Sen. Brian Buchanan

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 18) is a ceremonial measure honoring Bonnie McNair and Lauren Hackert. It does not create new laws or affect policy; instead, it formally recognizes their contributions through a Senate resolution. The resolution was introduced by Senator Goode and adopted unanimously by voice vote on February 3, 2025, with broad bipartisan support from 40+ senators. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding effect or direct impact on constituents or legislation.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative Senate Resolution (SR 2) honoring Senator Mark Messmer for his service in the Indiana Senate upon his retirement. It formally recognizes his contributions through a symbolic gesture adopted by the full Senate via voice vote on February 3, 2025. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policy; it is a procedural acknowledgment of his retirement.

Provides a calculation to be used in determining the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy and resulting tax rate for taxes first due and payable in 2026 and 2027, to cap the increase in the levy and tax rates based on a ratio comparison of each civil taxing unit's maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy to net assessed value in 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors Senator David Vinzant upon his retirement from the Senate. It was adopted unanimously by the Senate on January 27, 2025, as a formal recognition of his service. The resolution does not create new policies or affect any constituents - it serves solely as a ceremonial tribute.

Raises the acquisition cost threshold for purposes of the personal property tax exemption from $80,000 to $250,000. Limits the ability to seek an excess levy appeal to those units that have experienced a year over year population increase of 5% or more. Caps the allowable increase in the amount of property taxes first due and payable on a homestead in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Provides, beginning in 2027, that the office of the county assessor is an appointive office rather than an elective office. Specifies that the county executive shall appoint an individual to the office of the county assessor. Includes provisions to manage the conversion of the office of the county assessor to an appointive office upon the abolition of the office as an elective office.

Provides that: (1) a public utility that provides electric utility service in Indiana (public utility) may not enter into an agreement to sell a coal fired electric generation facility (coal facility) that the public utility plans to retire unless the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) approves the agreement; and (2) a person that purchases from a public utility, under an agreement approved by the IURC, a coal facility that the public utility plans to retire is not a public utility for purposes of IURC jurisdiction solely by reason of the person's operation of the coal facility. Provides that the rates and charges of a public utility, other than a cooperatively owned public utility, may not include any recovery of, or earnings on, the capital costs associated with the construction of an electric generation facility that is built, in whole or in part, to replace the electricity generated from a coal facility retired by the public utility after December 31, 2028, unless the IURC determines that the public utility: (1) made a good faith effort to sell the coal facility to another person; and (2) either: (A) accepted a reasonable offer to purchase the coal facility; or (B) was not able to sell the coal facility for a reason beyond the public utility's reasonable control. Sets forth factors the IURC must consider in determining whether: (1) the public utility made a good faith effort to sell the coal facility; and (2) an offer to purchase a coal facility was reasonable. Provides that the IURC may preapprove a procedure for a public utility's solicitation and review of offers for purchase of a coal facility the public utility plans to retire that, if used by a public utility to sell the coal facility, satisfies the requirements for: (1) a good faith effort to sell the coal facility; and (2) acceptance of a reasonable offer for the coal facility. Provides that, subject to certain conditions, the IURC shall require a public utility, other than a cooperatively owned public utility, to purchase electricity generated by a coal facility that: (1) was acquired from a public utility through an agreement approved by the IURC; and (2) but for the sale of the coal facility, would have been retired by the public utility. Provides that prior to the proposed retirement date for a coal facility, the IURC may determine the avoided cost and other terms and conditions for the purchase of electricity from the coal facility in order to allow potential purchasers of the coal facility to know this information before entering into an agreement to purchase the coal facility.

Makes certain changes to the qualification requirements and credit amount for the over 65 circuit breaker credit. Makes certain changes to the qualification requirements and deduction amount for the property tax deduction for disabled veterans who are either totally disabled or at least 62 years of age with a partial disability.

Maddy summarySB 7 amends the capitalization rate used to determine property taxes for agricultural land statewide. This change directly affects farmers and ranchers who own land assessed under the agricultural land base rate. The bill modifies the specific percentage calculation method used to value agricultural land for tax purposes. It does not create new programs or change land use rules, only adjusting the tax assessment formula.

Provides that: (1) a referendum authorizing a school corporation to impose property taxes to pay debt service on bonds or lease rentals on a lease for a specified controlled project; (2) a school corporation operating referendum tax levy; or (3) a school corporation school safety referendum tax levy; may be placed on the ballot only at a primary election conducted in a general election year or a general election. Provides that a school corporation may not adopt a resolution to place an operating referendum or school safety referendum on the ballot during the second calendar year after the final calendar year in which a previously approved operating referendum levy or school safety referendum levy is imposed. Provides that in a local public question, a school corporation must provide the total amount of property tax revenue expected to be collected each year.

Requires (instead of allows) the state board of education (state board) to approve an application to waive compliance with certain provisions requested by a school or group of schools under the performance based accreditation law. Requires the state board to do the following: (1) Review each compliance waiver request at least once every three years (instead of periodically). (2) Suspend or revoke a compliance waiver if the state board determines that the school or group of schools has not demonstrated an improvement in student academic performance.