funds. Provides that money in the Pokagon Band Tribal-state compact fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes of the fund. Provides that funding to a local board of health from the local public health fund may only be used for Indiana residents who are lawfully present in the United States. Resolves conflicts.

Amends estimated quarterly tax payment provisions. Restructures tax collection requirements for kerosene to eliminate specialized tax filing. Streamlines the filing requirements for gasoline use tax to eliminate multiple filing requirements. Specifies the liability and remittance requirements for the gross retail tax, gasoline use tax, and other listed taxes in certain circumstances. Amends provisions that apply to passenger and household goods carriers. Amends the college savings tax credit. Replaces the term "college choice 529 education savings plan" with "Indiana529 plan". Makes a clarifying change to the closed system cartridge tax. Extends the renewal period from one year to two years for businesses licensed to collect the electronic cigarettes tax, closed systems cartridge tax, and other tobacco products tax. Specifies that the fiscal officer of an entity that has adopted an innkeeper's tax, a food and beverage tax, or an admissions tax must enter into an agreement with the department of state revenue (department) before the department provides certain information to the fiscal officer as required under current law. Specifies when certain tax information may be disclosed by the department. Provides for the transfer of certain funds from the bureau of motor vehicles commission fund to the motor carrier regulation fund. Provides that a person who commits a violation involving a consumer transaction entailing the transportation of passengers or household goods commits a deceptive act that is actionable by the attorney general and is subject to certain remedies and penalties. Specifies remittance procedures for the gasoline use tax. Specifies recapture procedures for certain reduced estimated tax payments. Makes corresponding changes.

Appropriates money for capital expenditures, the operation of the state, K-12 and higher education, the delivery of Medicaid and other services, and various other distributions and purposes. Provides that the annual salary of the members of the general assembly shall not be increased during the biennium beginning July 1, 2025. Extends the review, analysis, and evaluation of tax incentives by the legislative services agency through 2030. Requires the legislative services agency to perform a fiscal impact analysis for each executive order issued by the governor under the emergency management and disaster law. Requires state officials to report to the budget committee expenses and funding used for trips taken in their official capacity. Provides that if the budget director determines at any time that a state agency can perform the agency's statutory obligations with less than the amount appropriated, the budget director shall, with the approval of the governor, and after notice to the state agency, reduce the amount or amounts allotted or to be allotted. Requires the budget director to withhold not less than 5% of any appropriation to a state agency to be used for salaries or other wages for state agency employees or general operating expenses of the state agency. Repeals the governor's workforce cabinet. Makes conforming changes. Requires the department of natural resources (not the Indiana department of veterans' affairs under current law) to provide staff support to the Indiana semiquincentennial commission and repeals provisions requiring certain meetings and events of the commission to be held at the World War Memorial in Indianapolis. Removes a requirement to include certain services in a lease between the Indiana department of administration and the Indiana historical society for use of a building. Makes an appropriation from the Pokagon Band Tribal-state compact fund to the Midwest continental divide commission fund. Establishes the Indiana local government investment pool board for the purpose of establishing policies governing the investment of funds contributed to the local government investment pool. Removes political affiliation requirements that apply to members appointed by the governor to the board for depositories. Allows the Indiana finance authority to begin a project related to the Learning and Training Center in Boone County beginning July 1, 2027 if certain conditions are met. Provides that a price preference for certain businesses applies to any proposal, contract, project, or agreement of the Indiana department of transportation, including state highway contracts, to the extent that the bid does not exceed the estimated cost of the project. Provides that the Indiana department of administration has sole control and jurisdiction over the policies governing and the usage of the Beth Bowen Meditation Room in the state capitol building. Exempts the Indiana board of tax review from requirements concerning live transmissions of meetings. Removes the statewide innovation development district fund as a funding source for an agreement between the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) and a taxpayer to receive payment in lieu of claiming an economic development for a growing economy tax credit. Amends the cap on the aggregate amount of tax credits the IEDC may certify each year. Requires the department of state revenue to establish an amnesty program for taxpayers who have an unpaid tax liability for a listed tax that was due and payable before January 1, 2023. Increases the cigarette tax by $2 per pack on cigarettes weighing not more than three pounds per 1,000 and by a proportionate amount on cigarettes weighing more than three pounds per 1,000. Increases the tax rate imposed on the sale of closed system cartridges, open system electronic cigarettes, moist snuff, alternative tobacco products, other tobacco products, and cigars. Specifies penalties for the underpayment of certain estimated taxes for pass through entities. Increases the amount of the public utility fee from 0.15% to 0.175% of the public utility's annual gross intrastate operating revenue and transfers the public utility fee revenue and certain payments to the state general fund (not the public utility fund under current law). Requires termination of the compact related to the establishment of the Chicago-Gary Regional Airport Authority. Requires that the salary matrix for state police, capitol police officers, and department of natural resources law enforcement officers be adjusted each time an adjustment is made to a pay plan for state employees in the executive branch. Adds purposes related to the Stop the Bleed program and the purchase of bleeding control kits to the allowable purposes for which a secured school fund matching grant may be used. Provides that a managed care organization that participates in the risk based managed care program that fails to pay a claim submitted by a nursing facility provider within a specified period shall pay a penalty of $500 per calendar day per claim. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to determine rebate eligibility for outpatient prescription drugs prescribed to Medicaid recipients from certain entities. Adds a member from the mental health Medicaid quality advisory committee to the therapeutics committee. Removes the prohibition on prior authorization for mental health drugs. Allows the office of the secretary to establish a prior authorization program. Specifies provider payment requirements that apply to any managed care organization that participates in the risk based managed care program. Establishes the health care engineering fund for the purpose of funding plan reviews for certain health facilities. Imposes a fee for each plan review, which is deposited in the fund. Repeals the provisions requiring the office of the secretary of family and social services to transfer $38,000,000 each year to the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County. Makes certain eligibility changes for the On My Way Pre-k program and the CCDF program. Adds therapeutic ibogaine research to the research that is currently funded under the therapeutic psilocybin research fund. Provides that a community mental health center that provides compensation to any individual employee in an amount that is $400,000 or more per year is not eligible to receive funding from local property taxes or state programs or grants, but excluding the Medicaid program. Requires the department of natural resources to provide free admission to state parks to a Gold Star family member. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to update the Gold Star family member license plate form. Provides that funding to a local board of health from the local public health fund may only be used for Indiana residents who are legal citizens of the United States. Extends the sunset of the collection of health facility quality assessment fees from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027. Specifies that a company that seeks to construct, operate, and maintain a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline in Indiana must apply to the department of natural resources (DNR) for a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline certificate of authority (certificate). Amends provisions in existing law that provide an exemption from the requirement to obtain a certificate under certain circumstances to specify that the exemption does not apply in circumstances in which the proposed pipeline crosses a parcel for which the pipeline company would be required to obtain a right-of-way or easement for the pipeline. Establishes the carbon sequestration project program administrative fund (fund) for the purpose of defraying the administrative costs of the DNR in managing and operating the carbon sequestration project program (program). Requires the DNR to deposit the following in the fund (instead of in the state general fund, under current law): (1) Filing fees for applications for carbon dioxide transmission pipeline certificates of authority. (2) Filing fees for applications for permits for carbon sequestration projects. (3) The fee paid by a storage operator based on the amount of carbon dioxide injected into a storage facility. (4) The cash bond and permit fee required to be paid by a person that applies for a permit for drilling, converting, or operating a nonproduction well for use in carbon dioxide investigations. Requires the DNR to deposit certain fees and penalties in the carbon dioxide storage facility trust fund (instead of in the state general fund, under current law): Amends the Indiana Code section requiring the payment of a fee that is based on the amount of carbon dioxide injected into a storage facility by a storage operator, to provide that the fee is to be: (1) paid annually (instead of one time after the storage operator begins injecting carbon dioxide into the storage facility); and (2) based on the number of metric tons of carbon dioxide injected into the storage facility during the immediately preceding calendar year (instead of based on the metric tons of carbon dioxide proposed to be injected during the first 10 years of the carbon sequestration project). Requires the secretary of education to provide a report and recommendation to the general assembly concerning aligning state funding for dual credit and the advanced placement program with the new high school diploma and expanding access to dual credit course work to all Indiana students. Prohibits a school employer from bargaining collectively with the exclusive school employee representative regarding contract costs for curricular materials. Establishes a teacher appreciation grant program to provide grants to school corporations and charter schools to attract, reward, and retain teachers who significantly impact student outcomes. Repeals the chapter