IndianaHB 1641First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)HouseWALLET

County government matters.

Sponsored By: Jennifer Meltzer (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Allows an executive session to be held to communicate with an attorney, subject to the attorney client privilege. Excludes conveyances to a unit from the definition of a "conveyance document". Amends requirements for local ordinances concerning the operation of a golf cart or an off-road vehicle. Provides that if a body is to be transported by common carrier, the person in charge of interment shall secure a burial transit permit in duplicate from certain individuals. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation may enter into a public-private agreement for the construction or renovation of school buildings under the statutes governing public-private agreements. Provides that certain fees collected by the county recorder are deposited in the county recorder's records perpetuation fund. Provides that a fee for recording a mortgage assumption is the same as the fee for recording a mortgage. Prohibits a county employee from taking action on a county contract, unless permitted by a county ordinance. Amends the definition of "residential property" used for an allocation area established after June 30, 2025. Provides that, after June 30, 2025, no action shall be brought with respect to jail or prison conditions under state law by an offender until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted.

local governmentthe senatetax and fiscal policy

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.

Free benefit records for military families

Beginning July 1, 2025, Indiana state and county recorders must provide one certified copy free for qualifying benefit requests. The requester must show the copy is needed to secure federal or state benefits. Benefits must be for a service member, honorably discharged veteran, or their surviving spouse or dependent.

Public bodies can close privileged discussions

Beginning July 1, 2025, Indiana public governing bodies can meet privately to communicate with an attorney. The communications must be protected by attorney-client privilege.

Recorder fees support county record preservation

All Indiana county recorders must deposit specified recorder fees into their records perpetuation fund. The fund can pay for preserving records and improving record systems and equipment.

Higher fees for recording assumed mortgages

Beginning July 1, 2025, Indiana treats recorded mortgage assumptions as mortgages for recording fees. Recording an assumed mortgage costs $55 instead of $25. That adds $30 for each recorded mortgage assumption.

Operator requirements for locally regulated carts

Beginning July 1, 2025, local golf cart and off-road vehicle ordinances must set minimum operator qualifications. Operators must have a driver's license, or be at least 16 years and 180 days old with an identification card. A photo-exempt identification card also qualifies for the age-based option. This rule applies when a city, county, or town ordinance regulates the vehicle's operation.

Prisoners must finish complaints before suing

Offenders must complete available administrative complaint procedures before bringing state-law claims about jail or prison conditions. The requirement applies to conditions after June 30, 2025. The provision took effect upon enactment.

New home-value rules for redevelopment taxes

The law changes residential-value calculations for tax allocation areas created after June 30, 2025. These areas use home values assigned to the county tax system's 1% homestead land and improvement categories. The definition drops residential values used to calculate the local income tax property tax relief credit rate. The supplied provision does not establish whether household tax bills rise or fall.

Counties face new transaction approval rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, the county land transaction threshold for fiscal-body ordinance approval rises from $1,000 to $50,000. Land purchases and conveyances worth $50,000 or more still need an ordinance setting their terms and conditions. County employees can act on county contracts only when a county ordinance permits it. The employee restriction does not apply to county officers.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jennifer Meltzer

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Zimmerman

    Republican • House

  • Doug Miller

    Republican • House

  • Eric Koch

    Republican • Senate

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Scott Alexander

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 222 • No: 6

House vote • 4/17/2025

House concurred with Senate amendments

Yes: 83 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 45 • No: 2

House vote • 2/17/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 94 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 181

    5/1/2025House
  2. Signed by the Governor

    5/1/2025House
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/23/2025Senate
  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    4/22/2025Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    4/21/2025House
  6. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 498: yeas 83, nays 1

    4/17/2025House
  7. Motion to concur filed

    4/17/2025House
  8. Returned to the House with amendments

    4/16/2025Senate
  9. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 448: yeas 45, nays 2

    4/15/2025Senate
  10. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    4/14/2025Senate
  11. Amendment #2 (Bohacek) prevailed; voice vote

    4/14/2025Senate
  12. Amendment #1 (Koch) prevailed; voice vote

    4/14/2025Senate
  13. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    4/8/2025Senate
  14. Senator Randolph added as cosponsor

    4/8/2025Senate
  15. Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy

    3/20/2025Senate
  16. First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

    3/3/2025Senate
  17. Referred to the Senate

    2/18/2025House
  18. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 189: yeas 94, nays 3

    2/17/2025House
  19. Senate sponsors: Senators Koch and Alexander

    2/17/2025House
  20. Representative Miller D added as coauthor

    2/13/2025House
  21. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/13/2025House
  22. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/11/2025House
  23. Authored by Representative Meltzer

    1/21/2025House
  24. Coauthored by Representative Zimmerman

    1/21/2025House
  25. First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

    1/21/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed House Bill (H)

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation