Bills & Legislation

School wellness grant fund.

Establishes the school wellness grant fund (fund) to provide grants to school corporations to support local wellness initiatives developed by the school corporation. Requires the department of education to develop criteria to award grants from the fund. Makes an appropriation.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Rental rate increase control.

Prohibits a landlord from increasing the gross rental rate for certain rental units more than the lesser of: (1) 5%, plus the percentage cost of living increase; or (2) 10%; of the lowest gross rental rate charged for the rental unit during the 12 months prior to the effective date of the increase. Prohibits a landlord from increasing the gross rental rate in more than two increments over a 12 month period. Requires the legislative services agency to submit a report to the general assembly not later than July 1, 2030, analyzing the impact of the rental rate cap on the housing market in Indiana.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Licensure of home health aides.

Provides for the licensure of home health aides by the Indiana department of health (state department). Establishes certain training and competency evaluation requirements for licensed home health aides. Requires the state department to include licensed home health aides in the registry of nurse aides. Makes a technical correction.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Renter's tax deduction for disabled veterans.

Allows a disabled veteran who rents a dwelling as a principal place of residence to claim an additional renter's deduction of up to $3,000 from the disabled veteran's adjusted gross income.

Becky CashRepublican

Participation in the 287(g) program.

Requires each sheriff with regard to a county jail to: (1) enter into a written agreement with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in the immigration program established under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act not later than January 1, 2026; and (2) beginning October 1, 2025, notify the department of correction quarterly of the status of a written agreement and any reason for noncompliance.

Ryan LauerRepublican

529 college savings distributions.

Excludes from Indiana adjusted gross income distributions made from a 529 college choice education savings plan (529 account) that are not used to pay qualified higher education expenses but that satisfy each of the requirements under Section 126 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. Provides that such distributions are not subject to the: (1) penalty provisions established by the board of directors of the Indiana education savings authority; or (2) repayment provisions for the income tax credit for contributions to an individual's 529 account.

J.D. PrescottRepublican

Bias crimes.

Adds gender identity to the definition of "bias crime".

Renee PackDemocrat

Military relief fund.

Provides that, for purposes of receiving a grant from the military relief fund, eligibility criteria shall be based on the financial need of the applicant regardless of the applicant's income or assets.

Renee PackDemocrat

Decriminalization of marijuana.

Decriminalizes possession of two ounces or less of marijuana.

Heath VanNatterRepublican

Eviction assistance grant program.

Establishes a grant program to provide grants to counties, cities, towns, or townships (local units) for the funding of eviction related services for tenants facing an eviction action. Authorizes local units to apply for grants. Requires the Indiana housing and community development authority to administer the grant program. Makes an appropriation.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Expansion of produce Rx pilot grant program.

Makes an appropriation to the Indiana department of health for the purpose of expanding the produce Rx pilot grant program.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Coverage for obesity treatments.

Requires a state employee health plan to provide coverage for anti-obesity medication and intensive behavioral and lifestyle therapy for an eligible individual.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

School corporation reorganization.

Provides that, if more than 50% of students who have legal settlement in a school corporation were enrolled in a school that is not operated by the school corporation on the 2024 fall average daily membership count date, the school corporation must be dissolved and all public schools of the school corporation must be transitioned to operating as charter schools. Establishes a new governing board, requirements, and procedures regarding the dissolution and reorganization of the applicable school corporations.

Jake TeshkaRepublican

Property tax deduction information.

Requires the department of local government finance (department), in a manner determined by the department, to include on every real property tax statement educational information regarding the eligibility and procedures for the over 65 property tax deduction and for various property tax deductions available to veterans.

Ethan LawsonRepublican

Governance of public-private agreements.

Requires a governmental body to hold a public comment hearing regarding the necessity of a qualifying project prior to issuing a request for proposal or a request for quotation for the qualifying project. After the governmental body selects the operator, but before the operator begins developing or operating the qualifying project, requires: (1) the governmental body to consult with an external entity that specializes in public financial planning; (2) the external entity to produce a report that verifies the financial feasability of the qualifying project; and (3) that the report be made available to the public. Provides that for both performance and payment bonds, the amount must be an amount not less than 100% of the cost to design and construct the qualifying project. Requires the governmental body and the operator to provide full disclosure in the public-private agreement and to the public of any imputed interest rate regarding the qualifying project. Requires the governmental body to report to the department of local government finance the amount and duration of any availability payment related to the qualifying project.

