Rep. Dave Heine

Maddy summaryHCR 6 is a symbolic resolution designating January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or directly affect individuals or organizations - its purpose is solely to raise public awareness about human trafficking through official recognition. The resolution was introduced in the Senate and referred to committee in early 2026. As a concurrent resolution, it requires no legislative action to take effect.

Establishes an early childhood scholarship tax credit for contributions made to a scholarship granting organization that conducts a program to provide scholarships for children who attend a qualified early child care provider. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 50% of the amount of the contribution. Limits the total amount of tax credits awarded in a state fiscal year to not more than $100,000,000. Requires the department of education (department) to certify early childhood scholarship granting organizations that meet certain criteria. Requires qualified early childhood scholarship granting organizations to enter into an agreement with the department. Specifies conditions that must be included in the agreement. Provides that a school corporation that operates an early childhood education program may not limit consideration for participation in the program solely to those residing within the school district.

Maddy summaryHB 1282 updates Indiana's state 529 college savings plan to align with federal Section 529 tax code requirements. This bill makes technical adjustments to ensure the state's program meets federal standards for tax-advantaged savings accounts. It directly affects Indiana residents who use or may use the state's 529 plan for education savings. The changes focus on compliance without altering the core purpose or eligibility of the savings program.

Requires a person towed by a motorboat to wear a personal flotation device. Provides that a person operating a boat on an inland lake shall operate the vessel in a counter-clockwise fashion. Establishes that a person operating a boat between sunset and sunrise may not tow anything other than a distressed boat. Requires a person on a boat to use a red or orange safety flag when a person being towed enters the water.

Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to designate 15 economic development regions throughout Indiana. Establishes a regional economic development commission (commission) for each economic development region. Provides for the membership of each commission. Requires each commission to establish or designate a primary administrative entity (entity) to carry out a strategic comprehensive economic development plan for the region. Sets forth the duties of a commission and entity.

Creates a uniform municipal innkeeper's tax that may be imposed at a flat rate that does not exceed $5 per night and includes provisions similar to the uniform county innkeeper's tax. Makes corresponding changes to statutes concerning innkeeper's tax administration.

Provides a credit against state tax liability for expenses incurred in the manufacture of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in Indiana. Establishes procedures under which certain energy utilities may request approval for one or more of the following from the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC): (1) An expedited generation resource plan (EGR plan) to meet customer load growth that exceeds a specified threshold. (2) A generation resource submittal for the acquisition of a specific generation resource in accordance with an approved EGR plan. (3) A project to serve one or more large load customers. Sets forth: (1) the requirements for approval of each of these types of requests; (2) standards for financial assurances by large load customers; and (3) cost recovery mechanisms for certain acquisition costs or project costs incurred by energy utilities. Amends the statute concerning public utilities' annual electric resource planning reports to the IURC to provide that for an annual report submitted after December 31, 2025, a public utility must include information as to the amount of generating resource capacity or energy that the public utility plans to retire or refuel with respect to any electric generation resource of at least 125 megawatts. Provides that for any planned retirement or refueling, the public utility must include, along with other specified information, information as to the public utility's plans with respect to the following: (1) For a retirement, the amount of replacement capacity identified to provide approximately the same accredited capacity within the appropriate regional transmission organization (RTO) as the capacity of the facility to be retired. (2) For a refueling, the extent to which the refueling will maintain or increase the current generating resource accredited capacity or energy that the electric generating facility provides, so as to provide approximately the same accredited capacity within the appropriate RTO. Requires IURC staff to prepare a staff report for each public utility report that includes a planned electric generation resource retirement. Provides that if, after reviewing a public utility's report and any related staff report, the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statute's prescribed reliability adequacy metrics, the IURC shall conduct an investigation into the reasons for the public utility's inability to meet these requirements. Provides that if the public utility's report indicates that the public utility plans to retire an electric generating facility within one year of the date of the report, the IURC must conduct such an investigation. Provides that: (1) a public utility may request, not earlier than three years before the planned retirement date of an electric generation facility, that the IURC conduct an investigation into the planned retirement; and (2) if the IURC conducts an investigation at the request of the public utility within that three year period, the IURC may not conduct a subsequent investigation that would otherwise be required under the bill's provisions unless the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statutory reliability adequacy metrics as of the time the investigation would otherwise be required. Provides that if a CPCN is granted by the IURC for a facility intended to repower or replace a generation unit that is planned for retirement, and the CPCN includes findings that the project will result in at least equivalent accredited capacity and will provide economic benefit to ratepayers as compared to the continued operation of the generating unit to be retired, the CPCN constitutes approval by the IURC for purposes of an investigation that would otherwise be required. Provides that if, after an investigation, the IURC determines that the capacity resources available to the public utility will not be adequate to allow the public utility to satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirements and the statute's prescribed reliability adequacy metrics, the IURC shall issue an order: (1) directing the public utility to acquire or construct; or (2) prohibiting the retirement or refueling of; such capacity resources that are reasonable and necessary to enable the public utility to meet these requirements. Provides that if the IURC does not issue an order in an investigation within 120 days after the initiation of the investigation, the public utility is considered to be able to satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statutory reliability adequacy metrics with respect to the retirement of the facility under investigation. Provides that if the IURC issues an order to prohibit the retirement or refueling of an electric generation resource, the IURC shall create a sub-docket to authorize the public utility to recover in rates the costs of the continued operation of the electric generation resource proposed to be retired or refueled, subject to a finding by the IURC that the continued costs of operation are just and reasonable. Makes a technical change to another Indiana Code section to recognize the redesignation of subsections within the section containing these provisions.