establishing the curricular materials fund and certain provisions related to procedures for reimbursement of costs of providing curricular materials. Removes the annual income maximum for choice scholarship eligibility beginning June 29, 2026. Specifies the maximum tuition or fee amount that may be charged to enroll a career scholarship student enrolled in the career scholarship account (CSA) program, or an approved intermediary acting on behalf of a career scholarship student, in a career and technical education program, course, or class. Changes the administration of the education scholarship program and the CSA program from the treasurer of state to the department of education, and in certain instances, the responsibilities related to the CSA program from the commission for higher education to the department. Requires the state board of education to meet at least one time per year (instead of one time per month). Requires the commission for higher education to annually prepare and submit to the legislative council and to the budget committee a report that examines the utilization of physical facilities for instruction at each state educational institution. Amends the membership appointments and requirements for the board of trustees of Indiana University. Requires a state educational institution (institution) to plan and conduct degree program reviews. Provides that if: (1) the average number of students graduating in a degree program is below a certain threshold; and (2) the institution would like to continue the degree program; the institution must request approval from the commission. Requires the board of trustees of each institution to establish a post tenure review process for tenured faculty that measures productivity and a review process regarding department level promotions and tenure expectations. Requires a faculty member to post syllabi on an institution's website. Provides that: (1) certain faculty governance organization meetings must be open to the public; (2) faculty governance organization actions are advisory only; and (3) members of faculty governance organizations must be employees of the institution to vote. Repeals provisions regarding the election of members to the board of trustees of Indiana University by the alumni of Indiana University. Repeals the nonreverting provisions for the higher education award fund and the freedom of choice grant fund. Authorizes the department of child services to enter into a written agreement with the department of state revenue to transfer the administration of the child support bureau to the department of state revenue. Requires a clerk to collect a small claims service fee of $26 in each action filed in a Marion County small claims court. Establishes the small claims fund. Requires the court to distribute certain fees to the county auditor for distribution to the small claims fund. Provides that the fees in the small claims fund are to be distributed equally among the townships and the fees must fund the operation of the small claims court located within the township. Amends provisions concerning the designation of an innovation development district (district) to add certain qualification requirements. Provides for the determination of the: (1) base assessed value; (2) gross retail base period amount; and (3) income tax base period amount; in a district. Requires the executive of a city, county, or town, or, if applicable, executives, and the IEDC to enter into an agreement establishing the terms and conditions governing any district (instead of only certain districts). Repeals the statewide innovation development district fund. Establishes the economic development reserve account. Increases the maximum amount of covered taxes that may be captured in the Evansville professional sports and convention development area (PSCD) from $10 per resident to $2,000,000 and expands the PSCD area. Provides that unexpended and unencumbered amounts appropriated from the federal economic stimulus fund in P.L.165-2021 do not revert to the state general fund. Requires the state comptroller to transfer: (1) $15,000,000 from the addiction services fund; and (2) $25,000,000 from the department of insurance fund; to the tobacco master settlement agreement fund on July 1, 2025. Requires the budget agency to transfer to the state general fund the balance in the freedom of choice grant fund (IC 21-12-4-5) and the higher education award fund (IC 21-12-3-19) that is not needed for the payment of scholarship awards in the state fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Requires the office of management and budget to submit a report to the budget committee with options for reforming: (1) a certain funding model in the Indiana office of technology; and (2) the management performance hub. Requires the northwest Indiana regional development authority to transfer certain money received from wagering revenues to the northern Indiana commuter transportation district for operation and maintenance costs of the South Shore line that are attributable to the operations of the part of the South Shore line located in Lake County. Provides that: (1) an appropriation to the legislative council and the legislative services agency for a state fiscal year ending before July 1, 2027, reverts to the state general fund as directed by the personnel subcommittee of the legislative council; and (2) an employee in an entity in the legislative or judicial branch of state government is eligible to participate in a pilot program for converting unused excess accrued leave to a monetary contribution for the employee in the employee's 401(a) matching account with Hoosier START. Changes the effective dates of the provisions of HEA 1601-2025 to January 1, 2026. Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate interim study committee during the 2025 legislative interim the task of studying the impact of removing caseload limitations for the department of child services. Makes conforming changes.

