Provides that the innkeeper's tax board of managers (board of managers) shall support and assist the Potawatomi Zoo to secure bonds up to a term of 20 years to pay costs associated with financing projects for the Potawatomi Zoo. Authorizes the county fiscal body to adopt an ordinance to increase the tax rate to not more than 8% on a person renting or furnishing lodging accommodations in St. Joseph County. (Under current law, the tax rate is 6%.) Provides that if the county fiscal body adopts an ordinance to increase the tax rate, the county fiscal body must specify the effective date that the ordinance takes effect and immediately send a certified copy of the ordinance to the commissioner of the department of state revenue. Creates the Morris Performing Arts Center fund, which shall be administered by the board of managers. Creates the tourism capital investment fund, which shall be administered by the board of managers. Establishes an application process to award investment money to projects that have a substantial likelihood of increasing overnight guests in the hotel motel industry of St. Joseph County. Specifies the amount of tax revenue that the county treasurer shall deposit in the: (1) convention and exhibition center fund; (2) Mishawaka indoor sports complex fund; (3) Potawatomi Zoo fund; (4) Morris Performing Arts Center fund; and (5) tourism capital investment fund.
Sponsored bills
Establishes the Hoosier hospitality small business restart grant program (program) to provide grants to eligible entities to accelerate economic recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Establishes the small business restart grant fund (fund). Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) administers the program and fund. Allows the corporation to award grants from the fund. Provides parameters for the program. However, authorizes the corporation to change the parameters of the program, which, if a change is made, must be reviewed by the budget committee at the meeting following the change. Makes an appropriation.
Provides that an electric utility that has certain qualified costs that: (1) are associated with an electric generation facility that will be retired from service within 24 months; and (2) are equal to at least 5% of the electric utility's total electric base rate; may file a petition with the utility regulatory commission (IURC) for a financing order authorizing the securitization of the qualified costs. Provides that an "electric utility", for purposes of the bill, is a public utility that: (1) owns or operates any electric generation facility for the provision of electric utility service to Indiana customers; (2) is under the jurisdiction of the IURC; and (3) has a total of not more than 200,000 retail electric customers. Provides that not later than 240 days after a petition for a financing order is filed, the IURC shall conduct a hearing and issue an order on the petition. Provides that in issuing a financing order for cost securitization, the IURC must find that: (1) the electric utility has proposed a reasonable mechanism to reflect a reduction in the electric utility's base rates and charges upon the assessment of securitization charges on customer bills, so as to remove any qualified costs from the electric utility's base rates; and (2) the mechanism will provide timely rate savings for customers. Provides that in issuing a financing order for cost securitization, the IURC must find that the electric utility will make capital investments in Indiana in an amount equal to or exceeding the amount of the electric utility's qualified costs, over a period of not more than seven years immediately following the issuance date of the securitization bonds. Provides that if the IURC makes the required findings with respect to the petition, the IURC shall issue a financing order that authorizes: (1) the issuance of securitization bonds with a term of not more than 20 years; (2) the collection of securitization charges from the electric utility's customers; and (3) the encumbrance of the resulting securitization property with a lien and security interest. Provides that qualified costs authorized in a financing order shall be allocated to the electric utility's customer classes using the same cost allocation methodology approved by the IURC in the electric utility's most recent base rate case, subject to certain exceptions. Provides that if an electric utility does not cause securitization bonds to be issued not later than 90 days after the date of a final, non-appealable financing order, the electric utility shall file a statement of abandonment with the IURC stating the reasons for the abandonment. Provides that a financing order issued by the IURC under these provisions must include a mechanism: (1) requiring that securitization charges be reviewed and adjusted by the IURC at least annually; and (2) allowing an electric utility, on its own initiative, to apply to the IURC at any time during a calendar year for an adjustment of its securitization charges, as the electric utility determines to be necessary; to correct any over collections or under collections of securitization charges, and to ensure the recovery of amounts sufficient to timely make all payments of debt service in connection with the securitization bonds. Sets forth provisions concerning the encumbrance of securitization property with a lien and security interest, including provisions concerning: (1) the attachment and perfection; and (2) the priority; of a security interest in securitization property. Specifies that securitization bonds are not: (1) a debt or obligation of the state; or (2) a charge on the state's full faith and credit or on the state's taxing power. Pledges that the state will not: (1) take or permit any action that would impair the value of securitization property; or (2) reduce, alter, or impair related securitization charges; until certain obligations in connection with the related securitization bonds have been paid or performed in full. Requires the IURC to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) the task of studying during the 2022 legislative interim: (1) the implementation; and (2) use by electric utilities; of the bill's provisions concerning the securitization of costs for retired electric utility assets. Provides that if the committee is assigned to study this topic, the committee: (1) shall consider available data and other information concerning participating electric utilities to which the IURC has issued a financing order under the bill's provisions; (2) may request this data and information from certain parties; and (3) shall, not later than November 1, 2022, submit to the legislative council a report setting forth the committee's findings and recommendations, including the committee's recommendations as to whether to allow, under the bill's provisions, additional electricity suppliers to securitize costs associated with retired electric utility assets.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing First Lady Susan Bayh.
