Rep. Chris Judy

Maddy summaryHR 39 designates April as World Autism Month and April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day through a symbolic congressional resolution. This bill does not create new laws or policies; it is purely a recognition measure to highlight these observances. The resolution has no direct impact on individuals, services, or funding but aims to raise public awareness about autism. It was introduced and coauthored by multiple representatives with no substantive policy changes.

Increases the maximum amount of an additional annual deposit amount for a Level 2 certified technology park (park) to: (1) $500,000; or (2) $500,000 multiplied by the number of redevelopment commissions that have entered into a written agreement for the operation of the Level 2 park; as applicable. Provides that if a Level 2 park: (1) has reached the limit of deposits for a Level 2 park; (2) maintains its certification; and (3) is located within a military base enhancement area; the Level 2 park shall become a Level 3 park upon reaching its Level 2 deposit limit. Provides that a Level 3 park may receive an additional annual incremental income tax deposit of up to $250,000.

Expands the eligibility requirements for admission to the Indiana Veterans' Home. Provides that the department of natural resources shall provide staff support for the Indiana semiquincentennial commission (commission). (Current law provides that the Indiana department of veterans' affairs provides staff support for the commission.) Adds a definition of an "eligible person" for purposes of administering grants for veteran services (GVS). Provides that a qualified entity may receive a GVS to provide certain services to support an eligible person. Makes changes to the qualifications to receive a veteran's burial allowance. Establishes the Medal of Honor license plate. Restores a provision of current law concerning certain disability ratings, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and educational cost exemptions. Provides that the disability ratings and educational cost exemptions apply to an individual whose parent enlisted in the armed forces after June 30, 2014 (instead of June 30, 2011). Updates references throughout the Indiana Code relating to the armed forces of the United States or uniformed services to include the United States Space Force. Changes references relating to military discharges. Makes technical changes to various references relating to the components of the armed forces of the United States. Makes technical corrections.

Increases the basic monthly pension benefit payable to a member of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund who retires after June 30, 2025, with 20 years of service. Increases the contribution rate of fund members. Provides that a municipality, a unit, an airport authority, a school corporation, or a charter school may require certain members of the public employees retirement fund to continue as members of that fund instead of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund.

Exempts certain veteran focused nonprofit cemeteries from certain deposit and trustee requirements with respect to a perpetual care fund. Provides that certain nonprofit cemeteries must deposit into the perpetual care fund $30 for every niche in the cemetery.

Maddy summarySB 443 increases the exemption threshold for business personal property tax from $80,000 to $100,000. This means businesses purchasing equipment costing $100,000 or less will now qualify for the tax exemption, directly affecting small and medium-sized businesses that buy equipment within this range. The key provision adjusts the cost threshold at which the tax exemption applies, expanding coverage to more equipment purchases. The bill passed the House with 39 votes in favor and 7 against on February 13, 2025.

Provides that for a supervised loan that is made under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) and that: (1) is entered into after June 30, 2025; (2) is not secured by an interest in land or by personal property used or expected to be used as the debtor's principal dwelling; and (3) has a principal amount that does not exceed $5,000; a lender may contract for and receive, in addition to the loan finance charge and any other permitted charges and fees, a monthly service fee that is based on the amount of principal originally contracted for, and must report the borrower's payments on the supervised loan to at least one consumer reporting agency that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis (as defined in 15 U.S.C. 1681a(p)) in accordance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.). Provides that for a supervised loan that: (1) is entered into after June 30, 2025; (2) is not secured by an interest in land or by personal property used or expected to be used as the debtor's principal dwelling; (3) has a principal amount that is more than $5,000 but does not exceed $25,000; and (4) is for a term of at least six months; a lender may contract for and receive a loan finance charge not exceeding 36% per year on the unpaid balances of the principal. For a supervised loan that qualifies for the flat 36% annual finance charge (instead of the blended loan finance charge that applies to all other supervised loans), requires the lender to: (1) report the borrower's payments on the loan to at least one nationwide consumer reporting agency; and (2) offer to the borrower, at or before the consummation of the loan and at no cost to the borrower, a consumer credit education program provided by the lender or a third party provider. Provides that, based on information contained in annual composite reports filed with the department of financial institutions (department) by creditors required to be licensed under the UCCC, the department shall publish annually on the department's website a report that contains specified information concerning supervised loans made after June 30, 2025, by nondepository licensees during the reporting period covered by the composite reports. Makes conforming amendments to: (1) the UCCC; and (2) the statutes governing: (A) pawnbrokers; and (B) loansharking.

