# Indiana SB 39: Referendum property tax levy for parks.

Indiana SB 39, Referendum property tax levy for parks., is a First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025) Senate bill sponsored by J.D. Ford (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-01-08 (Authored by Senator Ford J.D.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB39-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Indiana SB 39
- State: Indiana
- Session: First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)
- Title: Referendum property tax levy for parks.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-01-08, Authored by Senator Ford J.D.
- Sponsor: J.D. Ford (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: local government
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Allows a municipal legislative body to adopt a resolution to place a referendum on the ballot to impose a capital projects referendum tax levy (capital projects referendum levy) to pay for capital expenditures incurred by the municipal park district. Requires a municipal legislative body to certify a copy of: (1) the resolution to place a referendum for a capital projects referendum levy on the ballot; and (2) the language for the question; to the department of local government finance for review and approval. Specifies that if the voters approve the capital projects referendum levy, the maximum term of the capital projects referendum levy is eight years. Allows a capital projects referendum levy to be reimposed or extended. Provides that during the period beginning with the adoption of a resolution by a municipal legislative body to place a capital projects referendum levy question on the ballot and continuing through the day on which the referendum is submitted to the voters, neither the municipal legislative body nor the municipal park district may promote a position on the referendum by taking certain actions. Provides that specified elected or appointed municipal officials may discuss and personally advocate a position on a capital projects referendum levy outside a park's or park facility's regular operating hours as long as public funds are not used. Sets forth when a referendum is to be held and specifies various duties for the: (1) clerk of the circuit court with respect to the referendum; and (2) county auditor, including: (A) determining the estimated average percentage of property tax increase on property owners in the municipal park district that must be included on the question; and (B) distribution of proceeds attributable to property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum to the municipal park district. Places limitations on: (1) holding successive capital projects referendum levies if a referendum is approved by the voters in a calendar year; and (2) the simultaneous imposition of more than one additional capital projects referendum levy approved in a subsequent referendum when a municipal park district is already imposing a referendum. Requires the municipal park board to establish a capital projects referendum tax levy fund (fund) if the voters approve the capital projects referendum levy. Specifies that money in the fund may be used only for capital expenditures, including the acquisition of land, incurred by the municipal park district.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: J.D. Ford (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (2)

- 2025-01-08: Authored by Senator Ford J.D. (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/SB0039/versions/SB0039.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 324: Criminal procedures. (signed)
- SB 231: Various corrections matters. (signed)
- SB 80: Code publication. (signed)
- SB 453: Various tax matters. (signed)
- SB 464: Financial institutions and consumer credit. (signed)
- SB 371: Workforce matters. (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/SB0039/versions/SB0039.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related
- [SB 324: Criminal procedures.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB324-2025)
- [SB 231: Various corrections matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB231-2025)
- [SB 80: Code publication.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB80-2025)
- [SB 453: Various tax matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB453-2025)
- [SB 464: Financial institutions and consumer credit.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB464-2025)
- [SB 371: Workforce matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB371-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB39-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).