Rep. Ed Soliday

Authorizes the state police department and the Indiana department of transportation to establish the automated work zone speed enforcement pilot program (pilot program) to enforce highway work zone speed limits. Creates the automated work zone speed enforcement pilot program fund to deposit fines collected by the pilot program.

Provides that, for assessment dates beginning after December 31, 2021, the land portion of the fixed property of a utility grade solar energy installation facility shall be assessed at an amount that does not exceed the solar land base rate for the region in which the property is located. Provides that assessing officials shall follow the normal guidelines and procedures as are applicable under the property tax cap chapter. Provides a limited exception for certain utility grade solar energy installation facilities that were assessed on the January 1, 2021, assessment date. Requires the department of local government finance (department) to annually determine and release a solar land base rate for each region based on the median true tax value per acre of all land in the region classified under the utility property class codes of the department for the immediately preceding assessment date.

Establishes the task force on wastewater infrastructure investment and service to underserved areas (task force). Provides that the task force consists of the following 18 members: (1) Six members of the senate, with the president pro tempore appointing four members (one of whom serves as co-chair of the task force), and the minority leader appointing two members. (2) Six members of the house of representatives, with the speaker appointing four members (one of whom serves as co-chair of the task force), and the minority leader appointing two members. (3) Six gubernatorial appointees, including the following: (A) One officer or employee of the state. (B) One member representing operators of wastewater management systems. (C) One engineer, or another professional, with expertise in wastewater management systems. (D) One member representing ratepayers. (E) One member representing municipalities served by a wastewater operator not under the jurisdiction of the utility regulatory commission. (F) One member of the general public. Sets forth the duties of the task force. Requires the task force to develop a long term plan for addressing wastewater needs in Indiana. Requires the task force to issue a report setting forth its recommendations to: (1) the executive director of the legislative services agency for distribution to members of the general assembly; and (2) the governor; not later than December 1, 2021. Provides that the bill's provisions concerning the task force expire January 1, 2022. Establishes the water infrastructure grant program (program) to be administered by the Indiana finance authority (authority). Establishes the water infrastructure grant fund (fund) as a source of money for grants, loans, and other financial assistance to, or for the benefit of, participants in the program. Sets forth purposes for which money in the fund may be used, including the planning, designing, acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of: (1) water systems; and (2) wastewater or storm water collection and treatment systems. Requires the authority to adopt guidelines to establish criteria for the making of grants, loans, and other financial assistance from the fund. Sets forth certain conditions that apply to the making of grants, the making of loans, and the providing of other financial assistance from the fund. Requires the authority to establish a project prioritization system for the purposes of awarding loans and grants from the fund. Sets forth certain variables that the project prioritization system must include. Provides that the authority may provide advisory services and other services to a participant in connection with a grant, a loan, or other financial assistance from the fund. Requires the public finance director to submit to the budget committee and the legislative council, in each odd-numbered year through 2023, a report concerning grants, loans, or other financial assistance made available to participants from the fund.

Establishes the Indiana broadband connectivity program (program) for the purpose of expanding availability of broadband Internet connectivity throughout Indiana. Provides that as part of the program, the office must establish a public broadband portal through which an individual may report that minimum broadband Internet (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 25 megabits per second downstream and at least three megabits per second upstream) is unavailable at the individual's residential or business address. Provides that a broadband Internet provider may: (1) register with the program; (2) receive, at least every three months, listings of addresses submitted to the office as addresses at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable; (3) report to the office any listed address at which the provider's minimum broadband Internet service is already available; and (4) bid for an award of a grant for purposes of extending connectivity to broadband Internet service (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 50 megabits per second downstream and at least five megabits per second upstream) to an address at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable. Provides that in evaluating any bids received under the program, the office shall select the provider whose bid presents the lowest cost to the state. Provides that a grant awarded to a provider under the program may not exceed the following: (1) A per-line extension amount that exceeds $25,000, regardless of the number of addresses served by the line extension. (2) A per-passing amount that exceeds the state's cost per passing for all rural broadband grants awarded from the fund as of the last day of the immediately preceding state fiscal year. Requires the office to provide to the general assembly an annual report containing specified data regarding the program. Provides that the office may maintain a geographic information system (GIS) or similar data base that contains spatial data regarding the availability of broadband Internet service in Indiana. Provides that the office may evaluate the broadband Internet coverage map created by the Federal Communications Commission under the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (FCC map) and: (1) if the office finds that the FCC map: (A) provides address level broadband Internet coverage information; or (B) provides a greater level of detail than the office's broadband Internet coverage map; use the FCC map to update the office's broadband Internet coverage map; or (2) if the office finds that the FCC map does not: (A) provide address level broadband Internet coverage information; or (B) provide a greater level of detail than the office's broadband Internet coverage map; report that finding to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications during the 2022 legislative interim.

