Rep. Jeff Thompson

Provides, with certain exceptions, that the following apply to annexations for which an annexation ordinance is adopted after May 14, 2021: (1) A municipality initiating an annexation must file a petition with the court signed by: (A) at least 51% of the owners of land that is not exempt from property taxes in the annexation territory; or (B) the owners of more than 75% in assessed valuation of land that is not exempt from property taxes in the annexation territory. (2) If the petition filed by the municipality has enough signatures, the court must hold a hearing to review the annexation. (3) Adds provisions regarding the validity of a signature on an annexation petition. (4) Eliminates the remonstrance procedure for annexations and reimbursement of remonstrator's attorney's fees and costs. (5) Provides that remonstrance waivers are void for annexations for which the annexation ordinance is adopted after May 14, 2021. (6) Provides that a settlement agreement in lieu of annexation that is executed after May 14, 2021, is void. (7) Eliminates provisions regarding the contiguity of a public highway. Eliminates provisions that prohibit an annexation from taking effect in the year preceding the year that a federal decennial census is conducted.

Honoring the 2021 NBA Rising Star Award Recipients.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION directing the Congress of the United States to propose to the several states an amendment to the United States Constitution concerning the membership of the United States Supreme Court.

Allows a provider that has entered into a contract with a managed care organization, after exhausting any internal procedures of the managed care organization for provider grievances and appeals, to request an administrative appeal within the office of Medicaid policy and planning of the managed care organization's action in denying or reducing reimbursement for claims for covered services provided to an applicant, pending applicant, conditionally eligible individual, or member. Establishes a procedure for an administrative appeal, including a hearing before an administrative law judge that could be followed by agency review and then by judicial review. Prohibits a provision in a contract between a provider and a managed care organization that would negate or restrict the right of a provider to an administrative appeal and provides that such a contract provision is void and unenforceable. Repeals a provision under which Medicaid law is controlling when Medicaid law conflicts with insurance law. Provides that if the office of the secretary of family and social services or a contractor of the office fails to pay or denies a clean claim for any eligible Medicaid service within certain time limits due to the office or contractor incorrectly processing the clean claim because of errors attributable to the internal system of an insurer or managed care organization, the office or contractor may not assert that the provider failed to meet the time filing requirements for the claim.

Establishes the public defender retirement fund. Makes conforming amendments.

Provides that money accumulated from the Marshall County additional tax rate for criminal justice facilities, after the tax imposed is terminated, shall be transferred to the county jail fund to be established by the county treasurer (rather than to the county highway fund under current law).

Adds back the following deductions in calculating the basis for taxation of property for purposes of a referendum tax levy that is approved after June 30, 2021: (1) The homestead standard deduction. (2) The supplemental homestead deduction. (3) The mortgage deduction. 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. Bases these threshold amounts on gross assessed value. Provides that, for purposes of the petition and remonstrance process, a controlled project includes any project: (1) that is not otherwise a controlled project; but (2) the cost of which, when added to the outstanding principal balance of all other projects adopted by the political subdivision in the preceding five years: (A) exceeds 1.5% of the political subdivision's gross assessed value but does not exceed 3% of the political subdivision's gross assessed value, in the case of a political subdivision whose total gross assessed value is not more than $1,000,000,000; or (B) in the case of a political subdivision whose total gross assessed value is more than $1,000,000,000, exceeds $15,000,000 plus 0.1% of the political subdivision's gross assessed value that exceeds $1,000,000,000 but does not exceed $30,000,000 plus 0.1% of the political subdivision's gross assessed value that exceeds $1,000,000,000. Provides that, for purposes of the referendum process, a controlled project includes any project: (1) that is not otherwise a controlled project; but (2) the cost of which, when added to the outstanding principal balance of all other projects adopted by the political subdivision in the preceding five years: (A) exceeds 3% of the political subdivision's gross assessed value, in the case of a political subdivision whose total gross assessed value is not more than $1,000,000,000; or (B) in the case of a political subdivision whose total gross assessed value is more than $1,000,000,000, exceeds $30,000,000 plus 0.1% of the political subdivision's gross assessed value that exceeds $1,000,000,000. Provides that the public question for a controlled project referendum or a school referendum levy must include a statement that if approved, the tax rate approved by referendum would represent a stated percentage increase (calculated by the department of local government finance) of the political subdivision's or school corporation's total tax rate as of the time of the referendum. Provides that if the estimated increase in a political subdivision's property tax levy for debt service for a proposed controlled project will be offset in whole or in part because of the retirement of existing debt of the political subdivision, the proper officers of the political subdivision may adopt a resolution that includes certain information and statements. Provides that if a political subdivision experiences a decrease in net assessed value it may be stated as an exception to a political subdivision's statement about maintaining its property tax rate to fund a new controlled project because of the retirement of debt. Specifies the ballot language for the referendum on such a proposed controlled project. Provides that the restrictions on supporting a position on a controlled project apply to any political subdivision that has assessed value within the same taxing district as the political subdivision proposing the project. Provides that any referendum must be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in May or November.

Provides that the general assembly may convene in an "initiated session" under either of the following circumstances: (1) The governor issues a proclamation or an executive order declaring a state of emergency and the speaker of the house and the president pro tempore of the senate issue a joint order for the general assembly to convene. (2) If 67 or more members of the house and 34 or more members of the senate sign a petition addressed to the speaker of the house and the president pro tempore of the senate to convene a session of the general assembly. Provides that an initiated session may not continue for more than 40 calendar days. Provides that for purposes of Article 5, Section 14 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana, a vetoed bill passed at a session of the general assembly must be reconsidered and voted upon as provided in Article 5, Section 14 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana not later than the sine die adjournment of the next regular session that occurs after the session that first passed the bill. Makes conforming changes.

Requires one member of a municipal or county redevelopment commission (commission) appointed by the executive of the municipality or county after December 31, 2021, to be an individual nominated by the governing body of the school corporation within the territory. Effective January 1, 2022, eliminates the appointment of and term of office of a nonvoting adviser to the commission. Requires a redevelopment commission to provide notice of an annual meeting to the: (1) president of the governing body; and (2) superintendent; of each school corporation that is wholly or partly located within the allocation area established by the commission. Requires a redevelopment commission to provide notice of an adopted resolution that designates or amends an allocation area to the: (1) president of the governing body; and (2) superintendent; of each school corporation that is wholly or partly located within the allocation area established by the commission. Requires certain percentages of incremental revenue collected in an allocation area be distributed among taxing units wholly or partly located within the allocation area and provides a schedule for the percentage that must be distributed each year.

Requires that the February count of a school corporation's average daily membership (ADM) must be increased by the number of students who, during the students' expected graduation year: (1) were enrolled in the school corporation on the September ADM count day; (2) completed graduation requirements before the February ADM count day; and (3) were not enrolled in the school corporation on the February ADM count day.