Sen. Scott Baldwin

Maddy summaryThis bill (SR 16) is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the Guerin Catholic High School Golden Gears FIRST Robotics team. It directly recognizes the team's achievements in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The resolution has no policy impact or funding provisions - it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the state legislature. It was unanimously adopted by the Senate on January 29, 2026.

Authorizes the city of New Haven to impose an innkeeper's tax at a flat rate that does not exceed $5 per night. Amends provisions regarding distribution and uses of the Hamilton County innkeeper's tax. Makes corresponding changes to statutes concerning innkeeper's tax administration.

Adopts the compact for a safe and equal convention of the states. Specifies compact requirements. Provides that each state that adopts the compact intends to ensure that the following rules are followed at a convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United States: (1) All voting is conducted on the basis of one-state, one-vote. (2) The convention shall not consider any proposed amendment on any topic other than the topics or subjects specifically enumerated in the applications of 2/3 of the several states which formed the basis for the call of the convention.

Allows a person who wishes to be a candidate for a pro tempore appointment to certain local offices or school board offices to file a declaration of candidacy with the chair of the caucus or the circuit court clerk. Requires a circuit court clerk to send a copy of a declaration of candidacy filed with the clerk to the chairman of the caucus on the same day the declaration of candidacy is received. Allows a notice of a caucus meeting to be rescinded if only one candidate seeks to fill a vacancy in a local office or a school board office held by a major party.

Amends the percentage increase in a public library's proposed budget that determines whether the public library's proposed budget is subject to binding review by the applicable county, city, or town, fiscal body.

Provides that if two or fewer financial institutions that have a branch or principal office in a county or in a county contiguous to the county that is located in Indiana are willing to accept public funds, the board of finance for the county may: (1) treat the financial institutions that are located within the county or a county contiguous to the county that is located in Indiana as if the financial institutions were not located within the county or a county contiguous to the county; and (2) designate certain financial institutions to receive public funds. Makes conforming changes.

Provides that if a law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the suit has arisen out of certain acts, the attorney general shall defend the law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution throughout the action. Clarifies that the enforcement of federal immigration laws may be carried out by federal, state, or local law enforcement. Removes the mens rea standard in the statute concerning governmental bodies or postsecondary institutions violating the citizenship and immigration status information and enforcement of federal laws chapter. Provides that a governmental body that has the custody of an individual who is the subject of an immigration detainer request shall: (1) provide the judge authorized to grant or deny the individual's release on bail notice that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (2) record in the individual's case file that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (3) comply with the immigration detainer request; and (4) inform the individual that the individual is being held pursuant to an immigration detainer request. Provides immunity to a governmental body or an employee of a governmental body for any action taken concerning an immigration detainer request. Prohibits a political subdivision from taking certain actions to aid, assist, incentivize, or facilitate the migration of any alien or class of aliens into Indiana. Provides that if the attorney general determines that probable cause exists that a governmental entity has not complied with an immigration detention request, the attorney general may bring a court action to: (1) enjoin an act or practice constituting a violation of an immigration detention request; and (2) impose a civil penalty for noncompliance with an immigration detention request. Requires a judge who receives notice that an individual is subject to an immigration detainer request to ensure that the notice of the immigration detainer request is recorded in the court's record. Prohibits an employer from knowingly or intentionally recruiting, hiring, or employing an unauthorized alien. Provides that if the attorney general determines that probable cause exists that an employer has recruited, hired, or employed an unauthorized alien, the attorney general may enjoin the action and seek the suspension of the employer's operating authorizations. Provides that a governmental entity that employs a prosecuting official is entitled to investigative costs and costs in an indecent nuisance action.

Defines "decision", "PFAS chemicals", and "state prioritized PFAS chemicals". Prohibits the department of environmental management (department) from basing a decision primarily on federal risk values that have not been promulgated through federal rulemaking. Instructs the department to avoid the use of federal risk values that are at or below background concentrations in air, water, soil, or sediment. Provides that the department shall focus on state prioritized PFAS chemicals when PFAS chemicals are relevant to carrying out the department's duties.

Provides for various tax increment financing neutralization procedures for certain tax increment financing areas. Specifically, provides that for certain tax increment financing districts, in an appeal of the assessed value of a property: (1) the county or township assessor in conjunction with the preliminary informal meeting; or (2) the county board in conjunction with an appeal hearing by the county board; may request a taxpayer to provide income data necessary to determine the assessed value under the income capitalization approach. If requested, a taxpayer shall provide income data within 60 days of the request. Provides that an adopting body must annually, on or before November 10, report to the department of local government finance (DLGF), in a manner determined by the DLGF: (1) the total amount of debt outstanding; (2) the annual amount of debt due for each remaining year the debt will be outstanding; and (3) the estimated payoff year for all debt backed by the local income tax. An adopting body shall provide an indication of all debt obligations outstanding that are not supported by any secondary backing source. Provides that the DLGF shall post the information required on the DLGF's computer gateway. Redefines "residential property" for certain tax increment financing districts. Provides that the DLGF may require a redevelopment commission (and other tax increment financing bodies) to submit required documentation to neutralize the base assessed value. Any supporting documentation the redevelopment commission is required to submit to support the base assessed value neutralization calculation must be completed and submitted to the DLGF by July 15 of each year. Provides that if the redevelopment commission does not submit the required documentation by the deadline in a given year, then 5% of the excess assessed value shall be allocated to the respective taxing units in the year the deadline is missed. Provides that the original owner of each nonowner-occupied residential property subject to the 2% tax cap, that is located in the tax increment financing area and is excluded from the base assessed value, shall upon completion of construction enter into a written agreement with the redevelopment commission indicating the owner shall be obligated to pay the property tax for the portion of outstanding bonds in the tax increment financing district attributable to the property until the term length of the original outstanding bond is retired. Provides that the written agreement with the redevelopment commission shall be considered a lien on the property and shall be included as part of the residential real estate sales disclosure. Provides that if the property is subsequently sold as a homestead property and becomes subject to the 1% tax cap, the new owner shall be responsible for the lien on the property attributable to the written agreement with the redevelopment commission, and the new homestead property owner shall be obligated to fulfill the terms of the written agreement including the payment of the property tax liability included in the agreement. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, for taxing districts that include multiple tax increment financing districts, the original tax increment financing district does not expire and stays active only for the purpose of satisfying outstanding bonds issued by the subsequent tax increment financing district, only if the redevelopment commission completes the following requirements: (1) Provides written appeals to and receives the approval of the DLGF. (2) Provides written notice to the state board of accounts of the appeal.

Makes changes to the duties of the Indiana department of veterans' affairs commission (commission). Makes changes to the duties of the director of the department of veterans' affairs (department). Requires, before January 1, 2026, the commission to establish and maintain certain standards for the state accreditation program. Requires, after June 30, 2026, each service officer employed by a county or city to maintain the accreditation standards to provide service on behalf of the county or city. Provides that a county executive shall employ a service officer and may employ service officer assistants. Provides, that with the approval of the commission, two or more counties may enter into an agreement to employ a service officer if each county demonstrates to the commission that the workload does not justify each county employing a separate county service officer. Requires every county or city official and department of the county or city to cooperate with the service officer and provide the service officer with information necessary in connection with the performance of the service officer's duties.