Increases the threshold that applies to public works projects for which the department of natural resources may use its employees to perform the labor and supervision for the project. Removes the sunset of provisions that authorize the sale of bonds at a negotiated sale. Amends provisions pertaining to the investment of public funds in certain depositories. Requires the fiscal officer (rather than the executive) of a political subdivision to upload certain contracts to the Indiana transparency website (website). Permits the political subdivision to identify an individual other than the fiscal officer to upload contracts to the website. Provides that the change to the agricultural base rate in Senate Bill 1 does not apply for the January 1, 2025, assessment date to land in inventory. Repeals the increase in the personal property tax exemption for the 2025 assessment in Senate Bill 1, but retains the increase of the personal property tax exemption to $2,000,000 for the 2026 assessment date and thereafter. Removes an exception to provisions added in Senate Bill 1 exempting depreciable personal property placed in service after January 1, 2025, from the 30% minimum valuation floor if property tax revenue that is attributable to the depreciable personal property is pledged as payment for bonds, leases, or other obligations. Repeals the local property tax credits for veterans enacted in Senate Bill 1 and reinstates the property tax deductions in current law for veterans that were expired under Senate Bill 1. Provides that the personal property online submission portal (portal) may be used to file a personal property return until 2026. Repeals (effective January 1, 2026) the provision requiring the establishment of the portal and makes corresponding changes. Adds requirements for the filing of a petition for review of land values. Amends a provision pertaining to the assessment of solar land. Provides for the assessment of community land trust property and a property tax credit for community land trust property. For purposes of public utility companies, specifies that the period of time that a taxpayer may file an objection with the department of local government finance (DLGF) is not later than 15 days after the notice is postmarked. Provides, for particular calendar years, that all or part of a building is deemed to serve a charitable purpose and is exempt from property taxation if it is owned by certain nonprofit entities. Establishes a maximum entry fee per unit that may be charged by a continuing care retirement community to qualify for the property tax exemption. Adds, for particular calendar years, continuing care retirement communities, small house health facilities, and qualified residential treatment providers to the list of exempt entities for purposes of another property tax exemption. Provides that the DLGF may (as opposed to shall) adopt certain rules with respect to property of an exempt organization used in a nonexempt trade or business. Amends the requirements that must be satisfied to receive a property tax exemption for property used by a for-profit provider of early childhood education. Establishes a partial property tax exemption for an employer that provides child care on the employer's property for the employer's employees and certain other employees. Amends certain notice and procedural provisions applicable to proceedings before the Indiana board of tax review. Clarifies the deadline for submitting amended certified net assessed value amounts. Specifies the calculation of the maximum permissible property tax levy for certain units that fail to comply with certain budget and tax levy review and adoption procedures. Adds provisions that: (1) require the DLGF to increase the maximum permissible property tax levy for certain qualifying municipalities for property taxes first due and payable in 2025 to include all debt service levies of the qualifying municipality for property taxes first due and payable in 2025; (2) specify that the adjustment is a one time and permanent increase; (3) modify the: (A) local income tax trust account threshold percentage of a county that contains a qualifying municipality (for purposes of determining whether the county shall receive a supplemental distribution); and (B) certified share allocation determination for a qualifying municipality; and (4) prohibit the use funds from the state general fund to make up certain local income tax related shortfalls. Provides temporary one time increases for the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levies for Shelby County and the Shelby County solid waste management district. Provides that the county treasurer is not required to mail or transmit a statement for property that is exempt from taxation and does not have a reported assessed value. Requires the DLGF, in a manner determined by the DLGF, to include on the coupon page of each property tax statement educational information regarding the eligibility and procedures for various property tax benefits available to certain taxpayers. Provides that a tract or item of real property owned by a political subdivision may not be sold at a tax sale. Removes a provision requiring the county executive to provide an annual report to the legislative council concerning certain tax sales. Provides that property tax assessment board of appeals members' terms must be staggered for a two year period and begin on January 1. Provides that a property tax payment made by a check processing company received after the due date for the property taxes is considered to be made on or before the due date if the taxpayer provides reasonable evidence that the payments were made on or before the due date. Reestablishes the deduction for aircraft entitling a taxpayer to a deduction from the assessed value of abatement property in each year in which the abatement property is subject to taxation for ad valorem property taxes. Provides a sales tax exemption for sales by agricultural commodity trade associations made at the state fair. Provides certain sourcing rules for the adjusted gross income of an investment partnership. Defines "investment partnership" and other