Rep. Doug Miller

Authorizes Jefferson County to impose its innkeeper's tax at a rate of 8% (instead of 5% under current law). Provides that, if the tax rate is increased to more than 5%, the portion of the tax rate that exceeds 5% expires on December 31, 2045. Authorizes Elkhart County to impose its innkeeper's tax at a rate of 8% (instead of 5% under current law). Provides that, if the tax rate is increased to more than 5%, the portion of the tax rate that exceeds 5% expires on December 31, 2045. Authorizes Knox County to impose its innkeeper's tax at a rate of 8% (instead of 6% under current law). Provides that, if the tax rate is increased to more than 6%, the portion of the tax rate that exceeds 6% expires on December 31, 2045.

Reduces the membership of the board of directors of the Indiana stadium and convention building authority (board) from seven members to three members. Provides that the director of the budget agency or the director's designee serves as chair of the board. Authorizes the solid waste management district of Vanderburgh County to make grants and loans for certain purposes. Provides that with certain exceptions a governmental entity is prohibited from requiring that a Class 2 structure or a residential onsite sewage system be inspected when a property is sold or transferred. Allows a governmental entity to require certain inspections of properties located in that part of St. Joseph County containing a designated sole source aquifer only if it has been more than 15 years since: (1) the property was last sold or transferred; or (2) the Class 2 structure or system was constructed or installed. Provides, for purposes of posting a license bond, that a political subdivision may not impose any requirement for the political subdivision to be identified as an obligee on the license bond other than the requirement in statute. Provides that certain obligors may initiate a civil action against a political subdivision that does not recognize or does not allow an obligor to post a license bond that satisfies certain requirements. Provides that, if the obligor prevails in the action, the obligor shall be awarded an amount equal to: (1) 300% of the cost of obtaining the license bond; (2) compensatory damages; and (3) reasonable attorney's fees. Provides that if a contractor: (1) has posted a license bond to obtain one license from a political subdivision; and (2) is required to obtain another license from the political subdivision to perform work that the contractor intends to perform; the contractor may not be required to post a second license bond as a condition of obtaining the second license if the type of work that the first license authorizes the contractor to perform is so closely related to the type of work that the second license will authorize the contractor to perform that both types of work are typically involved in a single residential construction project. Provides that a city, town, or county that requires a building permit for the construction of a Class 2 structure may provide for the inspection to be conducted by: (1) an individual employed by the city, town, or county, or by another city, town, or county, as a building inspector; (2) a registered architect; (3) a registered professional engineer; (4) a certified building official; or (5) a licensed home inspector.

Defines, for purposes of the unsafe building law, a "building or structure". Increases from $10,000 to $25,000 the estimated cost of work required by an order of a unit's enforcement authority which the unit's enforcement authority may perform using its own workers and equipment. Provides, with certain exceptions, that a governmental body may not regulate or restrict, by regulation or otherwise, the continued residential use of a mobile home, a manufactured home, or an industrialized residential within a mobile home community based on certain characteristics of the structure. Provides that a mobile home, manufactured home, or industrialized residential structure on private property constituting a legal, nonconforming use, may not be replaced with a mobile home, manufactured home, or industrialized residential structure that is older or smaller than the legal, nonconforming structure being replaced. Makes certain changes to local planning and zoning standards and requirements relating to manufactured homes.

Changes the qualifications required for a newspaper to publish legal notices as follows: (1) A newspaper must have been published for 12 consecutive months (instead of three years). (2) A newspaper must have had an average paid circulation during the preceding year of at least 500 (instead of 200) that may include the number of website page views reported by a website's host provider. (Current law only includes the average requested or paid circulation as reported in the United States Postal Service Statement of Ownership.) Requires a locality newspaper to have been published for 12 consecutive months (instead of three years) to be eligible to publish legal notices. Requires a paid circulation threshold for a newspaper published in a county of 2% of the county population. Makes technical corrections.

Provides that an individual who completes a United States Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program to practice cosmetology may take the cosmetologist licensure examination and, upon passage of the examination, practice as a cosmetologist.

Makes various changes to the residential housing infrastructure assistance program. Expands the definition of "economic development facilities" applicable to the economic development and pollution control statutes to include facilities for housing for purposes of redevelopment commission programs outside Indianapolis for age-restricted housing or residential housing development. Makes a technical correction.

Requires the professional licensing agency (agency) to study universal occupational licensing laws enacted in other states. Requires the agency to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the general assembly not later than October 31, 2025. Extends certain dates and expands certain duties regarding the comprehensive review of occupational licensing by public agencies. Delays the date that certain individuals may begin to file a petition to repeal or modify certain occupational regulations. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on employment and labor.)

Creates a civil penalty for a person who knowingly or intentionally disturbs or removes a boundary marker, and permits a court to order a person who disturbs or removes a boundary marker to pay for the cost of reestablishing the boundary marker.

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and Ireland.

Provides that a person commits trespass if the person does not have a contractual interest in the property and knowingly or intentionally enters or refuses to leave the property of another person after having been prohibited from entering or asked to leave the property by a law enforcement officer, if the officer was dispatched to the property after a person with a contractual interest in the property requested the presence of a law enforcement officer at the property.