Rep. Maureen Bauer

Establishes the farmland trust advisory board. Authorizes the Indiana state department of agriculture (department) to accept or acquire certain real or personal property to be held in trust. Allows the department to lease agricultural land that is held in trust. Creates the Indiana farmland trust fund to: (1) purchase permanent agricultural conservation easements; (2) purchase agricultural land; and (3) maintain any agricultural land that is held in trust by the department. Provides that an agricultural conservation easement that meets the agricultural conservation easement requirements shall be assessed and taxed on a basis that reflects the agricultural conservation easement. Provides that the state or a unit of local government may not acquire an interest in any real property through eminent domain if the real property is subject to an agricultural conservation easement, unless permission has been granted by the director of the department. Specifies that an agricultural conservation easement does not affect the ability of a public utility or a municipally owned utility to acquire property or property rights to be used in connection with the provision of utility services to the public. Requires the department to adopt rules concerning requirements to lease agricultural land held in trust by the department.

Establishes the climate solutions task force (task force) to review issues related to sustainable and clean energy solutions. Sets forth membership, and requires the task force to issue a report to the general assembly and the governor not later than November 1, 2024.

Allows a county to adopt an ordinance requiring every person who wishes to participate in a tax sale as a bidder to pay a neighborhood investment fee of not more than $150 and specifies the manner in which neighborhood investment fees collected are to be distributed to land banks. Allows a county to adopt an ordinance to impose, in addition to the 5% penalty for delinquent real property taxes, an additional penalty of not more than 3% for a total penalty that may not exceed 8% of the amount of delinquent real property taxes (additional penalty ordinance). Exempts delinquent tax payments attributable to real property receiving the homestead standard deduction for the most recent assessment date from an additional penalty ordinance. Specifies the manner in which the amounts collected attributable to an additional penalty ordinance are to be distributed to land banks. Allows a county to adopt an ordinance imposing a $15 fee for each document recorded on a tract located in the territory of a land bank and specifies the manner in which the fee is be distributed to land banks. Makes various changes to the statutes governing land banks that concern certain land bank powers, objectives, and duties. Provides that a majority of the directors of a land bank's board must have demonstrated competency in an occupation or discipline that is relevant to the primary purpose of a land bank. Allows a land bank to establish advisory committees composed of specified community members to consult with and advise the land bank on: (1) properties within the territory of the land bank that are imposing the greatest harm on residents and neighborhoods; (2) resident and neighborhood priorities for new uses of land bank properties; and (3) options for potential transferees of land bank properties. Provides, subject to certain limitations, that a land bank may use an interlocal agreement to establish processes to improve the quality of title and marketability of property the land bank owns by extinguishing any liens that exist on the property. Provides that, if a land bank enters into an interlocal agreement, any employees of an eligible unit who may be contracted to provide staffing services to the land bank pursuant to the interlocal agreement retain their status as public employees of the eligible unit. Requires a county executive to provide a land bank in the county with a list of tracts located in the territory of the land bank that: (1) are delinquent on property taxes; and (2) have been offered for public sale at least two times and remain unsold; on an annual basis. Specifies that list must be provided to the land bank within 60 days after the end of the last tax sale for which the tracts went unsold. Allows the county executive to transfer its interest in a tract on the list to a land bank if requested by the land bank not later than 90 days after it receives the list.

Defines "price gouging" to include charging a consumer an unconscionable amount for the sale of infant formula. Provides that price gouging occurs in the sale of infant formula if the price at which the infant formula is sold grossly exceeds the average price charged for infant formula of the same brand and type in retail establishments in Indiana on or about the date on which the infant formula is sold. Authorizes the attorney general to investigate complaints, seek injunctive relief, seek restitution for victims, and institute actions to collect civil penalties in cases of price gouging in the sale of infant formula. Provides that a court may assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each transaction against a retailer found to have committed price gouging in the sale of infant formula.

Specifies requirements for release of a cat or dog from an animal testing facility or breeder to a releasing agency. Establishes the adoption of tested animals and animals bred for testing fund. Provides that the Indiana state board of animal health may bring a civil action against an animal testing facility or breeder that violates the requirements. Provides that an animal testing facility or breeder is immune from civil liability for harm caused by, or a defect suffered by, a cat or dog released under this chapter.

Defines "price gouging" to include charging a consumer an unconscionable amount for the sale of infant formula. Provides that price gouging occurs in the sale of infant formula if the price at which the infant formula is sold grossly exceeds the average price charged for infant formula of the same brand and type in retail establishments in Indiana on or about the date on which the infant formula is sold. Authorizes the attorney general to investigate complaints, seek injunctive relief, seek restitution for victims, and institute actions to collect civil penalties in cases of price gouging in the sale of infant formula. Provides that a court may assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each transaction against a retailer found to have committed price gouging in the sale of infant formula.

Repeals the statute specifying Medicaid eligibility for qualified pregnant women. Increases the Medicaid income eligibility requirements for pregnant women. Removes the Medicaid limitation for pregnant women of medical assistance coverage only for pregnancy related services. Provides that the extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage for pregnant women shall be determined by the office of the secretary of family and social services and must be at least 60 days but not more than 12 months beginning on the last day of the pregnancy.

Changes, for purposes of the law concerning compensation to victims of violent crime, the definition of "claimant" to include certain family members of a victim. Expands the list of expenses eligible for compensation to include crime scene cleanup and replacement windows or door locks. Allows the victim services division of the Indiana criminal justice institute to accept proof that evidence was collected during a forensic exam as a claimant's cooperation with law enforcement. Specifies that a person who contributed to the injury or death of the victim may not receive benefits.

Authorizes police officers appointed by a tribe to exercise police powers in Indiana if the tribal police officer meets the standards of the Indiana law enforcement academy. Provides that a tribe may authorize a tribal police officer to exercise police powers in the entire state, or in any part of the state, if certain conditions are met. Requires a tribe seeking to employ an individual as a tribal police officer who will exercise police powers in Indiana to request the individual's employment history, if the individual was previously employed by a law enforcement agency. Makes conforming amendments.

Raises the total amount of food that a public school or school corporation (purchasing agency) may purchase from a youth agricultural education program to $10,000 per fiscal year. Specifies that if a purchasing agency purchases more than $10,000 of food from a youth agricultural educational program per fiscal year, the purchasing agency must comply with the applicable federal procurement requirements.