Establishes default standards concerning the following with respect to projects to install or locate wind power devices in local units: (1) Setback requirements. (2) Height restrictions. (3) Shadow flicker limitations. (4) Signal interference. (5) Sound level limitations. (6) Wind turbine light mitigation technology. (7) Required repairs to drainage related infrastructure. (8) Project decommissioning. Provides that a unit that has in effect on July 1, 2021, a wind power regulation that includes standards that are more restrictive than the default wind power standards set forth in the bill may: (1) continue to apply and enforce the unit's existing wind power regulation with respect to a proposed project; or (2) allow within the unit the establishment of a renewable energy district (RED) in which a proposed project will be located. Provides that a unit that has not adopted a wind power regulation may: (1) restrict, or impose conditions or limitations on, wind projects in the unit if the unit first adopts a wind power regulation that includes standards that are not more restrictive than the bill's default standards; or (2) allow within the unit the establishment of a RED in which a proposed project will be located. Provides that the bill's default standards for wind projects apply within the boundaries of a RED. Provides that a unit that: (1) adopts a wind power regulation that complies with the bill's standards; or (2) allows the establishment of one or more REDs in the unit; may impose a one-time construction fee for each wind power device included in a project application submitted to the unit after June 30, 2021. Provides that such a construction fee: (1) is payable by the project owner upon the commencement of construction of each wind power device; and (2) may not exceed $3,000 per megawatt of installed capacity. Establishes default standards concerning the following with respect to projects to install or locate commercial solar energy systems (CSE systems) in a unit: (1) Setback requirements. (2) Height restrictions. (3) Ground cover. (4) Fencing. (5) Cables. (6) Glare. (7) Signal interference. (8) Sound level limitations. (9) Required repairs to drainage related infrastructure. (10) Project decommissioning. Provides that a unit that has in effect on July 1, 2021, a commercial solar regulation that includes standards that are more restrictive than the default CSE system standards set forth in the bill may: (1) continue to apply and enforce the unit's existing commercial solar regulation with respect to a proposed project; or (2) allow within the unit the establishment of a RED in which a proposed project will be located. Provides that a unit that has not adopted a commercial solar regulation may: (1) restrict, or impose conditions or limitations on, commercial solar projects in the unit if the unit first adopts a commercial solar regulation that includes standards that are not more restrictive than the bill's default standards; or (2) allow within the unit the establishment of a RED in which a proposed project will be located. Provides that the bill's default standards for CSE systems apply within the boundaries of a RED. Provides that a unit that: (1) adopts a commercial solar regulation that complies with the bill's standards; or (2) allows the establishment of one or more REDs in the unit; may impose a one-time construction fee for each CSE system included in a project application submitted to the unit after June 30, 2021. Provides that such a construction fee: (1) is payable by the project owner upon the commencement of construction of each CSE system; and (2) may not exceed $1,000 per megawatt of installed capacity. Provides a project owner is exempt from any construction fee imposed by a unit with respect to: (1) a wind power project; or (2) a commercial solar project; if, at the time of application, the project owner demonstrates that the project owner has executed before July 1, 2021, a commercial offtake agreement with respect to the project. Amends the home rule statute to provide that the following apply to a wind power regulation or a commercial solar regulation adopted by a unit after June 30, 2021: (1) The regulation must be approved by the unit's plan commission. (2) Any procedures set forth in the regulation with respect to the permitting or approval process for the siting or installation of wind power devices or CSE systems in the unit must comply with the procedural processes set forth in the bill. (3) Any standards included in the regulation must not be more restrictive than the default standards set forth in the bill. Establishes Establishes procedures for establishing a RED within a unit. Establishes procedures for the permitting or approval process for the siting of wind power devices in a local unit that: (1) does not have a wind power regulation in effect after June 30, 2021; or (2) does have a wind power regulation in effect after June 30, 2021, and has opted to allow the establishment of a RED within the unit in connection with a wind power project. Establishes procedures for the permitting or approval process for the siting of CSE systems in a local unit that: (1) does not have a commercial solar regulation in effect after June 30, 2021; or (2) does have a commercial solar regulation in effect after June 30, 2021, and has opted to allow the establishment of a RED within the unit in connection with a commercial solar project. Provides that: (1) a project owner; or (2) certain other interested parties; aggrieved by the decision of a unit's permit authority with respect to a proposed wind project or a proposed commercial solar project may file a complaint for appropriate relief in the circuit or superior court of a county having jurisdiction. Provides that such a complaint must be filed not later than 30 days after the date of the permit authority's written decision.
Revises residency requirements for members of police and fire departments to require that members: (1) have adequate means of transportation into the jurisdiction served by the member's department; and (2) maintain telephone service to communicate with the department.
A SENATE RESOLUTION to recognize and honor the Senate Democratic Caucus Interns for their service during the First Regular Session of the One Hundred Twenty Second Indiana General Assembly.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Kristina Box.
Extends the Indiana women's suffrage centennial commission (IWSCC) until July 1, 2024. Requires the IWSCC to commission the creation of a suitable monument to the people of Indiana active in the women's suffrage movement and the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Requires the department of administration to install the monument commissioned by the IWSCC on the grounds of the state house before January 1, 2024.
Provides that an additional professional sports development area in Marion County must be established before July 1, 2024 (instead of July 1, 2022). Provides that taxes may not be collected in the additional professional sports development area until after the earlier of: (1) certain conditions having been met; or (2) June 30, 2023 (instead of June 30, 2021).