Provides that a qualifying farmer may apply to a designating body to have an area designated as an urban agricultural zone. Provides that the term "urban agricultural zone" does not include rooftop gardening or farming practices that occur on the top of a building or residential home. Provides that a designating body, before designating an area as an urban agricultural zone, must hold a public hearing and allow for public comment. Provides that a designating body may exempt lands located partially or wholly within an urban agricultural zone from property taxation. Specifies that a designating body may not impose a special benefit tax for public services provided to an urban agricultural zone, unless the designating body imposed the special benefit tax before it designated the area as an urban agricultural zone.
Sponsored bills
Changes the distribution of part of the tax revenue in the Tippecanoe County innkeeper's tax fund (fund) so that 10% of the revenue in the fund is distributed to the department of natural resources for the development of projects in the state park and 20% of the revenue in the fund is distributed as determined by the county fiscal body. Provides that the Daviess County innkeeper's tax rate may not exceed 9%. Provides that all or part of the revenue received from imposition of the innkeeper's tax in Boone County may, subject to authorization by the county fiscal body, be pledged towards payment of obligations issued or entered into by a political subdivision in the county to finance the construction, acquisition, enlargement, and equipping of a sports and recreation facility. Provides for collection procedures of a county innkeeper's tax by the department of state revenue if a county fiscal body adopts an ordinance making a change concerning the imposition of the innkeeper's tax.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Hoosier Direct Support Professionals.
Requires the state department of agriculture and the department of natural resources, in consultation with Purdue University, the utility regulatory commission (IURC), agricultural producers, woodland owners, foresters, certain technical experts, the agricultural industry, the forest industry, and environmental and conservation groups, to: (1) study and make findings and recommendations concerning the potential role of the state in a voluntary carbon credit market; and (2) issue a written report to the general assembly. Requires the director of the department of natural resources to designate the operator of the carbon sequestration pilot project (pilot project) before July 31, 2021. Provides that material compliance by the pilot project with a permit for a Class VI carbon dioxide underground injection well is an affirmative defense for the pilot project against certain civil actions or claims. Provides that: (1) a claimant may overcome the affirmative defense by proving actual interference with the use of the property or direct physical injury to tangible property; and (2) recovery by a public utility for any effect of the pilot project on the sources of the utility's public water supply is not prohibited or limited. Defines a "federal phaseout mandate" as any federal statutory or regulatory requirement that: (1) is established after April 20, 2021, by Congress, a federal agency, or a federal executive order; and (2) requires the phaseout or discontinuance of a particular type of electric generating facility, technology, or fuel source. Requires the IURC to consider in the context of: (1) applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity for new generating facilities; and (2) integrated resource planning; the impact of federal phaseout mandates on the estimated useful life of certain generating facilities of an electric utility, including on depreciation expense associated with such facilities.
Provides a list of violations for which the state chemist may impose a civil penalty. Eliminates the schedule of civil penalties as adopted by the Indiana pesticide review board. (Under current law, the state chemist imposes a civil penalty in accordance with a schedule of civil penalties as adopted by the Indiana pesticide review board.) Provides that the state chemist may adjust a civil penalty by 20% for certain violations if a person responsible for the violation takes mitigating actions.
Designates popcorn grown in Indiana as the official state snack of Indiana.
Specifies that the bill is severable. Provides that the general assembly may convene in an emergency session if the legislative council adopts a resolution making certain findings concerning a state of emergency declared by the governor. Specifies the maximum length of an emergency session. Provides that in an emergency session the general assembly may enact only bills relating to the agenda stated in the legislative council's resolution. Provides that the general assembly may adopt concurrent resolutions and each house may adopt simple resolutions during an emergency session. Establishes the legislative state of emergency advisory group. Creates the economic stimulus fund (ESF) for the deposit of all discretionary funds received by the state. Defines "discretionary funds" to mean federal economic stimulus funds received under federal legislation granting the state authority to determine the amounts and manner in which the federal economic stimulus funds may be expended. Provides that discretionary funds deposited into the ESF during a period in which the general assembly is convened in a regular session, an emergency session, or a special session may not be allotted or expended unless appropriated by the general assembly or reviewed by the budget committee. Provides that before discretionary funds deposited into the ESF during a period in which the general assembly is not convened in a regular session, an emergency session, or a special session may be allotted to or expended by a state agency or instrumentality, the allotment or expenditure must be reviewed by the budget committee. Provides that discretionary funds deposited into the ESF may not be expended, transferred, assigned, or otherwise removed from the ESF by the state board of finance, the budget agency, or any other state agency except as permitted under the provisions of the statute. Exempts federal economic stimulus funds obligated or expended before April 29, 2021, from the application of the statute. Provides that a violation of the disaster statute (IC 10-14-3) or an order authorized by that statute is a Class B infraction instead of a Class B misdemeanor.
Amends the powers of the board of animal health (board) to allow cooperation with animal owners and law enforcement to plan for, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazard emergencies in Indiana. Allows the board to delegate the duty to adopt emergency rules to the state veterinarian. Amends the board's emergency powers to take certain actions if an emergency event has occurred or a disease or pest in animal products presents a health hazard. Allows the board to issue emergency orders. Allows the board to facilitate the prompt disposal of animals in an emergency event. Provides that an animal may be buried on the owner's premises according to standards approved by the board. Allows the board to adopt rules restricting animal disposal methods in order to control disease and pests in animals and chemical or radiological substances. Allows the state egg board to adopt emergency rules when there is a declared emergency or sudden disruption that affects the commerce of eggs. Allows for service of notice in administrative hearings. Amends the authorization to use electrocution under the criminal statutes concerning offenses against animals.
Honoring healthcare workers for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Urging Governor Eric Holcomb to close abortion clinics.