Dave HeineRepublican

Biofuel tax credits.

Provides tax credits for: (1) the sale of higher ethanol blend; and (2) the: (A) sale of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel; and (B) blending of biodiesel or renewable diesel. Provides that the amount of the higher ethanol blend tax credit is $0.05 per gallon of higher ethanol blend sold at the taxpayer's fueling station. Provides that the total amount of higher ethanol blend tax credits that may be awarded for a state fiscal year may not exceed $10,000,000. Provides that the amount of the tax credit for blended biodiesel or renewable diesel is computed as follows: (1) $0.05 per gallon of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel of at least 5% but not more than 10%: (A) sold at the taxpayer's fueling station; or (B) sold by a distributor directly to the final user. (2) $0.10 per gallon of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel that is more than 10% but not more than 20%: (A) sold at the taxpayer's fueling station; or (B) sold by a distributor directly to the final user. (3) $0.18 per gallon of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel that is more than 20%: (A) sold at the taxpayer's fueling station; or (B) sold by a distributor directly to the final user. (4) For a person who blends biodiesel or renewable diesel the product of: (A) $0.035; multiplied by (B) the number of gallons of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel that is more than 5% and produced by blending biodiesel or renewable diesel at a terminal located in Indiana. Provides that the tax credit for blended biodiesel or renewable diesel is refundable. Provides that the total amount of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel tax credits that may be awarded for a state fiscal year may not exceed $5,000,000.

Dave HeineRepublican

Offender against children residency restrictions.

Provides that an offender against children who: (1) is required to register as a sex offender for life; and (2) knowingly or intentionally resides within 1,000 feet of certain areas owned, maintained, and governed by a homeowners association or property owner's association; commits a sex offender residency offense, a Level 6 felony.

Julie OlthoffRepublican

Ban on gratuities for public officials.

Makes it a Class A misdemeanor for: (1) a person to offer a payment to a public servant as a reward for an official act taken by the public servant; or (2) a public servant to solicit or accept a payment as a reward for an official act performed by the public servant. Increases the penalty to a Level 6 felony if the fair market value of the reward is at least $750. Exempts: (1) a good or service that is subject to a reporting requirement or otherwise authorized by an applicable rule or code of ethics; (2) a good or service with a value of less than $100; (3) commemorative or ceremonial items, such as plaques, trophies, or framed photos; (4) lawful political contributions; and (5) wages and other forms of work related compensation from the governmental entity employing the public servant that the public servant is legally permitted to receive.

Harold SlagerRepublican

Use of aerial photography.

Requires an insurer that provides property insurance coverage to a named insured to take certain actions when the insurer uses aerial images to aid in its determination to not renew property insurance coverage for a named insured.

Matt LehmanRepublican

Towing service rates.

Requires a tow truck operator to provide an owner of a vehicle, if the owner is present at the time of a tow, with a rate sheet listing the cost and charging rate for each service. Provides that assessing a cost or charging a rate in excess of the applicable cost or charging rate displayed on a rate sheet constitutes a deceptive act. Requires a rate sheet to be displayed at a towing company's place of business and provided to any patron or customer upon request.

Matt LehmanRepublican

Maximum practical parenting time.

Requires a court in certain circumstances to make decisions to promote continuity of relationship by both parents with the child through maximum practical parenting time with each parent. Provides that the ability of the parties to encourage the sharing of love, affection, and contact between the child and the other party is a permissible factor to consider in weighing the best interests of a child. Provides that: (1) parents must be encouraged to develop the parents' own parenting plans and parenting time calendars, but if the parents cannot agree to a part of the plan, the court shall provide the required components according to the best interests of the child; (2) if the parents cannot agree at all, the parenting time guidelines apply; and (3) the court must make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law on the record to support any deviation of parenting time that falls below the minimum standards in the parenting time guidelines.

