IndianaSB 163Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)SenateWALLET

Various property tax matters.

Sponsored By: Linda Rogers (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Provides that a county board or assessing official shall not enter a property to conduct a physical inspection without first receiving the permission of the taxpayer to enter the property. Provides that under specific circumstances, that an individual may serve as a tax representative of any taxpayer concerning property subject to property taxes. Changes the expiration date for the county option circuit breaker tax credit. Describes elements that must be included in a report that must be prepared by the department of local government finance and presented to an interim study committee regarding automated valuation systems.

tax and fiscal policythe houseways and means

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Counties can offer property tax relief

Counties can create neighborhood enhancement districts, including countywide districts, and offer property tax credits to qualifying property owners there. Each ordinance must identify district boundaries and set applicable income limits and a tax-liability increase percentage between 2% and 5%. That percentage helps calculate the credit; it is not a flat discount on your tax bill. Counties must use the same income limits, credit amounts, and eligibility rules across their districts. Ordinances take effect January 1 after adoption; credits exclude taxes first due and payable after December 31, 2028. The chapter expires January 1, 2029.

Property owners gain assessment appeal protections

For tangible property appeals, informal-meeting and county-board decisions generally cannot raise the value above the original value being appealed. Exceptions cover increases tied to substantial renovation, new improvements, zoning changes, or changes in use. You do not need an appraisal to start or pursue an appeal. A certified appraisal is presumed correct when it follows national professional standards, is commissioned for the appeal, addresses the owner or assessor, and values the property as of the assessment date. The board can obtain a third-party certified appraisal to contest it, but must weigh relevant evidence and stay within the appraisal range presented. Parties retain the right to a fresh review by the Indiana Board of Tax Review. During an appeal, officials cannot physically inspect your property without permission, and the county board cannot order entry without permission.

Project tax credit applications stay open

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana extends its qualified-project state tax credit application period to include applications submitted before January 1, 2033. Applicants and projects must qualify under the program. Total awards remain capped at $30 million for each state fiscal year beginning after June 30, 2023, and before July 1, 2033. The authority can allocate credits when applications exceed, or are expected to exceed, that limit. The credit chapter expires July 1, 2033.

Missed tax hearings risk $50 penalties

The county assessor can charge $50 per missed appeal hearing when you or your representative fail to appear. The penalty applies when a delay request was denied or a required delay, no-hearing decision, or withdrawal request was late. You can appeal the penalty to the Indiana Board of Tax Review or directly to the tax court. The penalty cannot be added to your property tax statement.

Taxpayers face new appeal representative rules

Tax officials generally cannot represent taxpayers before county or state tax-review boards about property in the official's county, paid or unpaid. Contractors are exempt unless they personally and substantially helped assess the property. Former assessors and covered former staff or contractors face restrictions involving assessments they personally and substantially helped make in the relevant county or township. Owners can still appear about their own property. Owners can appoint an uncertified relative using the state form for county-board or Department of Local Government Finance matters, but not state-board appeals. Level 2 assessor-appraisers can represent taxpayers before county boards; Level 3 assessor-appraisers can also appear before the Indiana Board of Tax Review. They need a signed agreement and written authorization on the state form, filed with the appeal notice and lasting no more than one year.

Taxpayers get appeal deadlines and duties

Assessment and deduction appeals begin with a required informal meeting, where taxpayers and relevant officials must exchange supporting information for each issue. Later information must also be shared; new information first presented at the county hearing requires a delay unless the recipient waives it. County boards must hold hearings within 180 days of filing and mail at least 30 days' notice, including to known representatives. Boards must grant written delay requests filed at least 10 days before the hearing when there is good cause. You can request a decision without a hearing in writing at least 20 days ahead. You can withdraw in writing at least 10 days ahead, but the assessment stays unchanged and you lose further state-board appeal rights. If no county decision is issued within 180 days, you can appeal to the Indiana Board of Tax Review.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Linda Rogers

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Blake Doriot

    Republican • Senate

  • Brian Buchanan

    Republican • Senate

  • Craig Snow

    Republican • House

  • Doug Miller

    Republican • House

  • Fady Qaddoura

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Buck

    Republican • Senate

  • Kyle Walker

    Republican • Senate

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Gaskill

    Republican • Senate

  • Rick Niemeyer

    Republican • Senate

  • Rodney Pol

    Democratic • Senate

  • Scott Baldwin

    Republican • Senate

  • Timothy O'Brien

    Republican • House

  • Travis Holdman

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 188 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/25/2026

Senate concurred with House amendments

Yes: 46 • No: 0

House vote • 2/23/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 94 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/28/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 48 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    3/5/2026Senate
  2. Public Law 114

    3/5/2026Senate
  3. Signed by the Speaker

    2/27/2026House
  4. Signed by the President of the Senate

    2/27/2026Senate
  5. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    2/27/2026Senate
  6. Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 277: yeas 46, nays 0

    2/25/2026Senate
  7. Motion to concur filed

    2/24/2026Senate
  8. Returned to the Senate with amendments

    2/24/2026House
  9. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 304: yeas 94, nays 0

    2/23/2026House
  10. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/19/2026House
  11. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/17/2026House
  12. First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means

    2/2/2026House
  13. Referred to the House

    1/29/2026Senate
  14. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 120: yeas 48, nays 0

    1/28/2026Senate
  15. House sponsor: Representative Snow

    1/28/2026Senate
  16. Cosponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Miller D

    1/28/2026Senate
  17. Senator Buck added as coauthor

    1/28/2026Senate
  18. Amendment #2 (Rogers) prevailed; voice vote

    1/27/2026Senate
  19. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    1/27/2026Senate
  20. Senators Gaskill, Niemeyer, Walker K added as coauthors

    1/22/2026Senate
  21. Senator Holdman added as third author

    1/22/2026Senate
  22. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    1/20/2026Senate
  23. Senator Pol added as coauthor

    1/20/2026Senate
  24. Senators Doriot, Baldwin, Qaddoura, Randolph added as coauthors

    1/15/2026Senate
  25. Senator Buchanan added as second author

    1/6/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (H)

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (S)

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