Southwest Indiana Chamber Bill Report Report created on January 21, 2021

HB1002 CIVIL IMMUNITY RELATED TO COVID-19 (TORR J) Prohibits bringing a civil action against another person based in whole or in part on an allegation that the person's loss, damage, injury, or death was caused by the: (1) exposure to COVID-19; (2) transmission of COVID-19; or (3) contraction of COVID- 19; unless the person establishes that the other person caused the loss, damage, injury, or death by an act or omission constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. Prohibits filing a class action lawsuit against a defendant in a civil action allowed by the statute. Specifies that a governmental entity or employee is not liable if a loss results from an act or omission arising from COVID-19 unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct. Provides that a person is not liable to a claimant for loss, damage, injury, or death arising from COVID-19 unless the claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the person caused the loss, damage, injury, or death by an act or omission constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct…MORE Current Status: 1/25/2021 - House Judiciary, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1002

HB1003 TUITION SUPPORT (SLAGER H) Establishes a definition of "virtual instruction" for purposes of determining a school corporation's basic tuition support using the average daily membership (ADM). Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Second reading ordered engrossed Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1003

HB1004 SMALL BUSINESS RESTART GRANT PROGRAM (LINDAUER S) Establishes the Hoosier hospitality small business restart grant program (program) to provide grants to eligible entities to accelerate economic recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Establishes the small business restart grant fund (fund). Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) administers the program and fund. Provides criteria for grants. Allows the corporation to award grants from the fund. Makes an appropriation. Current Status: 1/27/2021 - House Ways and Means, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1004

HB1007 STATE HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM (VERMILION A) Establishes the prevention and addressing of health issues and challenges grant program (grant program). Establishes the prevention and addressing of health issues and challenges grant fund. Requires the state department of health to administer the grant program. Provides requirements for grant proposals. Requires the state department of health to give preference in awarding the grants based on specified criteria. Requires the management performance hub to prepare information related to the grant program. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Public Health Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1007

HB1009 TANF PROGRAM (GOODRICH C) Exempts from being counted as income in determining eligibility for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program certain money earned by specified individuals pursuing a postsecondary degree, workforce certificate, pre-apprenticeship, or apprenticeship. Sets the income eligibility requirements for the TANF program at phased-in specified percentages of the federal income poverty level. Requires the division of family resources to amend the state TANF plan or take any other action necessary to implement the income requirements. Increases certain payment amounts under the TANF program. Requires the payments to be annually…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Family, Children and Human Affairs Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1009 HB1025 ENTERPRISE ZONE RENEWALS (PRESSEL J) Provides that an enterprise zone may be renewed for an additional five year period if the fiscal body of the municipality in which the enterprise zone is located adopts a resolution to renew the enterprise zone. Provides that a zone business located in the renewed enterprise zone may only access the property tax deduction incentive. Current Status: 1/25/2021 - House Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development, (Bill

Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1025

HB1080 LOCAL INCOME TAXES (THOMPSON J) Phases a new distribution formula for certain local income tax revenue using a weighted combination of property tax levies and residential assessed value for taxing units receiving this LIT revenue. Phases in the weights over five years beginning in 2023. Amends provisions that provide a distribution of LIT revenue to schools in counties that imposed a rate under the prior county adjusted gross income tax before its repeal to apply to all schools in counties that impose LIT under current law regardless of whether the county imposed a rate under the prior CAGIT. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1080

HB1183 HOLD HARMLESS PAYMENTS (MORRISON A) 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. Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1183

HB1187 TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (CHERRY R) Requires one member of a municipal or county redevelopment commission (commission) appointed by the executive of the municipality or county after December 31, 2021, to be an individual nominated by the governing body of the school corporation within the territory. Effective January 1, 2022, eliminates the appointment of and term of office of a nonvoting adviser to the commission. Requires a redevelopment commission to provide notice of an annual meeting to the: (1) president of the governing body; and (2) superintendent; of each school corporation that is wholly or partly located within the allocation area established by the commission. Requires a redevelopment commission to provide notice of an adopted resolution that designates or amends an allocation area to the: (1) president of the governing body; and (2) superintendent; of each school corporation that is wholly or partly located within the allocation area established by the commission. Requires certain percentages of incremental revenue collected in an allocation area be distributed among taxing units wholly or partly located within the allocation area and provides a schedule for the percentage that must be distributed each year. Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Local Government Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1187

HB1204 REHABILITATION CENTER FUNDING (MCNAMARA W) Establishes the long term recovery group for Southwest Indiana program (program) and the long term recovery group for Southwest Indiana fund. Makes an appropriation for the development of the program for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 20, 2022. Makes annual appropriations for the operation of the program beginning with the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023. Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Public Health Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1204 HB1218 CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY PARKS (HEINE D) Increases, from $100,000 to $250,000, the annual additional incremental income tax deposit amount that a certified technology park captures once it has reached its limit on deposits. Clarifies the calculation of the additional incremental income tax deposit amount in the year in which a certified technology park reaches its limit on deposits. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1218

HB1235 WORK SHARING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PROGRAM (TORR J) Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program (program). Requires an employer that desires to participate in the program to submit a work sharing plan for approval by the commissioner of the department of workforce development. Establishes the work sharing benefit as equal to an affected employee's unemployment benefit reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage of the employee's normal weekly work hours that the employee works under the approved work sharing plan. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1235

HB1277 WORK SHARING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM (HATFIELD R) Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program. Requires an employer to submit a work sharing plan for approval by the commissioner of the department of workforce development. Establishes the work sharing benefit as equal to an employee's unemployment benefit reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage of the employee's normal weekly work hours that the employee works under the approved work sharing plan. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1277

HB1309 PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATION (ENGLEMAN K) Allows an employee to request an accommodation for the employee's pregnancy. Requires an employer to respond to an employee's request for an accommodation within a reasonable time frame. Provides that a request for accommodation does not require an employer to provide an accommodation for an employee's pregnancy, or impose a duty or obligation upon the employer to provide an accommodation or an exception to the employer's policies. Prohibits an employer from disciplining, terminating, or retaliating against an employee because the employee has requested or used an accommodation for the employee's pregnancy. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1309

HB1336 COVID-19 RELIEF FOR BUSINESSES (HOSTETTLER M) Establishes the business owner compensation fund for the purpose of funding payments to business owners in compensation for business losses experienced before July 1, 2021, that were caused by the state as a result of executive orders issued due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Makes an appropriation. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1336

HB1358 PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH ACCOMMODATION (NEGELE S) Requires an employer to provide reasonable employment accommodations for a pregnant employee. Requires the department of labor to investigate complaints and attempt to resolve complaints through the use of an administrative law judge. Allows for appeals. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1358 HB1397 TECHNICAL TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (GOODRICH C) Provides that the governor's workforce cabinet may establish a course catalog that shall list all: (1) work based learning, preapprenticeship, and apprenticeship opportunities in Indiana; and (2) providers that are eligible to receive high value workforce ready grants. Provides that a high school may replace certain high school courses on the high school transcript with alternative courses in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) in order to satisfy an Indiana diploma with a Core 40 with academic honors designation or another designation requirement. Makes changes to the career and technical education funding formula. Makes technical corrections and removes obsolete provisions. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Education Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1397

HB1401 ALLEN COUNTY AND EVANSVILLE PSCDA (HEINE D) Adds the facilities at the Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities, Inc. (Turnstone Center) to the Allen County professional sports and convention development area (PSCDA). Increases the maximum amount of covered taxes that may be captured in the Allen County PSCDA from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. Provides for distribution of the covered taxes allocated from the Allen County PSCDA between the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, the Turnstone Center, and the Allen County-Fort Wayne capital improvement board. Requires the Turnstone Center and the Allen County-Fort Wayne capital improvement board to enter into an agreement specifying the purposes for which the funds must be used. Requires the Turnstone Center to repay any amounts that are not used as provided in the agreement. Provides that not more than 40% of the funds allocated may be used for paying usual and customary operating expenses with respect to a capital improvement. Adds the downtown convention center hotel to the Evansville PSCDA. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Ways and Means Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1401

HB1413 RURAL BROADBAND FUND (MANNING E) Provides that eligible rural employers qualify for loans under the rural broadband fund. Provides that the office of community and rural affairs (office) shall establish procedures for awarding grants to eligible rural employers. Specifies that the office shall act on an application not later than 30 days after receipt of an eligible rural employer's application. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1413

HB1414 BARRETT LAW ASSESSMENTS FOR BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT (KARICKHOFF M) Allows a county or municipality to use Barrett Law assessments to fund projects for the deployment of broadband infrastructure in areas in which there is not at least one provider of terrestrial broadband Internet service. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1414

HB1416 REMOTE WORKER GRANTS AND REMOTE WORK SITES (CARBAUGH M) Establishes the remote worker grant program (program). Provides that the Indiana destination development corporation (corporation) shall administer the program, including awarding grants to a new remote worker for qualifying remote worker expenses. Requires that: (1) the corporation; and (2) the commissioner of the department of administration; shall submit reports to the legislative council. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Commerce, Small Business and Economic

Development Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1416

HB1418 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES (NEGELE S) Provides that application information declared confidential by the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) is exempt from public disclosure under the Access to Public Records Act. Provides that the corporation shall establish a transparency portal on its Internet web site. Removes the responsibility of the governor to appoint a president to the corporation. (Currently, the governor appoints a president of the corporation, who serves at the pleasure of the governor and reports to the secretary of commerce.) Requires the corporation to upload on its Internet web site (1) final public financial resource agreements to which the corporation is a party and (2) reports that the corporation submitted to the general assembly. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Commerce, Small Business and Economic

Development Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1418

HB1426 BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT (SULLIVAN H) Changes the criteria for eligibility of broadband grants for rural areas. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1426

HB1434 CIGARETTE TAX AND E-LIQUIDS TAX (OLTHOFF J) Imposes a tax on e-liquids that contain nicotine at a rate of $0.08 per milliliter of consumable product. Deposits the revenue from the tax in the state general fund. Increases the cigarette tax by $1 to $1.995 per pack of regular size cigarettes and makes a corresponding increase for larger cigarettes. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Public Health Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1434

HB1449 BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT (SOLIDAY E) Provides that a project to extend broadband service is eligible for a rural broadband grant if the project will extend terrestrial Internet service providing speeds of at least 100 megabits per second downstream (rather than 25 megabits per second downstream, under current law) and at least 10 megabits per second upstream (rather than three megabits per second upstream, under current law). Assigns the highest priority for rural broadband grants to projects that extend broadband service to areas in which Internet service is unavailable or in which the only available connections to the Internet are at speeds of less than 25 megabits per second downstream (rather than 10 megabits per second downstream, under current law) and less than three megabits per second upstream. Provides a preference for awarding rural broadband grants to projects for which a local unit of government has committed to providing funding. Requires the office of rural and community affairs to publish on the office's Internet web site a map illustrating the availability, by census block, of eligible broadband service in Indiana not later than December 31, 2021. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1449