Heath VanNatterRepublican

Limited liability for obstacle course operators.

Provides that a governmental entity operating an activity on land leased by the governmental entity from the federal government is entitled to certain immunities from a tort claim. Expands the definition of "extreme sport area" to include an obstacle course.

Peggy MayfieldRepublican

Sex crimes committed by law enforcement officer.

Provides that the state may seek an enhancement to the sentence of a sex offense committed by a law enforcement officer. Provides that for purposes of the sentence enhancement, the definition of "law enforcement officer" includes a school resource officer or school corporation police officer.

John BartlettDemocrat

Licensure of sonographers.

Specifies that the term "radiation" includes sound waves commonly used for sonography. Prohibits a person from performing sonography unless the person is licensed by the Indiana department of health.

Maureen BauerDemocrat

Joint child custody.

Provides that a court shall order: (1) joint physical custody of a child unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that joint physical custody is not in the child's best interests; and (2) joint legal custody of a child unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that joint legal custody is not in the child's best interests. Requires a court that does not order joint physical custody or joint legal custody to issue written findings of fact and conclusions of law on which the order is based. Provides that a parent's knowing false allegation to a court in a child custody proceeding that the other parent abused or neglected the child is: (1) a factor the court shall consider in determining custody of the child; and (2) a ground for modification of a child custody order. Requires the office of judicial administration (office) to annually publish on the office's website statistics regarding the number and proportion of child custody orders issued in the immediately preceding calendar year for: (1) joint physical custody; (2) a physical custody arrangement other than joint physical custody; (3) joint legal custody; and (4) a legal custody arrangement other than joint legal custody.

Victoria Garcia WilburnDemocrat

Lane expansion of I-70.

Requires the Indiana department of transportation to take action necessary to construct one or more additional lanes of traffic across Indiana for: (1) eastbound; and (2) westbound; Interstate Highway 70 in areas of Interstate Highway 70 where there are four lanes of traffic. Makes an appropriation.

Tonya PfaffDemocrat

Protection of property rights.

Defines "squatter" as an individual who occupies the residential real property of another and who does not have and has never had: (1) a rental agreement; (2) permission of the owner; or (3) another legal interest in the residential real property; authorizing the individual to occupy the residential real property. Provides that under certain circumstances, a property owner may obtain an expedited removal of a squatter from the property owner's residential real property.

Jim PresselRepublican

Remediation of tax sale parcels.

Permits a county treasurer to require purchasers of designated parcels of real property that are: (1) located in a consolidated city; and (2) subject to tax sale, and purchased at or as a separate part of a tax sale; to submit remediation plans describing how the purchasers will bring the parcels of real property into compliance with a building code or ordinance of a consolidated city after the redemption period ends.

Justin MoedDemocrat

Elimination of lower speed limit for trucks.

Increases the maximum speed limit for a vehicle having a declared gross weight greater than 26,000 pounds from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour when the vehicle is operated on a highway that is: (1) on the national system of interstate and defense highways located outside an urbanized area with a population of at least 50,000; or (2) the responsibility of the Indiana finance authority. Reconciles the conflicting provisions regarding the maximum speed limit in an alley.

Mike AylesworthRepublican

Road funding.

Provides that the amounts currently distributed from the motor vehicle highway account and the local road and street account to counties, cities, and towns based upon the proportionate share of road and street mileage shall instead be distributed based on the proportionate share of road and street vehicle miles traveled. Provides that the Indiana department of transportation shall establish guidelines outlining the procedures required to determine vehicle miles traveled.

Justin MoedDemocrat

Sale of bureau of motor vehicles information.

Prohibits the bureau of motor vehicles (BMV) from selling the personal information of an individual who: (1) is less than 21 years of age; (2) is 65 years of age or older; or (3) opts out of the sale of the individual's personal information. Prohibits a person to which the BMV provides such information from selling or disclosing the information (sales prohibition). Requires the BMV to provide an easily understandable and easily accessible means by which an individual may opt out of the sale of the individual's personal information. Permits the state board of finance, upon approval by the governor, to transfer funds to the BMV to offset a shortfall in funding for the BMV that occurs in a state fiscal year beginning before July 1, 2027, as a result of the sales prohibition.

