Sen. Chris Garten

Requires the department of natural resources (department) to admit veterans possessing: (1) a driver's license, permit, or identification card containing an indication of their veteran status; or (2) a distinctive license plate designed and issued to a veteran; to state parks, recreational areas, or day facilities under the control of the department without the veteran being charged an admission fee.

Provides that if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency addressed by an executive order, the local order may be less stringent than the executive order to the extent permitted by the executive order. Provides that if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency that is not addressed by an executive order or if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency more stringently than an executive order, the local order may not take effect, or remain in effect, unless the local order is approved by the county legislative body (in the case of a county health department) or by an ordinance adopted by the city legislative body and approved by the mayor (in the case of a city health department). Provides that the appointment of a county health officer is subject to the approval of the county legislative body. Adds other good cause to the reasons for which a local health officer may be removed in counties other than Marion County. Specifies that a local health officer serves until a successor is appointed and qualified. Establishes an appeals process before legislative bodies of enforcement actions taken by local boards of health and local health officers in response to declared state and local public health emergencies.

Amends the administrative orders and procedures act to allow for an initial notice of determination to be served by electronic mail or any other method approved by the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure. (Under current law, the initial notice of determination may be served only by United States mail or personal service.) Repeals provisions concerning the division of planning and assessment, division of preparedness and training, division of emergency response and recovery, and division of fire and building safety (divisions). Assigns all duties of the divisions to the executive director of the department of homeland security (department) or the department generally. Establishes a fire chief executive training program (executive training program). Provides that after January 1, 2022, a newly appointed fire chief of a political subdivision must successfully complete the executive training program within one year of appointment. Provides that a volunteer fire chief is not required to complete the executive training program. Provides that the department of homeland security may allow any of the following individuals to enroll in the executive training program if there is available space in the course: (1) A chief officer. (2) Management level personnel. (3) A volunteer fire chief. (4) A volunteer chief officer. (5) Volunteer management level personnel. Provides that an applicable high school shall comply with all rules of the fire prevention and building safety commission applicable to the primary use of the building. Provides that schools with one or more employees shall create an emergency operations plan regarding unplanned fire alarm activations.

Amends the law requiring a permit and compensatory mitigation for "wetland activity" (the discharge of dredged or fill material) in a state regulated wetland: (1) by changing the definition of "Class II wetland"; (2) by providing that wetland activity may be conducted without a permit: (A) in a Class I wetland; (B) in a Class II wetland with an area of not more than three-eighths acre; (C) in an ephemeral stream; and (D) in a Class II wetland that is located within the boundaries of a municipality and has an area of not more than three-fourths acre; (3) by providing that a permit is not needed for the development of cropland that has been used for agricultural purposes: (A) in the five years immediately preceding the development; or (B) in the 10 years immediately preceding the development if the United States Army Corps of Engineers has issued a jurisdictional determination confirming that the cropland does not contain wetlands subject to federal jurisdiction; (4) by providing that wetland activity in a Class II wetland with an area of more than three-eighths acre requires an individual permit; (5) by providing that: (A) maintenance of a field tile in a Class II wetland can be conducted with a general permit if certain conditions are met; and (B) maintenance of a field tile in a Class III wetland can be conducted with a general permit if certain conditions are met and the applicant obtains a site-specific approval; (6) by establishing conditions for obtaining a site-specific approval; (7) by eliminating the compensatory mitigation requirements for wetland activity in a Class I wetland; and (8) by requiring the department of environmental management (department) to make a decision to issue or deny an individual permit for wetland activity not later than 90 days (instead of 120 days) after receiving the completed application. Amends the law concerning a certification under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act for dredge and fill activity in a federally regulated wetland to require the department to make a final determination not later than 90 days (instead of 120 days) after receiving a completed application if the applicant requests a pre-coordination meeting. Establishes the Indiana wetlands task force, a 14 member body that: (1) is required to study and make recommendations concerning a number of wetlands issues; and (2) not later than November 1, 2022, issue a report to the general assembly and the governor setting forth its recommendations. Requires the department of natural resources to provide staff support to the task force.

Provides that a public school or school corporation may purchase up to $7,500 of food per fiscal year from a youth agricultural education program, subject to certain restrictions and documentation requirements. Provides that the public school or school corporation is not prohibited from purchasing food from a youth agricultural education program under any other procurement requirements.