HB1488 VACCINATION EXEMPTIONS (LEDBETTER C) Prohibits an employer from requiring, as a condition of employment, an employee or prospective employee to receive an immunization that: (1) has been approved for emergency use; and (2) lacks full approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prohibits an employer from: (1) inquiring into; or (2) otherwise requiring an employee or prospective employee to disclose; the reason for refusing an immunization that: (A) has been approved for emergency use; and (B) lacks full approval from the FDA. Allows for a civil cause of action against an employer for specified violations. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1488

HB1522 BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT (NEGELE S) Requires the office of technology (office) to produce a map illustrating the Indiana census blocks in which broadband service, defined relative to the broadband speed benchmark set forth by the Federal Communications Commission, is available to property owners within the census block. Requires the office to consider broadband service to not be available to property owners within a census block if eligible broadband service is available for purchase at less than 80% of the residential and commercial addresses within the census block. Provides that the office shall provide information collected for purposes of the map to the office of community and rural affairs for purposes of the rural broadband grant program. Provides for the confidentiality of…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1522

HB1545 CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY PARKS (ELLINGTON J) Provides that once a certified technology park reaches its cap, an additional amount equal to incremental income taxes shall be captured (not to exceed $500,000 annually or in the case of a certified technology park operated by two or more redevelopment commissions, $500,000 per redevelopment commission). Provides that an additional deposit in excess of a cap is applicable only to a certified technology park located in Crane, Indiana, or within a radius of five miles of a qualified military base. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Ways and Means Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: HB1545

SB1 CIVIL IMMUNITY RELATED TO COVID-19 (MESSMER M) Provides civil immunity for damages resulting from exposure of an individual to COVID-19 on the premises owned or operated by a person, on any premises on which the person or an employee or agent of the person provided property or services to the individual, or during an activity managed, organized, or sponsored by the person. Defines "COVID-19 protective product" and provides civil immunity for harm that results from the design, manufacture, labeling, sale, distribution, or donation of a COVID-19 protective product…MORE Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Committee Report amend do pass, adopted Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB1

SB2 FUNDING FOR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (RAATZ J) Establishes a definition of "virtual instruction" for purposes of determining a school corporation's basic tuition support using the 2021 spring count of average daily membership (ADM). Current Status: 1/28/2021 - Senate Appropriations, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB2

SB5 APPEAL OF LOCAL HEALTH ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS (GARTEN C) Establishes an appeals process before legislative bodies of enforcement actions taken by local boards of health & local health officers. Current Status: 1/27/2021 - Senate Public Policy, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB5

SB44 WORK SHARING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PROGRAM (BASSLER E) Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program (program). Requires an employer that desires to participate in the program to submit a work sharing plan for approval by the commissioner of the department of workforce development. Establishes the work sharing benefit as equal to an affected employee's unemployment benefit reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage of the employee's normal weekly work hours that the employee works under the approved work sharing plan. Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Senate Pensions and Labor Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB44 SB74 WORKPLACE IMMUNIZATION PROHIBITION (KRUSE D) Prohibits an employer from requiring, as a condition of employment, an employee or prospective employee to receive any immunization if the immunization is medically contraindicated for the employee or receiving the immunization is against the employee's religious beliefs or conscience. Allows for a civil action against an employer for a violation. Current Status: 1/14/2021 – Senate Pensions & Labor (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB74

SB213 CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY PARKS (HOLDMAN T) Increases, from $100,000 to $250,000, the annual additional incremental income tax deposit amount that a certified technology park captures once it has reached its limit on deposits. Clarifies the calculation of the additional incremental income tax deposit amount in the year in which a certified technology park reaches its limit on deposits. Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB213

SB214 HOUSING TAX CREDITS (HOLDMAN T) Provides an affordable and workforce housing state tax credit against state tax liability to a taxpayer for each taxable year in the state tax credit period of a qualified project in an aggregate amount that does not exceed the product of a percentage between 40% and 100% and the amount of the taxpayer's aggregate federal tax credit for the qualified project. Provides that an eligible applicant must apply to the Indiana housing and community development authority for an award of an affordable and workforce housing state tax credit. Provides that a holder of an affordable and workforce housing state tax credit may transfer, sell, or assign all or part of the holder's right to claim the state tax credit for a taxable year. Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB214

SB215 REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (HOLDMAN T) Adds a statement of legislative intent regarding the redevelopment tax credit (tax credit). Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to maintain a web page for the redevelopment tax credit program on its Internet web site. Amends provisions of the tax credit to require the IEDC to accept and review all applications submitted to the IEDC and provide a written determination within 60 days of receipt. Removes language specifying that a taxpayer's qualified investment must be made during the taxable year for purposes of determining the amount of a credit the taxpayer may claim. Prohibits the IEDC from including a claim schedule in a credit award agreement that extends more than two years beyond the projected completion…MORE Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB215

SB216 EDGE TAX CREDITS (HOLDMAN T) Amends the definition of "incremental income tax withholdings" for purposes of the economic development for a growing economy (EDGE) tax credit to accommodate nonresident employees. Provides that, for purposes of the EDGE tax credit, the term "new employee" includes a full-time employee who resides outside Indiana. Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB216

SB246 PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH ACCOMMODATION (ALTING R) Requires an employer to provide reasonable employment accommodations for a pregnant employee. Requires the department of labor to investigate complaints & attempt to resolve complaints through the use of an administrative law judge. Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Senate Pensions and Labor Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB246 SB264 BROADBAND CAPACITY INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY (KOCH E) Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) the topic of the installation and leasing of broadband capacity infrastructure by investor owned electric utilities to broadband service providers for the provision of broadband Internet service to unserved and underserved areas in Indiana. Provides that if a study is assigned to the committee: (1) the committee must consider certain specified issues; and (2) an electric utility may submit to the committee, not later than July 1, 2021, a study concerning the feasibility of making available broadband capacity infrastructure for use by broadband service providers in providing broadband service in unserved or underserved areas in the electric utility's assigned service area. Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB264

SB309 INCOME TAX EXEMPTION FOR PAYROLL PROTECTION LOANS (BUCHANAN B) Provides that federal Paycheck Protection Program loans that are subsequently forgiven are not subject to Indiana adjusted gross income tax (AGI). Provides that if a taxpayer incurs an expense described in 15 U.S.C. 9005(b) that: (1) would have been deductible in determining AGI; but (2) the deduction for the expense was denied for federal purposes as the result of being paid from loan amounts forgiven or reasonably anticipated to be forgiven; the taxpayer is permitted a deduction in determining AGI in the amount that otherwise would have been allowable in determining AGI. Provides a deduction in the calculation of AGI. Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB309

SB352 BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT (HOUCHIN E) Amends the statutory priorities for the funding of projects from the rural broadband fund to provide that the office of community and rural affairs (office) shall establish as a priority the funding of projects to extend the deployment of eligible broadband service to areas in which the only available connections to the Internet are at actual speeds of not more than 25 megabits per second downstream. (Current law prioritizes the funding of projects to deploy eligible broadband service to rural areas based on two different levels of broadband speed available in such areas.) Requires the office to amend, not later than April 15, 2021, the office's guidelines implementing the broadband grant program as necessary to reflect the changes to the funding priorities made by the bill's provisions. Provides that not later than 90 days before the date on which…MORE Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB352

SB359 BROADBAND PROJECTS (BALDWIN S) Permits a unit of local government to finance broadband projects through the issuance of taxable or tax exempt bonds to be repaid by a broadband provider under the terms of a financing agreement. Provides that a broadband project must make broadband services available to all known addresses and public streets in a geographic area that includes at least one census tract. Requires the fiscal body of a unit to: (1) hold a public hearing to approve a financing agreement; and (2) adopt an ordinance if the financing agreement is approved. Requires a broadband provider to pledge the fees for services generated from a broadband project as its primary source of funds for payment under a financing agreement. Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB359

SB377 BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT (ZAY A) Establishes the Indiana broadband expansion fund for deposit and distribution of federal broadband funding. Provides that the office of community and rural development (office) administers the fund. Requires the office to establish a public broadband portal through which an individual may report: (1) that: (A) Internet connectivity; or (B) broadband Internet connectivity at speeds of least 25 megabits per second downstream and at least three megabits per second upstream (broadband Internet); is unavailable at the individual's address; or (2) that Internet connectivity or broadband Internet connectivity is available at the individual's address, but the individual is unable to afford the service. Establishes the Indiana broadband connectivity…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB377

SB384 ALLEN COUNTY AND EVANSVILLE PSCDA (HOLDMAN T) Increases the maximum amount of covered taxes captured in the Allen County PSCDA from $3,000,000 to $4,000,000. Provides for distribution of the covered taxes as follows: (1) The first $2,600,000 to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. (2) The next $400,000 to the Allen County-Fort Wayne capital improvement board. (3) The remaining amount to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Adds the downtown convention center hotel to the Evansville PSCDA. Provides that not more than 40% of the funds allocated may be used for paying usual and customary operating expenses with respect to a capital improvement. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Senate Appropriations Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB384

SB386 COST SECURITIZATION FOR ELECTRIC UTILITY ASSETS (KOCH E) Provides that an electric utility that has certain qualified costs that: (1) are associated with an electric generation facility that will be retired from service within 24 months; and (2) are equal to at least 5% of the electric utility's total electric base rate; may file a petition with the utility regulatory commission (IURC) for a financing order authorizing the securitization of the qualified costs. For purpose of these provisions, defines an "electric utility" as a public utility that: (1) owns or operates any electric generation facility in Indiana…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Priority: Tier 1 - High

State Bill Page: SB386

SB389 REPEALS STATE REGULATED WETLANDS LAW (GARTEN C) Repeals the law requiring a permit from the department of environmental management for wetland activity in a state regulated wetland. Makes corresponding changes to eliminate references to that law. States that the repeal of that law is not intended to affect: (1) the regulation in Indiana under the federal Clean Water Act of the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States; or (2) the authorization of the state of Indiana to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program. Current Status: 1/25/2021 - Senate Environmental Affairs, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 3 - High

State Bill Page: SB389

HB1001 STATE BUDGET (BROWN T) Appropriates money for capital expenditures, the operation of the state, K- 12 and higher education, the delivery of Medicaid and other services, and various other distributions and purposes…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1001

HB1005 SCHOOL CHOICE MATTERS (BEHNING R) Establishes the Indiana education savings account program (program). Provides that a parent of an eligible student or an emancipated eligible student may establish an account in the program. Defines an eligible student as: (1) a student with a disability who requires special education; (2) a student with a parent who: (A) is on active duty service in the armed forces of the United States or national guard; or (B) served in the armed forces of the United States or national guard, received an honorable discharge, and has a service related disability; or (3) a student placed in foster care or otherwise under care and supervision of the department of…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Education Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1005 HB1029 ELIMINATION OF LOWER SPEED LIMIT FOR TRUCKS (AYLESWORTH M) Provides that the maximum speed limit for a vehicle having a declared gross weight greater than 26,000 pounds 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; is 70 miles per hour. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Roads and Transportation Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1029

HB1036 HOUSING TAX CREDITS (NEGELE S) Provides an affordable and workforce housing state tax credit against state tax liability to a taxpayer for each taxable year in the state tax credit period of a qualified project in an aggregate amount that does not exceed the product of a percentage between 40% and 100% and the amount of the taxpayer's aggregate federal tax credit for the qualified project. Provides that an eligible applicant must apply to the Indiana housing and community development authority for an award of an affordable and workforce housing state tax credit. Provides that a holder of an affordable and workforce housing state tax credit may transfer, sell, or assign all or part of the holder's right to claim the state tax credit for a taxable year. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1036

HB1055 WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS (AYLESWORTH M) Provides that the executives of one or more counties may adopt ordinances designating their counties as members of a proposed watershed development commission and that the watershed development commission is established as a legal entity with the counties as its members if it is recognized by the natural resources commission. Requires the natural resources commission, in deciding whether to recognize a proposed watershed development commission, to answer certain questions. Provides that a county may become a member of an established watershed development commission if its membership is accepted by the…MORE Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Natural Resources Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1055

HB1072 PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICES (SULLIVAN H) Provides for a personal delivery device to operate in Indiana under certain circumstances. Requires a personal delivery device operator to maintain certain levels of insurance coverage. Provides that a personal delivery device is exempt from motor vehicle licensing and registration requirements. Provides that a political subdivision may participate in the regulation of personal delivery devices. Provides that a political subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution relating to: (1) the design, manufacture, maintenance, certification, licensing, registration, taxation, assessment, or insurance of a personal delivery device; or (2) the types of property that may be transported by a personal delivery device. Current Status: 1/26/2021 - House Roads and Transportation, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1072

HB1092 TAX CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTION TO ABLE ACCOUNTS (CHERRY R) Creates a standalone credit for contributions to Indiana ABLE accounts. Provides that a taxpayer is entitled to a credit against adjusted gross income tax equal to the least of: (1) 20% of the amount of the total contributions made by the taxpayer to an account or accounts of an Indiana ABLE 529A savings plan during the taxable year; (2) $1,000, or $500 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return; or (3) the amount of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income tax for the taxable year, reduced by the sum of all allowable credits. Provides that a taxpayer is not entitled to a carryback, carryover, or refund of an….MORE Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1092 HB1093 CHOICE SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY (CHERRY R) Makes changes to eligibility requirements for the choice scholarship program. Makes conforming amendments. Repeals a provision that restricts the use of a choice scholarship program for a student who is eligible to receive a choice scholarship because the student was enrolled in a certain early childhood program. Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Education Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1093

HB1101 DAYCARE LICENSURE EXEMPTION IN DECLARED EMERGENCY (DAVISSON S) Exempts from day care licensure requirements a child care program that: (1) is operated by a public or private organization: (A) during a declared disaster emergency; and (B) under a contract with a public or private school; and (2) serves children who are: (A) enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12, or in a preschool program offered by the public or private school; and (B) attending school through remote or e-learning due to the disaster emergency. Current Status: 1/27/2021 - House Family, Children and Human Affairs, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1101

HB1146 HEALTHY FOOD INCUBATOR PROGRAM (SHACKLEFORD R) Establishes the healthy food incubator program fund (fund) and healthy food incubator program (program) under the administration of the Indiana housing and community development authority (IHCDA). Provides that the purpose of the fund is to provide financing in the form of loans or grants for projects that increase the availability of fresh and nutritious food in underserved communities. Defines an "underserved community" as a census tract determined to be an area with low supermarket access: (1) by the United States Department of Agriculture; or (2) as identified through a methodology used by another healthy food initiative…MORE Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Family, Children and Human Affairs Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1146

HB1152 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (LEONARD D) Clarifies provisions concerning the overpayment of unemployment benefits resulting from fraud or failure to disclose wages and the forfeiture of benefits or wage credits. Current Status: 1/27/2021 - House Employment, Labor and Pensions, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1152

HB1156 PROHIBITION ON MICROCHIPPING EMPLOYEES (MORRISON A) Provides that the definition of an "employer" subject to the prohibition against requiring the implantation of devices includes the state or any individual, partnership, association, limited liability company, corporation, business trust, or other governmental entity or political subdivision that has one or more employees. Current Status: 1/27/2021 - House Employment, Labor and Pensions, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1156

HB1164 VARIOUS UTILITY MATTERS (MANNING E) Exempts a contract for the lease of state property under which no state expenditures are required from provisions: (1) requiring certain disclosures and certifications by a prospective state contractor regarding violations of Indiana telephone solicitation and automated calling statutes; (2) regarding cancellation of public purchasing contracts due to lack of funds; (3) regarding state contractor use of the E-Verify program; and (4) prohibiting state contractor employment of unauthorized aliens. Provides limitations on fees, terms, and conditions that may be imposed by a person or entity for access to: (1) tracks, conduits, subways, or poles; or…MORE Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1164 HB1193 FILM AND MEDIA PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT (COOK A) Establishes the Indiana film and media production expenditure tax credit. Provides a refundable tax credit to qualified applicants that make certain qualified production expenditures for a qualified media production in Indiana. Provides that the tax credit may be granted only if qualified production expenditures meet certain thresholds. Provides that the amount of the credit equals the qualified production expenditures multiplied by a percentage determined by the Indiana destination development corporation (corporation). Provides that…MORE Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1193