Gregory PorterDemocrat

Alzheimer's disease and dementia education.

Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to: (1) collaborate with a national Alzheimer's disease and dementia organization in educating the public about Alzheimer's disease and dementia; and (2) identify and collaborate with additional partners in the education. Requires the state department to partner for outreach in the education and publish certain educational materials on the state department's website. Allows the state department to accept grants, services, and property from public and private entities for the education.

Gregory PorterDemocrat

Property taxes.

Provides that, for assessments beginning in 2026, the assessed value of homestead property shall not be subject to annual adjustments (trending), but instead shall be determined based on the assessed value of the homestead on the January 1, 2025, assessment date, the assessed value of the homestead on the first assessment date that it becomes homestead property, if it was not a homestead on the January 1, 2025, assessment date, or the sales price or fair market value of the homestead, if there is a change of ownership after January 1, 2025. Increases the amount of the assessed value deduction for disabled veterans. Phases in the increase over five years from $24,960 under current law to $50,000 for assessments beginning in 2030. Provides for a five year phase in of a 100% property tax credit for the property tax liability imposed on the homestead of an individual who is or will be at least 65 years of age on or before December 31 of the calendar year immediately preceding the current calendar year in which the individual's property taxes are first due and payable. Specifies, beginning with property taxes first due and payable in 2026, the annual amounts of the phased in property tax credit for such an individual's homestead. Makes conforming changes.

Craig HaggardRepublican

Resident tuition rate.

Provides that an individual who meets certain conditions is eligible for the resident tuition rate as determined by the state educational institution. Requires such an individual to verify that the individual meets the criteria to receive the resident tuition rate.

Earl HarrisDemocrat

Hunger-free campus grant program.

Establishes the hunger-free campus grant program (grant program) to provide grants to state educational institutions for purposes of addressing food insecurity among students enrolled in state educational institutions. Provides that the commission for higher education (commission) shall provide a grant under the grant program to a state educational institution, if at least one campus is designated by the commission as a hunger-free campus. Establishes criteria that a campus of a state educational institution must meet in order to be designated a hunger-free campus. Makes an appropriation.

Earl HarrisDemocrat

Tuition caps.

Provides that the commission for higher education shall determine a tuition rate and mandatory fee cost of living adjustment for specified postsecondary educational institutions. Requires that, except for cost of living adjustments, the tuition rate and mandatory fees at specified postsecondary educational institutions may not increase from the time the student initially enrolls until the student graduates for an undergraduate student who is an Indiana resident.

Earl HarrisDemocrat

Discriminatory profiling and pretextual stops.

Honors the memory of Byron Ratcliffe Sr. by doing the following: (1) Prohibits discriminatory profiling and pretextual stops (discriminatory profiling and stops) by law enforcement based on perceived age, gender, race, or ethnicity. (2) Requires law enforcement agencies to: (A) adopt policies regarding discriminatory profiling and stops; (B) submit discriminatory profiling and stops data to the attorney general for inclusion in an annual report to the legislative council; and (C) establish standards for the use of vehicle and body cameras. (3) Establishes law enforcement officer training regarding discriminatory profiling and stops. (4) Establishes the discriminatory profiling review commission to review complaints. (5) Provides for a civil action based on discriminatory profiling and stops.

Cherrish PryorDemocrat

Coverage for certain cancer prescriptions.

Prohibits a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization that provides coverage for advanced, metastatic cancer and associated conditions from requiring that, before providing coverage for a prescription drug, the insured fail to successfully respond to a different prescription drug or prove a history of failure of a different prescription drug.

Cherrish PryorDemocrat

Right to repair.