Provides that a redevelopment commission may use money from certain funds for the purpose of paying more toward debt service obligations, in order to retire debt service earlier, regardless of whether that use is listed in the redevelopment commission's annual spending plan. Provides that a redevelopment commission making accelerated debt payments may retain the assessed value associated with the original debt service schedule. Provides that early debt retirement applies only if the early defeasance of debt is allowed according to the bond issuance documents. Provides that allocated property tax proceeds that are otherwise authorized to be expended for purposes related to a redevelopment project that is located outside the boundaries of the allocation area may be expended for those purposes only if the redevelopment commission immediately at the conclusion of a public hearing adopts a declaratory resolution, and the applicable legislative body votes to approve the declaratory resolution that finds that it has been clearly demonstrated that the expenditure: (1) will directly benefit the allocation area; or (2) will result in the creation or retention of jobs in the private sector and provide an estimate of how many jobs will be created or retained over a specified time period. Provides that the expenditure allowance does not apply to any transfer of property tax proceeds to a school corporation, an accredited or nonaccredited public or private school, or a charter school. Prohibits a redevelopment commission from adopting an amendment to a declaratory resolution that contains an allocation area provision that extends the expiration date of the allocation area provision. Provides that after the expiration of a previous allocation area provision, a redevelopment commission may adopt a declaratory resolution, or an amendment to a declaratory resolution, that contains a new allocation area provision with a new expiration date, and for which the county auditor in which the unit is located shall compute the base assessed value for the allocation area using the assessment date immediately preceding the effective date of the new allocation provision of the declaratory resolution or amendment. Allows a redevelopment commission to, pursuant to the approval of the local legislative body, create an account for a specific infrastructure purpose. Requires a redevelopment commission to provide to the unit's executive and fiscal body an analysis of revenues and expenditures on a per allocation basis and correlate the analysis with the required spending plan. Provides that in jurisdictions where a redevelopment commission has not returned any amount of assessed value in the preceding three years, the redevelopment commission must identify relief measures that could be implemented to alleviate taxpayer burdens. Exempts jurisdictions where the excess assessed value determined by a redevelopment commission is expected to generate less than 200% of the amount of allocated tax proceeds necessary to make, when due, principal and interest payments on certain bonds plus the amount for certain other purposes. Requires a redevelopment commission to report its findings in its annual report. Requires a redevelopment commission to include an invitation to overlapping taxing units to participate in the hearing regarding the redevelopment project. Requires the redevelopment commission to include a record of overlapping taxing unit attendance in its annual report to the department of local government finance. Provides that the adoption of a declaratory resolution and subsequent legislative body approval are not required if the expenditures for purposes related to a redevelopment project that is located outside the boundaries of the allocation area are for: (1) infrastructure; (2) utilities; (3) drainage; or (4) environmental remediation. Enumerates permissible infrastructure maintenance expenditures. Provides that a redevelopment commission may use its discretion, where excess assessed value amounts are not already explicitly set aside for use within the current calendar year for a purpose under a current development plan, to allocate excess assessed value amounts to the respective taxing units rather than reserving those excess assessed value amounts for future or indefinite purposes. Provides that, with regard to the prohibition of a redevelopment commission adopting an amendment to a declaratory judgment that contains an allocation area provision that extends the expiration date of the allocation area provision, a redevelopment commission is not prevented from removing parcels from an existing allocation area before its expiration date or adding parcels to a new allocation area.

Establishes the reservist tuition supplement program fund (fund). Requires the commission for higher education to administer the fund and use money in the fund to award scholarships to eligible applicants.

Maddy summaryHCR 16 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Bruce Haines for his retirement from the Fort Wayne Public Broadcasting Service. It formally recognizes his service and contributions to the organization through a joint expression of appreciation from both legislative chambers. This resolution has no policy impact or funding provisions - it is purely a commemorative gesture. The bill was introduced in the House and adopted via voice vote in early February 2025.