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.

Maddy summarySB 451 provides for a potential future decrease in the individual adjusted gross income tax rate. This change would affect individuals who pay state income tax. The reduction is set to begin in 2030, provided certain conditions are met.

Prohibits the transfer of a sex or violent offender's probation jurisdiction to another county in Indiana while the offender is required to register as an offender unless certain conditions are met. Prohibits a sexually violent predator or an offender against children from working in any setting where the predator or offender: (1) has more than incidental and occasional contact with a child who is not accompanied by the child's parent, guardian, or custodian; (2) has supervisory or disciplinary power over a child; or (3) is expected to touch a child on a more than incidental and occasional basis.

Places restrictions on the issuance of certain general obligation bonds. Amends a capitalization rate percentage under the statewide agricultural land base rate determination. Provides that the percentage cap used to determine the maximum levy growth quotient is 4% in 2026. Provides that, notwithstanding any growth in a political subdivision's assessed value (AV) in the previous year, a political subdivision's ad valorem property tax levy shall not exceed the ad valorem property tax levy for its last preceding annual budget, unless the fiscal body of the political subdivision adopts an affirmative tax rate and tax levy increase by ordinance following a separate public hearing. Requires a resulting decrease in tax rates for each political subdivision in which there was an increase in the political subdivision's AV in the previous year, subject to any affirmative tax rate and tax levy increase adopted by the fiscal body of the political subdivision. Phases out the authority for the department of local government finance (department) to permit an excess tax levy that is based on AV growth, school transportation costs, and other circumstances. Retains the provisions that permit an excess tax levy if the civil taxing unit cannot carry out its governmental functions in the case of annexation, a natural disaster, an accident, or an emergency. Phases in an increase in the acquisition cost threshold for the business personal property tax exemption from $80,000 to $2,000,000. Provides that the 30% minimum valuation limitation does not apply to business personal property placed in service after January 1, 2025. Phases down the homestead standard deduction over five years to zero beginning for taxes due and payable in 2031. Phases in an increase in the supplemental homestead deduction to 2/3 of the AV of the homestead. Phases in an AV deduction for all property that is subject to the 2% circuit breaker credit for excessive property taxes for assessment dates beginning in 2025 up to a 1/3 AV deduction for taxes due and payable in 2031, and each taxable year thereafter. Expires certain property tax deductions allowed in current law, and instead allows a credit against local property taxes in certain instances. Makes certain changes to the qualification requirements and credit amount for the over 65 circuit breaker credit. Provides a supplemental homestead tax credit for property taxes for a person's homestead if the person qualifies for a standard homestead deduction for the same homestead property. Provides that specified referendums may be placed on the ballot only at a general election. Amends the ballot language for controlled project, school operating, and school public safety referendums. Provides that a school corporation may not adopt a resolution to place a controlled project referendum on the ballot during the second calendar year after the final calendar year in which a previously approved controlled project referendum levy is imposed. Modifies the threshold amounts used for determining whether a political subdivision's project is a controlled project and whether the petition and remonstrance process or the referendum process applies based on the political subdivision's total debt service tax rate. Adds provisions to authorize a county fiscal body to adopt an ordinance to establish a property tax payment deferral program (program). Provides that a qualified individual participating in the program may defer the payment of part of the property taxes that would otherwise be due on a homestead. Provides that property taxes deferred under the program are due after the occurrence of a deferral termination event. Provides that the maximum amount of taxes that may be deferred cumulatively year over year may not exceed $10,000. Increases, beginning in 