Requires a manufacturer of a consumer electronic device or a piece of agricultural equipment that is sold in Indiana, subject to certain exceptions, to: (1) provide to an independent service provider, or to the owner of the consumer electronic device or agricultural equipment (owner), any service documentation the manufacturer provides to its authorized service providers; and (2) make available for purchase, upon reasonable terms, any service part the manufacturer provides to its authorized service providers. Provides that a manufacturer that sells service documentation to an independent service provider or owner: (1) in a format that is standardized with respect to comparable information supplied by manufacturers of comparable consumer electronic devices or agricultural equipment; and (2) under terms and conditions more favorable than the terms and conditions under which the manufacturer provides the information to an authorized service provider; may not require an authorized service provider to purchase the service documentation in a proprietary format unless the proprietary format includes content or functionality that is not available in the standardized format. Provides that a violation of the requirements is: (1) actionable by the attorney general; and (2) subject to the remedies and penalties that apply to a deceptive consumer sales practice.

Cherrish PryorDemocrat

Licensing of HOA management companies.

Requires a person who manages property on behalf of a homeowners association to obtain a broker license. Provides that a managing broker that works for a person who manages property on behalf of a homeowners association is not subject to a two year licensing prerequisite until June 30, 2028, if certain conditions are met.

Julie OlthoffRepublican

Various gaming issues.

Provides that a hold harmless agreement or an agreement to offset a financial loss between a casino, riverboat, or unit of government and another unit of government concerning potential losses of revenue by the other unit of government is prohibited and unenforceable. Repeals the requirement that the licensed owner of a riverboat operating in Vigo County pay certain payments to the city of Evansville. Repeals language concerning a supplemental payment to East Chicago, Hammond, and Michigan City under certain circumstances. Repeals the historic hotel district community support fee.

Homestead property tax freeze.

Freezes an individual's property tax liability attributable to the individual's homestead based on the date on which the individual acquired an ownership interest in the homestead.

Heath VanNatterRepublican

County treasurer fees.

Provides that the fee approved by a county fiscal body to be charged by a county treasurer for providing a receipt of a property tax payment made to the county treasurer may not exceed the greater of: (1) $1; or (2) the actual cost to the county treasurer of copying the document.

Cory CriswellRepublican

Treated seeds.

Requires the state seed commissioner to study the adverse environmental effects of seeds treated with certain insecticides and to report to the interim study committee on agriculture and natural resources (committee) not later than June 30, 2027. Requires the committee to submit recommendations for proposed legislation to the legislative council not later than October 31, 2027.

Mike AylesworthRepublican

Antisemitism.

Provides that "antisemitism" has the meaning set forth in the May 26, 2016, working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Provides that an act of antisemitism constitutes a discriminatory practice. Requires certain training materials to contain an educational program to protect against antisemitism.

Craig HaggardRepublican

Appointed members of city or town boards.

Establishes minimum requirements for members appointed or reappointed to a city or town board, committee, or other body (board) after June 30, 2025. Allows a member serving on a board on June 30, 2025, who does not meet the minimum requirements to continue to serve on the board until the end of the member's term.

Kyle PierceRepublican

Medicaid buy-in.

Amends the definition of "countable resources" for purposes of the Medicaid buy-in program (program). Removes consideration of income in determining an individual's eligibility for participation in the program. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to apply for a state plan amendment or waiver to implement this provision. Increases the maximum age to be eligible for participation in the program from 64 years of age to 67 years of age. Allows a recipient's participation in an employment network recognized by the federal Social Security Administration to qualify as participating with an approved provider of employment services. Changes the monthly maximum premium that a recipient must pay. Requires that the premium scale be promulgated by administrative rule. Allows the office of the secretary to annually review the premium amount that a recipient must pay in the program. (Current law requires annual review of the premium amount.) Specifies changes in circumstances that must result in an adjustment of the premium. Specifies that a recipient in the program is eligible for the same services as offered in the Medicaid program. States that an individual's participation in the program does not preclude the individual from participating in a Medicaid waiver program. Specifies that a recipient of the program may simultaneously participate in a Medicaid waiver program and requires the office of the secretary to individually determine eligibility for both programs based on the individual's medical need requirements.

Edward ClereRepublican

Personal allowance for facility residents.

Increases the personal allowance for residential care recipients and Medicaid recipients from $52 to $100.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat