Sen. Tim Lanane

A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing the life of Zachary Steven Eckert.

Amends the definition of "animal fighting paraphernalia" for purposes of the law governing offenses relating to animals.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Indiana's women veterans.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator Karen Tallian upon her retirement from the Indiana Senate.

Increases the state income tax exemption from $1,000 to $2,500 for an individual, and from $1,000 to $2,500 for each spouse in the case of a joint return. Exempts the first $15,000 of adjusted gross income from the state income tax.

Makes various changes to the statutes governing land banks that concern certain land bank powers, objectives, and duties. Provides (except in a county containing a consolidated city) that only a majority of directors appointed to the board of a land bank must be residents of the county, second class city, or third class city. Provides, in the case of a land bank created by an interlocal agreement, that only a majority of the members of the board of the land bank must be residents of the applicable eligible units that establish the land bank. Provides that a land bank may establish advisory committees composed of specified community members to consult with and advise the land bank on: (1) properties within the territory of the land bank that are imposing the greatest harm on residents and neighborhoods; (2) resident and neighborhood priorities for new uses of land bank properties; and (3) options for potential transferees of land bank properties. Provides, subject to certain limitations, that a land bank may use an interlocal agreement to establish processes to improve the quality of title and marketability of property the land bank owns to extinguish any liens that exist on the property. Provides that, if a land bank enters into an interlocal agreement, any employees of an eligible unit who may be contracted to provide staffing services to the land bank pursuant to the interlocal agreement retain their status as public employees of the eligible unit. Allows a county fiscal body in a county in which there is at least one land bank (except in a county containing a consolidated city) to adopt an ordinance requiring every person who wishes to participate in a tax sale as a bidder to pay a neighborhood investment fee of not more than $150. Provides that, if a county fiscal body adopts an ordinance authorizing the imposition of a neighborhood investment fee, the county treasurer shall establish the neighborhood investment fee fund (fund) and specifies the manner in which neighborhood investment fees collected are to be distributed from the fund to land banks. Allows a county fiscal body in a county in which there is at least one land bank (except in a county containing a consolidated city) to adopt an ordinance to impose, in addition to the 5% penalty for delinquent real property taxes, an additional penalty of not more than 3% for a total penalty that may not exceed 8% of the amount of delinquent real property taxes (additional penalty ordinance). Provides that delinquent tax payments attributable to real property used as a principal place of residence and receiving the homestead standard deduction for the most recent assessment date are exempt from an additional penalty ordinance. Specifies the manner in which the amounts collected attributable to an additional penalty imposed on delinquent real property taxes are to be distributed to land banks.

Requires the Indiana University Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs to: (1) assess the potential for the development of low-carbon and green industries in Indiana and the job creation, economic growth, and wealth generation that could result for Indiana communities from the development of these industries; and (2) report the results of its assessment to the legislative council in an electronic format not later than December 1, 2022.

Extends certain antidiscrimination and civil rights statutes to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. Provides that every discriminatory practice relating to the acquisition or sale of real estate, education, public accommodations, employment, or the extending of credit is considered unlawful unless it is specifically exempted.

Provides that a qualifying farmer may apply to a designating body to have an area designated as an urban agricultural zone. Provides that the term "urban agricultural zone" does not include rooftop gardening or farming practices that occur on the top of a building or residential home. Provides that a designating body, before designating an area as an urban agricultural zone, must hold a public hearing and allow for public comment. Provides that a designating body may exempt lands located partially or wholly within an urban agricultural zone from property taxation. Specifies that a designating body may not impose a special benefit tax for public services provided to an urban agricultural zone, unless the designating body imposed the special benefit tax before it designated the area as an urban agricultural zone.

Requires the Indiana department of transportation (INDOT) to create a broadband corridor program (dig once program) to manage the location, installation, and maintenance of communications infrastructure that is used for the provision of broadband services and is located within the rights-of-way of limited access highways. Requires INDOT to adopt policies, procedures, and standards under the dig once program for required installation of fiber conduit by a public or private entity that performs an excavation within a limited access highway right-of-way.