Sen. Rick Niemeyer

Provides that, subject to the approval of a county adopting body, a fire protection district or a qualified fire protection territory may apply for distributions of tax revenue. Provides that a township that provides fire protection or emergency medical services (other than a township in Marion County) may apply to a county adopting body for a distribution of tax revenue for public safety purposes. Requires the adopting body to conduct a public hearing to review and approve the application. Specifies the method for determining the amount of the distribution to the qualified township.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Judge Edward W. Najam, Jr., for his 30 years of service on the Indiana Court of Appeals.

A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the Indiana federal congressional delegation to support the pro-America, pro-innovation climate solution known as the Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends Plan.

Establishes the Lake County convention and entertainment district fund (fund). Specifies permissible uses for money in the fund. Provides that the Northwest Indiana regional development authority (development authority) administers the fund. Requires the licensed owner of a riverboat operating in Vigo County to pay 0.5% of the riverboat's adjusted gross receipts in a year to the development authority for deposit in the fund for 10 years. Allows the Lake County fiscal body to adopt an increase in the county innkeeper's tax. Provides that part of the revenue from an increase in the county innkeeper's tax must be deposited in the fund. Authorizes the city of Gary to impose a food and beverage tax on transactions occurring in a specified area. Specifies the distribution of the revenue from the food and beverage tax. Allows the Lake County legislative body to adopt an ordinance establishing a convention and entertainment district development area (tax area). Requires the legislative body to make findings when adopting an ordinance. Requires the legislative body to submit an ordinance establishing a tax area to the budget committee and budget agency for review and approval. Allows a tax area to receive incremental state and local income tax revenue and incremental sales tax revenue attributable to the tax area. Provides that the revenue attributable to the tax area must be deposited in the fund. Limits the amount of incremental tax revenue that may be allocated to $8,000,000 per year. Provides that a tax area terminates not later than 20 years after incremental tax revenues are first allocated to the tax area. Changes population parameters to reflect the population count determined under the 2020 decennial census.

A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing the life of Zachary Steven Eckert.

Makes the current offense of carrying a handgun without a license applicable only to persons who are at least 18 years of age but less than 21 years of age. Allows certain persons who are at least 21 years of age to possess or carry a handgun without a license unless the person fits into one of several categories, including a person who: (1) has been convicted of, or arrested for, specified crimes or delinquent offenses; (2) has been prohibited by a court from possessing a handgun or has been found by a court to be dangerous; or (3) has been found by a court to be mentally incompetent, has been involuntarily committed, or has been the subject of a 90 day or regular commitment. Allows certain persons who: (1) do not meet the requirements to receive a license to carry a handgun; and (2) are not otherwise barred from carrying or possessing a handgun by state law; to carry a handgun in specified instances. Makes it a Class A misdemeanor for particular persons to possess or carry a handgun. Increases the penalty to a Level 5 felony in some instances. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming amendments and repeals obsolete provisions. Makes a technical correction.

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

Establishes the Indiana commission on independent electrical contractors (commission). Specifies various forms of electrical work that are not subject to regulation by the commission. Provides for the issuance of a statewide license for independent electrical contractors. Specifies duties and privileges associated with holding a statewide license. Specifies powers and duties of political subdivisions with respect to the statewide license. Provides that the penalty imposed upon a political subdivision that fails to recognize and honor a statewide license is the intercept of part of the local income taxes that would be distributed to the political subdivision.

Provides that medical bills and medical expenses incurred in connection with the alleged injury or death of a patient are excluded from the maximum amount of damages that may be recovered in a medical malpractice action. Increases the amount that a health care provider is liable for in a medical malpractice action from $500,000 to $600,000 after June 30, 2022. Provides that recoverable medical expenses incurred in connection with the injury or death of a patient due from a judgment or settlement in a medical malpractice action shall be paid by the health care provider. Reduces the amount that a plaintiff's attorney may receive in a medical malpractice action from 32% to 25% of any recovery after June 30, 2022.

Requires the owner or operator of a confined feeding operation (CFO, which is defined as an animal feeding operation having at least 300 cattle, 600 swine or sheep, 30,000 fowl, or 500 horses) to annually submit to the department of environmental management (department) a report concerning the operation of the CFO and any satellite manure storage structure associated with the CFO. Requires the department, after receiving a report concerning a CFO, to conduct an onsite inspection of the CFO to verify the information contained in the report. Requires the environmental rules board to adopt rules that: (1) adopt a form to be used by owners or operators of CFOs in submitting annual reports; (2) specify the information concerning a CFO that must be contained in an annual report; and (3) provide for the performance by the department of annual inspections of CFOs.