related terms. Specifies that an electing entity or pass through entity shall be permitted to claim a credit for taxes withheld or paid on the entity's behalf. Allows an electing entity to make elections to claim certain state tax liability credits and sets forth requirements that apply to those elections. Expands the physician practice ownership tax credit against state tax liability to practicing physicians (instead of only primary care physicians) who have an ownership interest in a physician practice and meet other eligibility criteria. Limits the total amount of physician practice ownership tax credits that may be awarded in a state fiscal year. Specifies that a volunteer fire department that applies to the county adopting body for a distribution of local income tax revenue that is allocated to public safety purposes must do so through the fiscal officer of the unit served by the department. Allows the Fountain County council to adopt a resolution to make a one time transfer from the county jail revenue fund to the county general fund to be used for specified purposes. Allows revenue generated from a special purpose local income tax rate in Starke County to be used to operate and maintain the county jail and related facilities. Increases the amount of the local collection assistance fee. Provides a presumption of reasonable cause exception to the penalty for failure to file a return in the case of certain small partnerships. Amends the provisions to conform to the reasonable cause exception applicable to the failure to file penalty available under federal tax procedures (IRS Rev. Proc. 84-35, 1984-1 C.B. 509). Authorizes numerous local units to impose food and beverage taxes. Allows the town of Shipshewana to increase its food and beverage tax. Removes language excluding transactions that occur at a historic hotel from the Orange County food and beverage tax and amends provisions that apply to the uses of the tax revenue. Repeals provisions authorizing the imposition of food and beverage taxes in Wayne County. Reallocates the amounts of revenue received from the Vanderburgh County innkeeper's tax that is deposited in certain funds. Authorizes certain counties to impose an innkeeper's tax under separate enabling statutes. Allows Brown County to increase its innkeeper's tax rate. Prohibits the deposit or transfer of money in an innkeeper's or food and beverage tax fund into any other fund, or deposit or transfer of money from any other fund into an innkeeper's or food and beverage tax fund. Requires a local unit that imposes a food and beverage tax (as part of its required annual reporting) to provide to the state board of accounts a consolidated financial statement for the preceding year. Requires the state board of accounts to: (1) determine whether or not local units imposing a food and beverage tax, and other entities that receive a distribution of food and beverage tax revenue, are in compliance with current reporting requirements and applicable statutory requirements; and (2) submit a report of its findings to the legislative council. Provides for a reduction of the percentage of gross revenue to be paid to a unit of local government by a holder of a cable franchise. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for an amendment to each home and community based services Medicaid waiver for certain eligibility criteria related to asset limit thresholds. Specifies that certain school corporation property tax referenda are eligible to be on the ballot in an election held in the fall of 2025. Applies certain access to financial data requirements to charter schools. Restores language in a provision amended by Senate Bill 1 regarding optional revenue sharing with charter schools. Specifies that a minimum population for application of certain provisions concerning: (1) the assessment of industrial facilities; (2) the general government of counties; and (3) the division of powers of certain counties; is 450,000 (instead of 400,000). Allows a county fiscal body to make loans of money for not more than 10 years (rather than five years under current law) and issue notes for the purpose of refunding those loans. Allows a person who is: (1) engaged in the business of renting or furnishing, for periods of less than 30 days, certain lodging facilities located within an economic development district; and (2) liable for a special benefits assessment for the property; to charge a fee of not more than $1 per night. Provides that the northwest Indiana regional development authority must be reimbursed for amounts deposited in the blighted property demolition fund not later than July 1, 2027 (instead of July 1, 2026). Requires local units to make semiannual fire service reports to the state fire marshal which, in turn, is required to submit the data reported to the legislative council. Provides for funding for cultural institutions. Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate interim study committee the task of studying certain issues relating to property exempt for charitable purposes. Amends a 2025 law requiring certain disclosures concerning appointed officers to provide that if an appointed board is a subgroup of an elected body that is appointed entirely: (1) from the body's elected members; and (2) by a member or members of the elected body; the appointed board may publish a board member's name and elected title in the board's meeting notice or agenda with a link or web address to the website where information of each board member's appointment and term is published. Removes provisions enacted by HEA 1001-2025 that: (1) treated the local government investment pool as a financial institution; and (2) considered the seven day yield published weekly by the treasurer of state to be a quote for purposes of the law governing the deposit and investment of public funds. Provides that money in the Pokagon Band Tribal-state compact fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes of the fund. Provides that funding to a local board of health from the local public health fund may only be used for Indiana residents who are lawfully present in the United States. Resolves conflicts.