2028, the maximum local income tax (LIT) expenditure rate for all counties to 2.9%. Authorizes a city or town to impose a municipal LIT rate beginning in 2028 not to exceed 1.2%. Provides that within a county's total expenditure rate, the county may adopt: (1) up to a 1.2% rate for county general purpose revenue; (2) up to a 0.4% rate for fire protection and emergency medical services; (3) up to a 0.2% rate for nonmunicipal civil taxing unit general purpose revenue; and (4) up to 1.2% for certain cities and towns that are not eligible to adopt a municipal LIT rate. Eliminates provisions that provide for a distribution of LIT expenditure rate revenue to schools and civil taxing units in counties that imposed a rate under the prior county adjusted gross income tax. Authorizes a county fiscal body to impose a local income tax expenditure rate to provide property tax relief for property tax liability attributable to homesteads in the county before January 1, 2028. Expires the authority to impose a property tax relief rate under the LIT and repeals the levy freeze rate. Provides that, in order to continue to impose an expenditure tax rate after 2027, each county must adopt a new ordinance on or before October 1, 2027, to impose the rate. Provides that, for counties that fail to adopt an ordinance to renew an existing expenditure tax rate in 2027, the expenditure tax rate for the county in 2028 shall be the minimum tax rate necessary for existing debt service. Specifies that this does not prevent the county from renewing, imposing, or modifying an expenditure tax rate in subsequent years. Eliminates local income tax councils beginning July 1, 2027, and instead provides that the county fiscal body is the adopting body in all counties for purposes of the county LIT, and the city or town fiscal body is the adopting body in the case of a municipal LIT. Establishes the state and local income tax holding account within the state general fund for purposes of LIT distributions. Requires the budget agency to maintain an accounting for each county imposing a county LIT based on annual returns filed by or for county taxpayers (same as current law). Requires undistributed amounts so accounted to be held for purposes of the state and local income tax holding account beginning after December 31, 2026. (Under current law, undistributed amounts are required to be held in reserve separate from the state general fund.) Requires the budget agency to present each December to the budget committee a report of the following: (1) An estimate of the monthly certified distribution amounts for the immediately succeeding calendar year. (2) A description of the method used to determine the monthly estimates. Beginning in 2028, requires the budget agency to make monthly transfers to the state and local income tax holding account of the amount determined for the month in the budget agency's report to the budget committee. Repeals a provision that requires the budget agency to adjust the certified distribution of a county for the succeeding year following a tax rate change. Requires the department to develop and maintain a property tax transparency portal through which taxpayers may: (1) compare the property tax liability in their current tax statement compared to their potential property tax liability based on changes under a proposed tax rate; and (2) provide taxpayer feedback to the department. Prohibits the northern Indiana commuter transportation district from issuing new bonds after May 9, 2025, that are payable in whole or in part from amounts distributed from the commuter rail service fund or the electric rail service fund. Requires all school corporations that adopt a resolution for an operating referendum tax levy that is imposed for the first time with property taxes first due and payable beginning after 2027 to share revenue with certain charter schools. Requires, beginning with distributions in 2028, that all school corporations begin sharing revenue from the school corporation's operations fund levy with certain charter schools. Provides for the phasing in of the sharing of revenue with certain charter schools from the school corporation's operations fund levy. Provides for the appointment of additional board members to the governing board of a charter school that receives property tax revenue. Sets forth additional procedures related to the closure of a charter school. Dissolves the Union School Corporation. Provides that for a fire protection territory established after January 1, 2025, each unit in a territory may not impose a tax rate that exceeds $0.40 per $100 of assessed valuation. Makes conforming changes. Makes technical corrections. Makes an appropriation.