HB1197 HOOSIER SPIRIT II DESIGNATED STATE AIRCRAFT (MCNAMARA W) Specifies that the P-47 Thunderbolt known as the Hoosier Spirit II is designated as the official state aircraft of Indiana. (Current law designates the P-47 Thunderbolt as the official state aircraft of Indiana.) Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Committee Report do pass, adopted Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1197

HB1220 21ST CENTURY ENERGY POLICY DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE (SOLIDAY E) Reestablishes the 21st century energy policy development task force (task force), following its expiration on December 2, 2020. Provides that the task force consists of 15 members as follows: (1) Six members of the house of representatives, with four of those members appointed by the speaker, and two appointed by the minority leader. (2) Six members of the senate, with four of those members appointed by the president pro tempore, and two appointed by the minority leader. (3) Three members appointed by the governor, each of whom must have specified experience with respect to energy. Provides that: (1) one of…MORE Current Status: 1/26/2021 - House Utilities, Energy & Telecommunications, (Bill Sched. for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1220

HB1225 OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAMS (VERMILION A) Requires an opioid treatment program to obtain prior authorization from the division of mental health and addiction (division) for patients receiving more than 14 days of opioid treatment medication from an opioid treatment program unless otherwise prescribed by the division. Allows the state opioid treatment authority (authority) to: (1) take certain remedial actions; and (2) impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000; in response to certain violations concerning the operation of an opioid treatment program. Specifies that the authority may issue a civil penalty for each violation found by the authority. Requires the division to report certain findings to the general assembly not later than April 1 of each year. Requires certain information to be provided to the division for the purpose of completing specified reporting requirements. Current Status: 1/26/2021 - House Public Health, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1225

HB1249 TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (CLERE E) Provides that if a redevelopment commission outside Marion County wishes to establish a TIF area after June 30, 2021, a school corporation that is located wholly or partly within the proposed TIF area may elect whether to participate in the TIF area. Provides that for TIF areas established after June 30, 2021, a school corporation that elects to participate in a proposed TIF is bound by the terms of the TIF area until the TIF area expires. Provides that except for property tax proceeds transferred to a school corporation, a public school, including a charter school, or a nonpublic school, allocated property tax proceeds may be expended for projects located outside an allocation area only if the redevelopment commission adopts a declaratory resolution that finds that the expenditures: (1) will directly benefit the allocation area; or (2) will result in the creation or retention of jobs in the private sector. Adds various requirements related to expenditures under contracts…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Ways and Means Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1249 HB1272 STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT POWERS (LAUER R) Removes the authority for the state department of health and local health officers to close schools and churches during an epidemic. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Government and Regulatory Reform Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1272

HB1275 OVERTIME COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES (HATFIELD R) Provides that, after December 31, 2021, certain employees must be paid compensation for employment in certain circumstances at a rate not less than 1.5 times the regular rate at which the employee is employed and, under certain circumstances, not less than two times the regular rate which the employee is employed. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1275

HB1280 CORE 40 (JORDAN J) Provides that a high school may replace certain high school courses on the high school transcript with alternative courses in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) in order to satisfy an Indiana diploma with a Core 40 with academic honors designation or another designation requirement. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Education Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1280

HB1286 TELEHEALTH MATTERS (LINDAUER S) Prohibits the Medicaid program from specifying originating sites and distant sites for purposes of Medicaid reimbursement and voids administrative rules with these requirements. Changes the use of the term "telemedicine" to "telehealth". Expands the application of the telehealth statute to additional licensed practitioners instead of applying only to prescribers. Amends the definition of "telehealth". Requires that the telehealth medical records be created and maintained under the same standards of appropriate practice for medical records for patients in an in-person setting. Specifies that a patient waives confidentiality of medical information concerning individuals in the vicinity when the patient is using telehealth. Current Status: 1/26/2021 - House Public Health, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1286

HB1287 WATER OR WASTEWATER SERVICE FOR UNDERSERVED AREAS (PRESSEL J) Allows a water or wastewater utility to extend service to a developed but underserved area without a deposit from customers if the extension of service will result in a positive contribution to the utility's overall cost of service over a 20 year period. Defines "developed but underserved area" as an area in which prospective service would be provided predominantly to existing and occupied structures that receive water from private wells or from which wastewater is disposed of through onsite private systems such as septic tanks. Provides that a water or wastewater utility's extension of service to a developed but underserved area will be considered as resulting in a positive contribution to the utility's overall cost of service over a 20 year period to the extent that rates to be paid by at least one-half of the customers who could be served by the extension of service would enable the utility to fully recover the cost of serving those customers, including the utility's pretax return. Provides that if a water or wastewater utility determines that an extension of service to a developed but underserved area will not result in a positive contribution to the utility's overall cost of service over a 20 year period, the utility may require a deposit or other adequate assurance of performance from the customers to be served by the extension of service. Current Status: 1/26/2021 - House Utilities, Energy & Telecommunications, (Bill Sched for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1287

HB1337 AREA PLANNING SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AND USES (HOSTETTLER M) Provides that if a municipality or county (unit) participates in an area plan commission, the legislative body (instead of the board of zoning appeals) has the authority to approve or deny petitions for special exceptions or special uses. Requires the board of zoning appeals to make a favorable recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or no recommendation on each petition for the consideration of the legislative body. (Current law requires legislative body approval for units participating in the St. Joseph County area plan commission and a Lake County municipality that has an advisory plan commission.) Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Local Government Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1337

HB1339 CHOICE OF PHYSICIAN FOR WORKER INJURY OR DISEASE (LUCAS J) Permits an employee to choose the attending physician who will provide services and goods resulting from an employment injury or occupational disease for purposes of the worker's compensation law. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1339

HB1348 ASSESSMENT OF UTILITY GRADE SOLAR PROJECTS (SOLIDAY E) Provides that, for assessment dates beginning after December 31, 2021, the land portion of the fixed property of a utility grade solar energy installation facility shall be assessed at a solar land base rate that is established for three defined regions of the state. Requires the department of local government finance to annually determine and release a solar land base rate for each region based on the median true tax value per acre of all land in the region classified under the utility property class codes of the department of local government finance for the immediately preceding assessment date. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Ways and Means Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1348

HB1381 COMMERCIAL WIND AND SOLAR STANDARDS AND SITING (SOLIDAY E) Establishes default standards concerning the following with respect to developments to install or locate wind power devices in local units: (1) Setback requirements. (2) Height restrictions. (3) Shadow flicker limitations. (4) Sound level limitations. (5) Project decommissioning. Provides that a permit authority for a local unit may not restrict, or impose conditions or limitations on, the construction, installation, siting, modification, operation, or decommissioning of wind power devices in the unit unless the unit first adopts a wind power regulation. Provides that a permit authority may not impose standards that: (1) concern wind power devices in the unit; and (2) are more restrictive than the default standards. Establishes procedures for the permitting or approval process for the siting of wind power devices in a local…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1381

HB1392 LICENSURE OF MILITARY SPOUSES (ZENT D) Amends the law concerning provisional occupational licenses for spouses of active duty members of the armed forces assigned to Indiana to eliminate a provision under which a military spouse applying for a provisional license is required to submit to a national criminal history background check. Provides instead that a military spouse applying for a provisional license must be determined by the appropriate board not to have a disqualifying criminal history if a national criminal history background check is required for the regulated occupation for which the military spouse seeks a license. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1392

HB1419 REPORTING OF STRANDED ELECTRIC UTILITY COSTS (NEGELE S) Requires a cooperatively owned power supplier to submit an annual report to the utility regulatory commission (IURC) concerning the cooperatively owned power supplier's stranded costs with respect to the calendar year to which the report pertains. Defines a "cooperatively owned power supplier" as: (1) a general district corporation within the meaning of the rural electric membership corporation act (act); or (2) a nonprofit organization whose membership includes one or more corporations organized under the act. Provides that a cooperatively owned power supplier's stranded costs for a calendar year include both of…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1419

HB1423 MICROENTERPRISES (SMALTZ B) Establishes the microenterprise fund, which shall be administered by the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation). Provides that the corporation may provide a microloan to a business that qualifies as a microenterprise. Provides that the corporation may enter into contracts necessary for the administration of the microenterprise fund. Makes an allocation. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Commerce, Small Business & Economic Development Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1423

HB1520 ELECTRIC UTILITY RELIABILITY ADEQUACY METRICS (SOLIDAY E) Provides that a public utility that owns and operates an electric generating facility serving Indiana customers shall operate and maintain the facility using good utility practices and in a manner: (1) reasonably intended to support the provision of reliable and economic electric service to customers; and (2) reasonably consistent with the resource reliability requirements of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) or any other appropriate regional transmission organization. Provides that, not later than 30 days after the deadline for submitting an annual planning reserve margin report to MISO, each public utility providing electric service to Indiana customers shall file with the utility regulatory commission (IURC) a report that provides the following information for each of the next three resource planning years: (1) The…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1520

HB1535 MODIFICATION OF UTILITY FACILITIES (DEVON D) Defines a "facility operator" as a: (1) public utility; or (2) communications service provider; that owns or operates a facility used to provide certain utility services or communications service. Provides that if a person, including a customer of a facility operator, requests or requires the modification of one or more facilities of a facility operator, the facility operator: (1) may not refuse to perform the modification if: (A) the local unit in which the modification will occur supports the request; and (B) the facility operator's access to the facility will not be diminished or hindered as a result of the modification; and (2) may require the person requesting or requiring the modification to pay the cost of the modification. Sets forth certain requirements and conditions that apply to a facility operator's determination of the cost of the modification of a facility. Requires…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: HB1535

SB3 TELEHEALTH MATTERS (CHARBONNEAU E) Prohibits the Medicaid program from specifying originating sites and distant sites for purposes of Medicaid reimbursement and voids administrative rules with these requirements. Changes the use of the term "telemedicine" to "telehealth". Specifies certain activities that are considered to be health care services for purposes of the telehealth laws. Expands the application of the telehealth statute to additional licensed practitioners instead of applying only to prescribers. Amends the definition of "telehealth". Requires that the telehealth medical records…MORE Current Status: 1/13/2021 – Senate Public Health (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB3 SB20 REGULATION OF MICRO MARKET FOOD SALES (FORD J) Specifies that "micro market display" includes a hot beverage brewer. Specifies that a "vending machine" includes a self-service device that can be activated by the use of a software application on a smartphone. Provides that a micro market can sell hot beverages. (Under current law, a micro market cannot sell hot beverages.) Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Senate Health and Provider Services Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB20