Provides the records of the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau), for purposes of showing the last registered owner of a vehicle when obtaining a certificate of title for a repossessed vehicle, mean records related to certificate of titles or registrations. Allows the bureau to issue an electronic certificate of registration. Requires a toll operator to invoice a user not later than one year after a toll is incurred. Allows the bureau to issue a temporary registration permit at the bureau's discretion if a person meets certain requirements. Allows the bureau to offer alternative designs or color scheme versions of license plates. Requires a customer who selects both an alternative design or color scheme and a personalized license plate message for a license plate to pay two separate fees. Amends the requirements for a special group recognition license plate. Allows an insurance company to submit a signed or unsigned certificate of title for the issuance of a certificate of salvage title. Provides that a slow moving vehicle emblem and the emblem's position of mounting must substantially adhere to certain recommendations. Repeals provisions concerning the Indiana criminal justice institute's rulemaking authority concerning slow moving vehicle emblems. Provides that a commercial driver's license (CDL) may include an intrastate passenger transport endorsement if the applicant is at least 18 years of age. Provides maximum prices that public and private institutions and other entities may charge for conducting skills exams. Provides that a learner's permit, driver's license, identification card, and photo exempt identification card expire upon the bureau receiving notice of the death of the holder or upon issuance of a subsequent physical credential. Effective January 1, 2028, requires the bureau to maintain a secure online insurance verification system to verify proof of a driver's financial responsibility. Establishes the real time insurance verification advisory board. Allows a law enforcement officer to include in a written accident report whether a driver's medical impairment may have contributed to an accident. Removes the population requirement for a county to enter into an interlocal cooperation agreement with an adjacent county to allow a public transportation corporation to provide expanded service beyond the boundary of the county in which it is located. Prohibits a person from advertising: (1) a product containing marijuana; or (2) a controlled substance listed in schedule I; by any medium. Adds to the definition of a "consumer transaction" for purposes of deceptive consumer sales. Requires a towing company to release property to a consumer if the consumer pays a percentage of the towing invoice, obtains a bond for the remaining amount of the invoice, and provides a copy of a complaint filed with the attorney general. Requires a city, county, or town to credit the proceeds from the sale of an abandoned vehicle or parts against the costs of removal, storage, and disposal of the vehicle. Establishes rates a towing company may charge for fees for emergency towing or private property towing. Allows a county to mow or maintain any grass or vegetation in a right-of-way that is owned by the state and located in the county if the county obtains a permit from the office of the Indiana department of transportation district in which the county is located.

Provides that a granted waiver or variance expires three years after the date that the waiver or variance becomes effective. Removes the requirement that a child receiving child care from a school must be the child of a student or employee of the school. Provides that, not later than June 30, 2026, the division of family resources (division) shall establish an organizational license category for multi-site child care centers operating under one owner, and specifies obligations of the division with regard to the new license category. Provides that, subject to exceptions, certain properties may not be required to comply with a new or different set of building, fire safety, or equipment laws than were originally enforced by the department: (1) before July 1, 2025; or (2) two years after the earlier of the date of the: (A) initial inspection; or (B) plan review. Allows a child care home that was licensed to operate a Class 2 structure before July 1, 2025, to continue operating in the structure notwithstanding the building, fire safety, or equipment laws and regulations.