Sen. Linda Rogers

Makes certain changes to the qualification requirements and credit amount for the over 65 circuit breaker credit. Makes certain changes to the qualification requirements and deduction amount for the property tax deduction for disabled veterans who are either totally disabled or at least 62 years of age with a partial disability.

Maddy summarySB 7 amends the capitalization rate used to determine property taxes for agricultural land statewide. This change directly affects farmers and ranchers who own land assessed under the agricultural land base rate. The bill modifies the specific percentage calculation method used to value agricultural land for tax purposes. It does not create new programs or change land use rules, only adjusting the tax assessment formula.

Provides that: (1) a referendum authorizing a school corporation to impose property taxes to pay debt service on bonds or lease rentals on a lease for a specified controlled project; (2) a school corporation operating referendum tax levy; or (3) a school corporation school safety referendum tax levy; may be placed on the ballot only at a primary election conducted in a general election year or a general election. Provides that a school corporation may not adopt a resolution to place an operating referendum or school safety referendum on the ballot during the second calendar year after the final calendar year in which a previously approved operating referendum levy or school safety referendum levy is imposed. Provides that in a local public question, a school corporation must provide the total amount of property tax revenue expected to be collected each year.

Adds a person who serves in one of the following positions on or after January 1, 2016, to the prosecuting attorneys retirement fund (PARF): (1) The state public defender or chief deputy state public defender employed by the state public defender. (2) The executive director of the public defender council of Indiana or the second highest paid staff person or a full-time staff attorney employed by the public defender council of Indiana. (3) The highest paid or the second highest paid staff person employed by the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys. (4) A chief public defender or chief deputy public defender. Allows staff attorneys of the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana employed on or after January 1, 2012, to participate in PARF. Changes the name of the prosecuting attorneys retirement fund to the prosecuting attorneys and public defenders retirement fund. Provides that after a participant has contributed to PARF for 22 years, the state or county shall pay the contributions to the fund for the participant. Provides that the computation of benefits is based in part on the highest salary that was paid to the participant before separation from service. Provides that 1% shall be added to the percentage used to calculate benefits for each year of service after 22 years. Provides that a reduced annual retirement benefit equals the benefit that would be payable if the participant were 65 years of age reduced by 0.10% for each month before the participant's sixty-fifth birthday. Provides for a cost of living adjustment for participants of PARF based on increases to judge salaries. Allows a participant to receive service credit in PARF for more than one year and less than 10 years of service received by the participant in the public employees' retirement fund under certain conditions. Provides for the calculation of an offset of PARF benefits payable to a participant from a participant's public employees' retirement fund benefits based on the concurrent service and wages the participant earned in both the public employees' retirement fund and PARF. Makes corresponding changes.

Establishes the real world readiness grant program (program) to provide grants to eligible schools to better prepare students for life after graduation with or without the assistance of a partnering organization. Establishes the real world readiness fund (fund). Provides a procedure for eligible schools to apply to the department of education (department) to receive a grant from the fund. Requires the department to approve organizations that may partner with an eligible school to facilitate the program. Establishes the personal financial responsibility curriculum grant program to provide grants to eligible schools to develop or adopt personal financial responsibility curriculum. Establishes the personal financial responsibility curriculum fund (financial responsibility fund). Requires the department to establish guidelines: (1) an external organization must meet to be eligible to partner with an eligible applicant; and (2) to award grants to eligible applicants. Requires applicants that receive a grant from the financial responsibility fund to report student outcomes to the department, as developed by the department.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 1) honoring Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch for her service upon her retirement. It does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is a symbolic gesture recognizing her role. The resolution was introduced by Senators Bray and Yoder, adopted unanimously by voice vote on January 8, 2025, and has no binding effect or direct impact on constituents.

Allows a bar or restaurant (retailer) to prepare, sell, and deliver alcoholic beverages for carry-out to a customer on the licensed premises in sealed, nonoriginal containers (qualified containers). Defines: (1) "craft manufacturer's permit" as a small brewery permit, farm winery permit, or artisan distiller's permit; and (2) "craft manufacturer" as the holder of a "craft manufacturer's permit". Requires, after June 30, 2024, liquor liability insurance or an endorsement with coverage of at least $500,000 to obtain or renew a retailer's or craft manufacturer's permit. Provides that if an establishment operates under both a retailer's permit and a craft manufacturer's permit, the insurance coverage requirements apply to the establishment and not to each permit individually. Requires compliance with the insurance coverage requirement not later than January 1, 2025, for a permit issued before July 1, 2024. Prohibits a retailer from doing the following: (1) Allowing a game on the licensed premises that: (A) is determined by the quantity of alcoholic beverages consumed by a patron; or (B) awards alcoholic beverage prizes, unless the alcohol beverages are charity gaming prizes or sold in a charity auction event. (2) Selling or serving an unlimited or indefinite amount of alcoholic beverages for a fixed price. Allows a retailer or craft manufacturer to reduce or increase the price of alcoholic beverages during a part of the day. Specifies that the alcohol and tobacco commission may revoke the privilege of selling alcoholic beverages: (1) in qualified containers for carry-out; or (2) for a reduced or increased price; for violations of certain conditions.

Prohibits a retail establishment from holding more than one active tobacco sales certificate (certificate) for a retail location at any time. Prohibits the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) from issuing a certificate to certain persons. Provides that, if a majority interest in a business that holds a certificate is sold or transferred: (1) the new ownership must apply for a new certificate; and (2) the certificate and permit number held by the previous ownership are void 90 days after the sale or transfer of the ownership of the business. Specifies that an employee of a certificate holder (employee) must hold a valid: (1) driver's license issued by the state of Indiana or another state; or (2) identification card issued by the state of Indiana, another state, or the United States; to sell tobacco products. Requires an employee to have the driver's license, identification card, or a copy of these documents readily available to show an excise officer or law enforcement when selling tobacco products. Allows an employee who is unable to show these documents to provide certain evidence within five days. Permits the commission to impose a civil penalty on the certificate holder if an employee fails to timely produce this evidence. Provides that a person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally sells a tobacco product without a valid certificate commits a Class C infraction. Makes it a Class C misdemeanor for a person to operate a tobacco and vaping business within 1,000 feet of school property. Specifies exceptions.

Provides that a homeowners association may regulate the number and location of beehives on properties. Provides that a homeowners association may not: (1) regulate the number and location of beehives that are located on a property before the regulations are adopted; and (2) prohibit beekeeping on property that complies with state law, if the beehives are actively maintained for pollination or production of honey. Provides when a homeowners association may prohibit beekeeping within 100 feet of a property.

Requires each high school to: (1) beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, offer the Indiana college core (college core); or (2) not later than October 1, 2024, submit a plan or report that meets certain requirements to the commission for higher education (commission). Provides that: (1) a student who successfully completes an eligible course under the college core is entitled to secondary credit toward graduation requirements; and (2) the student's transcripts must reflect the secondary credit. Establishes the reverse transfer program for community college associate degrees. Requires each state educational institution (institution) to prepare and submit a report to the commission that includes information regarding a determination by the institution of the feasibility and advisability of establishing and conferring associate degrees to certain students. Establishes certain requirements for the commission regarding the reports. Requires each institution that offers baccalaureate degrees to establish a policy to review each of the institution's four year baccalaureate degree program offerings to determine the feasibility of providing each in a specifically structured manner to allow a full-time student to complete the baccalaureate degree within three years. Requires, not later than July 1, 2025, each institution to offer at least one baccalaureate degree program specifically structured to allow a full-time student to complete the baccalaureate degree within three years. Requires an institution to provide an annual report to the commission regarding offering four year baccalaureate degree programs completed in three years. Expands the schools to which requirements regarding secondary credit apply. Changes the name of the statewide transfer general education core to the Indiana college core. Requires the commission, in coordination with the department of education (department) and institutions, to maintain and post a list and syllabus or course outline record of each eligible college core course. Requires, by July 1, 2025, the department to partner with one or more institutions or approved postsecondary educational institutions to provide online access to the college core through the course access program. Provides that credit equivalencies, including the college core, for all Cambridge International Advanced A and AS Level examinations must be updated annually and sent by each institution to the commission by June 1 each year. Provides that each institution shall post these annually updated credit equivalencies on the institution's website by July 1 each year. Provides that the commission shall post the annually updated credit equivalencies on the commission's student transfer of credit portal by July 1 each year.