Establishes the Indiana broadband connectivity program (program) for the purpose of expanding availability of broadband Internet connectivity throughout Indiana. Provides that as part of the program, the office must establish a public broadband portal through which an individual may report that minimum broadband Internet (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 25 megabits per second downstream and at least three megabits per second upstream) is unavailable at the individual's residential or business address. Provides that a broadband Internet provider may: (1) register with the program; (2) receive, at least every three months, listings of addresses submitted to the office as addresses at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable; (3) report to the office any listed address at which the provider's minimum broadband Internet service is already available; and (4) bid for an award of a grant for purposes of extending connectivity to broadband Internet service (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 50 megabits per second downstream and at least five megabits per second upstream) to an address at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable. Provides that in evaluating any bids received under the program, the office shall select the provider whose bid presents the lowest cost to the state. Provides that a grant awarded to a provider under the program may not exceed the following: (1) A per-line extension amount that exceeds $25,000, regardless of the number of addresses served by the line extension. (2) A per-passing amount that exceeds the state's cost per passing for all rural broadband grants awarded from the fund as of the last day of the immediately preceding state fiscal year. Requires the office to provide to the general assembly an annual report containing specified data regarding the program. Provides that the office may maintain a geographic information system (GIS) or similar data base that contains spatial data regarding the availability of broadband Internet service in Indiana. Provides that the office may evaluate the broadband Internet coverage map created by the Federal Communications Commission under the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (FCC map) and: (1) if the office finds that the FCC map: (A) provides address level broadband Internet coverage information; or (B) provides a greater level of detail than the office's broadband Internet coverage map; use the FCC map to update the office's broadband Internet coverage map; or (2) if the office finds that the FCC map does not: (A) provide address level broadband Internet coverage information; or (B) provide a greater level of detail than the office's broadband Internet coverage map; report that finding to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications during the 2022 legislative interim.

Allows a food hall that: (1) is located in a certified technology park; and (2) is not located in a historic district or historic building; to be eligible for a food hall master permit. Provides that a project that: (1) borders a lake that is at least 750 acres; and (2) is within a municipality; is eligible for a municipal riverfront development project retailer's permit. Allows a person who holds: (1) a restaurant permit in an economic development area; and (2) an interest in a brewery, farm winery, or artisan distillery (production facility) located on or adjacent to the restaurant; to sell alcoholic beverages manufactured at the production facility for carryout in the restaurant's general merchandising area and from a self-serving display. Provides that a minor may: (1) be in the restaurant's general merchandising area; and (2) participate in a nondrinking tour of the production facility, if the minor is accompanied by an adult family member.

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.

Amends the definition of the term "manufacturer" to exclude off-road vehicle manufacturers. Amends the term "transport operator" to remove Indiana dealers. Adds transport operators to the term "dealer owner". Defines the term "watercraft dealer". Provides that certain restrictions of use and the required displays of license plates do not apply to tractors, dump trucks, trucks with a rear-mounted forklift, or trucks with a mechanism to carry a rear-mounted forklift or implement. Provides the manner in which transport operators are to replace license plates or registration cards. Reorganizes and amends the transport operator license plate statutes. Provides that the motor vehicle sales advisory board shall be made up of at least six but not more than 11 persons appointed by the governor upon the recommendation of the secretary of state. Establishes that the majority of the current members of the motor vehicle sales advisory board constitutes a quorum for doing business. Provides that offsite sales do not include: (1) manufactured homes within manufactured home communities; (2) manufactured homes already located within manufactured home communities or to be installed in a manufactured home community; and (3) sales made by a dealer that owns and operates a manufactured home community. Establishes that a franchisor is not considered to be competing unfairly or in violation of the law if operating: (1) a business for less than two years; (2) in a bona fide retail operation that is for sale to any qualified independent person at a fair and reasonable price; or (3) in a bona fide relationship in which an independent person has made a significant investment subject to loss in the business operation and can reasonably expect to acquire majority ownership or managerial control of the business on reasonable terms and conditions. Provides that the secretary of state may condition or limit a dealer license, transport operator, or endorsement application if it is in the best interest of the public. Establishes certain requirements for transport operators. Provides that a dealer that is injured by an unfair practice may file a request for declaratory judgment. Makes certain changes to the expiration dates for dealer license plates. Provides that dealers may deliver a motor vehicle to a location other than the dealer's licensed location under certain conditions.

Establishes the electric vehicle product commission.