Provides that certified level two assessor-appraisers and certified level three assessor-appraisers may serve as tax representatives under certain circumstances. Provides that a taxpayer may submit a written complaint to the department of local government finance if the taxpayer has reason to believe the assessing official failed to adhere to Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or does not have the necessary competency to perform the assessment. Provides that notice of a taxpayer's right to submit a written complaint must be included on the taxpayer's notice of assessment or reassessment.

Removes the list of commodities and the specific weight limitations for certain commodities from the definition of "overweight divisible load". Provides that the Indiana department of transportation (department) may issue an overweight permit for transporting overweight vehicles and loads carrying resources on certain highways in the state highway system. Provides that a deviation from an approved route constitutes a violation subject to a civil penalty. Provides that not more than 8,500 single trip permits may be issued annually for applicants with a total equivalent single axle load calculation of more than 2.40 equivalent single axle load credit. Provides that the trip permit limit and trip weight limit do not include overweight divisible load permits obtained by shippers and carriers that obtained permits before January 1, 2021. Provides that the department may temporarily increase the number of overweight divisible load permits issued by order of the commissioner in response to an emergency or changes in market conditions. Provides that the department may limit the number of overweight divisible load permits issued to an individual applicant. Requires the department to adopt rules due to lack of transportation options for certain resources, supply chain interruptions, or supply dock backlogs. Provides that the department shall issue a report to the legislative council and the interim study committee on roads and transportation regarding the fee structure of overweight divisible load permits, and regarding the impact of overweight divisible loads on roads and highways by July 1, 2023. Provides that the department shall issue an annual report to the legislative council and the interim study committee on roads and transportation regarding market fluctuation in the number of overweight divisible load permits issued during the previous year. Provides that the Indiana state police department shall issue an annual report to the legislative council and the interim study committee on roads and transportation regarding the number of accidents involving applicants permitted for overweight divisible loads. Provides that a local authority may grant permits for transporting overweight divisible loads on local streets under the control of the local authority. Makes conforming changes.

Allows a food hall that: (1) is located in a certified technology park; and (2) is not located in a historic district or historic building; to be eligible for a food hall master permit. Provides that a project that: (1) borders a lake that is at least 750 acres; and (2) is within a municipality; is eligible for a municipal riverfront development project retailer's permit. Allows a person who holds: (1) a restaurant permit in an economic development area; and (2) an interest in a brewery, farm winery, or artisan distillery (production facility) located on or adjacent to the restaurant; to sell alcoholic beverages manufactured at the production facility for carryout in the restaurant's general merchandising area and from a self-serving display. Provides that a minor may: (1) be in the restaurant's general merchandising area; and (2) participate in a nondrinking tour of the production facility, if the minor is accompanied by an adult family member.

Exempts a contract for the lease of state property under which no state expenditures are required from provisions: (1) requiring certain disclosures and certifications by a prospective state contractor regarding violations of Indiana telephone solicitation and automated calling statutes; (2) regarding cancellation of public purchasing contracts due to lack of funds; (3) regarding state contractor use of the E-Verify program; and (4) prohibiting state contractor employment of unauthorized aliens. Establishes a calculation for determining nondiscriminatory, just, and reasonable rental fees charged by: (1) rural electric cooperatives; and (2) municipalities providing electric service; that own or control electric distribution poles for attachments to those poles by cable operators. Sets forth rights and duties of pole owners and attaching entities with respect to: (1) unauthorized pole attachments; and (2) pole attachment transfers and relocations. Provides that the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) may not require a communications service provider to: (1) file a tariff; or (2) report to the IURC any information that is: (A) available to the public on the communications service provider's Internet web site; (B) filed with the FCC; or (C) otherwise available to the public; except as required by the IURC to respond to consumer complaints or information requests from the general assembly. Makes the following changes to the statute concerning permits for wireless service providers: (1) Amends the factors that must exist for a permit authority to prohibit the placement of a new utility pole or wireless support structure in connection with the construction, placement, or use of a small cell facility in areas designated strictly for underground or buried utilities. (2) Provides that neighborhood associations, homeowners associations, and homeowners may request to be notified of applications by communications service providers for certain permitted uses of the rights-of-way in those designated areas, in addition to requesting notice of applications for new utility poles or new wireless support structures (as provided under current law). (3) Sets forth a procedure by which a permit authority may elect to collaborate with a neighborhood association or a homeowners association to adopt neighborhood specific guidelines on the preferred location and reasonable aesthetics of new utility poles or new wireless support structures within the neighborhood association's or homeowners association's jurisdiction. (4) Provides that a permit authority may not impose: (A) a restriction on maximum height of a wireless support structure, subject to certain federal regulations and state laws; or (B) a requirement regarding minimum separation distances between wireless support structures. Provides that a tariff filed with the IURC by a communications service provider is effective upon filing. Provides that a communications service provider may access public rights-of-way under the control of a county or municipality to the same extent as a public utility. Provides that a video service provider is not required to provide the IURC with information describing the provider's programming, including the provider's channel lineups or channel guides. Exempts a political subdivision's disposal of property by sale, exchange, transfer, or lease of the property to a public utility or a communications service provider from certain provisions regarding disposal of property by a political subdivision. Provides an exemption to the public works law for certain work done by the employees of a conservancy district established for the purpose of water or sewage treatment.

Removes the requirements that: (1) an oil refinery be located within a municipal lakefront development project; and (2) a municipal lakefront development project must be funded in part with local, state, and federal money. Requires the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) to provide notice to the city or town council and the mayor's office of the city or town in which a municipal lakefront development is located of certain hearings. Requires the commission to post signs indicating when and where certain hearings will take place.

Provides that a county executive or the legislative body of a city or town does not have the power to prohibit: (1) a public utility or department of public utilities from furnishing utility service to a utility customer; or (2) a customer of a public utility or department of public utilities from purchasing, using, or connecting or reconnecting to a utility service; based on the energy source of the utility service. 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 utility regulatory commission 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 that, except for purposes of compliance with specified building and fire safety laws, a local unit does not have the power to: (1) require that a particular component, design, or type of material be used in the construction of a building because of the energy saving or energy producing qualities of the component, design, or material; (2) prohibit the use of a particular component, design, or type of material in the construction of a building because the component, design, or material does not meet an energy saving standard; (3) require that a building or structure be retrofitted with a particular device or type of material because of the energy saving or energy producing qualities of the device or material; (4) prohibit or restrict the purchase or use of vehicles based upon the type of energy used; or (5) prohibit the sale, installation, or use of: (A) natural gas powered: (i) home heating equipment; (ii) home appliances; or (iii) outdoor heating appliances, torches, lamps, or other decorative features; or (B) outdoor grills and stoves. Specifies that: (1) this prohibition does not apply with respect to requirements included in procurement documents used to procure goods and services, including the construction or design of buildings, to be owned or used by a local unit; and (2) a local unit may adopt bid specifications for a public works project that include energy savings or energy production provisions with respect to the components, design, or materials for the specific project.