Sen. Aaron Freeman

Provides that the General Assembly shall meet at the state capital, at a place designated by law, in odd-numbered years, ending on a date that is appointed by law. Provides that the General Assembly may provide by law that it may: (1) convene outside of regular session; and (2) determine the length, frequency, and procedure by which a session outside of regular session may be called to convene. Provides that if the Governor considers that the public welfare requires it, the Governor may request that the General Assembly meet in a special session under procedures that the General Assembly specifies by law.

Requires a school to consider using a more comprehensive expanded criminal history background check for employment. Requires a school that receives a reference request from another school to disclose any known incident in which the employee was: (1) arrested; (2) charged with a criminal offense; (3) convicted of a criminal offense; (4) under court supervision or the supervision of a community correction program as the result of a conviction for a criminal offense (including being placed on home detention, work release, or intermittent incarceration); (5) the subject of a protection order; or (6) named as a defendant in a civil action if the civil action could affect the safety of students. Prohibits a school from hiring an employee involved in specified acts or incidents without a majority vote of the school board (or equivalent for a charter or nonpublic school), and provides that, if a school hires an employee involved in specified acts or incidents, the school shall: (1) notify the department of education in writing of the hiring; (2) explain why the hiring was necessary; and (3) set forth the school's plan to protect the safety of students in light of the act or incident.

Provides a city court concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court in civil cases in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $10,000. Makes a technical correction and conforming changes.

Provides that a session of the general assembly shall adjourn sine die not later than November 1 of the year in which it convenes. Provides that the sessions of the general assembly are considered to adjourn sine die, by operation of law, on November 1 of each year, if the general assembly has not adjourned sine die on an earlier date of that year. Provides that the "prohibited period" during which campaign fundraising may not occur by candidates for election to the general assembly and for state offices ends on the earlier of: (1) May 1; or (2) the date the budget bill for the following budget period is approved by the governor. (Under current law, the prohibited period ends the day the general assembly adjourns sine die in an odd-numbered year.) Provides that, unless otherwise specifically provided by a statute to the contrary, an executive order issued by the governor expires 30 calendar days after the executive order is issued. Provides that a state of disaster emergency declared by the governor may not continue for longer than 30 days unless the state of disaster emergency is specifically renewed by a statute enacted by the general assembly. Provides that certain health orders issued by political subdivisions expire 30 days after they are issued. Repeals the statutes providing for technical sessions and the emergency sessions statute.

Establishes a special prosecuting attorney unit as a division of the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana (IPAC) to: (1) take special prosecutor appointments; and (2) increase the number of qualified special prosecutors. Establishes the Indiana prosecuting attorney commission as a division of IPAC to: (1) make recommendations to the general assembly concerning staffing for prosecuting services; (2) adopt guidelines and standards for attorney services; and (3) provide reimbursement to counties for expenses incurred in connection with attorney services. Makes conforming amendments.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Indiana's women veterans.

Changes the name of the motor vehicle sales advisory board to the Indiana motor vehicle board (board). Fixes board membership at 11 persons appointed to the board. Provides that four appointed members must represent the general public and must not have any direct interest in the manufacture or sale of motor vehicles, but must have experience with, or knowledge of, the motor vehicle industry. Provides that if there is a vacancy on the board, the governor may appoint upon the recommendation of the secretary a member who represents the general public. Provides that an unfilled vacancy on the board does not impair the right of the board from exercising the powers of the board. Provides that a member of the board may not participate in a vote on a proceeding of the board in which the member has a financial or other vested interest. Provides that a member of the board may participate in and vote only on a proceeding in which the member has general interest in the outcome. Sets forth the powers of the board to enforce certain causes of action. Provides for a private right of action for a consumer or motor vehicle dealer against a manufacturer, a distributor, or a motor vehicle dealer subject to a proceeding of the board.

Increases the acquisition cost threshold for the business personal property tax exemption from $80,000 to $250,000.

Requires the plaintiff in a residential eviction action to file a motion to dismiss the action if the case is resolved between the parties at any time before final adjudication, unless the plaintiff is seeking damages. Provides that if, at any time after an eviction action is filed, no action has been taken by the plaintiff to further prosecute the case for a period of at least 180 days, the court shall send to the parties written notice: (1) stating the date of the most recent action taken by the plaintiff in the case; and (2) directing the plaintiff to take action to either: (A) further prosecute the case; or (B) dismiss the case; not later than 10 business days after the date of the notice. Provides that if the plaintiff fails to take any action within the prescribed time: (1) the defendant may petition the court to dismiss the case; or (2) the court on its own motion may dismiss the case. Provides that a residential eviction diversion program may not be offered or operated on a statewide or local basis unless participation in the program is voluntary for all parties. Requires: (1) the Indiana housing and community development authority; and (2) any political subdivision that distributes rental assistance funds made available by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; to create a designated landlord application process, in addition to the tenant application process, not later than August 31, 2022. Requires, upon motion of the tenant, the court in which an eviction action is filed to order the clerk of the court and the operator of any state, regional, or local case management system not to disclose or permit disclosure of any records in the case, subject to certain exceptions, if any of the following occur: (1) The action is dismissed. (2) A judgment in favor of the tenant is entered. (3) A judgment against the tenant is later overturned or vacated on appeal. Provides that if: (1) an eviction action, regardless of when it was filed, results in one of the specified outcomes allowing for the nondisclosure of records in the action; and (2) the court does not issue an order prohibiting the disclosure of any records in the action; the tenant in the action may petition the court in which the eviction action was filed to issue an order prohibiting the disclosure of any records in the action in accordance with the bill's provisions. Provides that upon the filing of such a petition, the court may: (1) issue an order prohibiting the disclosure of any records in the action; or (2) set the matter for a hearing. Provides that the petitioner bears the burden of proof in any hearing set by the court. Requires the clerk of court or other court administrator to: (1) track all eviction actions with respect to which a nondisclosure order is issued by the court; and (2) furnish the data compiled in the statutorily required statistical data provided to the office of judicial administration (office), as prescribed by the office. Requires the office to include the data provided by the courts in the Indiana Judicial Report.

Sets forth procedures for the distribution of assets in a solvent supervised estate after a final distribution has been entered in certain circumstances. Allows a distributee to distribute assets described in the decree of final distribution by filing an affidavit with the court. Provides that undistributed real property may be distributed after the estate is closed by recording certain information with the county recorder of the county in which the real property is situated. Allows a personal representative to complete distribution and delivery of all undistributed estate assets to continue for a period of 90 days after a court enters an order of discharge under certain circumstances.