SB40 WEIGHT LIMIT FOR TRANSPORT OF COMMODITIES (FORD J) Provides that an "overweight divisible load" includes a tractor-semitrailer and load that has a gross vehicle weight of more than 80,000 pounds but a gross vehicle weight of not more than 120,000 pounds if it is hauling certain commodities, has a certain maximum equivalent single-axle load, and is granted a permit for transporting overweight divisible loads. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Transportation Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB40

SB50 VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT (ZAY A) Provides that debt from qualified investment capital must be for a repayment term of at least 12 months. Clarifies that the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) shall certify businesses that are engaged in sectors not excluded by the statute from eligibility and that are determined by the IEDC to have the significant potential to meet the listed statutory criteria. Removes limitations on retail businesses for the qualified Indiana business certification by the IEDC. Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB50

SB54 FAFSA REQUIREMENT (LEISING J) Requires all students, except for students at certain nonpublic schools, to complete and submit the FAFSA unless: (1) a parent of a student or a student, if the student is an emancipated minor, signs a waiver that the student understands what the FAFSA is and declines to complete it; or (2) the principal of the student's high school waives the requirement due to extenuating circumstances. Requires that the: (1) model notice prepared by the commission for higher education; and (2) notice that each school corporation is required to send; regarding the FAFSA include information regarding the requirements and exceptions for completing the FAFSA. Current Status: 1/27/2021 - Senate Education and Career Development, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB54

SB129 WHISTLEBLOWER REPORTS (SANDLIN J) Allows an employee who is reporting misconduct concerning the execution of a public contract to make an oral report or a report by electronic mail. (Current law requires that such a report be in writing.) Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Committee Report do pass, adopted Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB129

SB139 ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS (ZAY A) Permits the formation of association health plans that: (1) offer coverage to "working owners", including self-employed individuals; and (2) are offered by a "sponsoring association" that: (A) has at least one substantial business purpose other than providing health plans or other employee benefits to its employer members; and (B) is made up of employer members that share a common trade, industry, line of business, or profession or have a principal place of business within the state or in a metropolitan area encompassing part of the state. Current Status: 1/5/2021 - Referred to Senate Health and Provider Services Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB139 SB225 PERMITS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES (FORD J) Amends the statute concerning the issuance of permits by local permit authorities to communications service providers for the construction and installation of wireless facilities and wireless support structures (including small cell facilities) as follows: (1) Allows a neighborhood association, a homeowners association, or an individual resident of the area over which a permit authority has jurisdiction to register with the permit authority to receive mailed notice of any permit application filed with the permit authority. (Current law allows only neighborhood associations and homeowners associations to register to receive notice, and only with respect to applications for new utility poles or new wireless support structures used to support small cell facilities.) (2) Provides that upon receiving a permit application after June 30, 2021, a permit authority shall provide notice of the application on: (A) the permit authority's Internet web site; or (B) if the permit authority does not maintain an Internet web site, the Internet web site of each affected…MORE Recent Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB225

SB238 DESIGNATED OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT AREAS (BROWN L) Allows a municipality to designate an area of the municipality as an outdoor refreshment area (refreshment area) with the approval of the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission). Provides that if a refreshment area is approved, the commission designates retailer permittees (designated permittees) located within the refreshment area. Allows a consumer to exit a designated permittee's premises with one open container of an alcoholic beverage at a time to consume within the refreshment area. Limits the volume of an open container (based upon the type of alcoholic beverage) that a designated permittee may sell or furnish to a consumer for a refreshment area. Requires a consumer to wear a wristband in order to exit a licensed premises into a refreshment area with an open container. Allows a minor to be present in a….MORE Current Status: 1/27/2021 - Senate Public Policy, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB238

SB249 NET METERING FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION (ALTING R) Amends the statute concerning distributed electricity generation as follows: (1) Provides that an electricity supplier's net metering tariff must be made and remain available to customers until the earlier of: (A) January 1 of the first calendar year after the calendar year in which the aggregate amount of net metering facility nameplate capacity under the electricity supplier's net metering tariff equals at least 5% (versus 1.5% under current law) of the electricity supplier's most recent summer peak load; or (B) July 1, 2024 (versus July 1, 2022, under current law). (2) Provides that before July 1, 2021, each electricity supplier shall petition the utility regulatory commission (IURC) for approval of an amended or a new net metering tariff to do the following: (A) Establish as the allowed limit on the aggregate amount of net metering facility…MORE Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Recent Status: 1/11/2021 - Authored By Ron Alting Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB249

SB271 THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (MESSMER M) Provides that a property owner claiming the industrial waste control facility property tax exemption must: (1) provide a written statement attesting that the property claimed as exempt meets the requirements for the exemption; and (2) file the statement along with the exemption claim. Eliminates provisions under which: (1) the property owner must mail a copy of the exemption claim to the department of environmental management (department); (2) the department may certify to the assessor its written determination whether the property for which the exemption is claimed is being used as an industrial waste control facility; and (3) the assessor is required to allow the total exemption claimed by the property owner if the department does not certify its determination to the assessor within 120 days after the…MORE Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Environmental Affairs Recent Status: 1/11/2021 - Authored By Mark Messmer Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB271

SB272 POLE ATTACHMENT FEES (MESSMER M) Imposes limitations on fees, terms, and conditions that may be imposed by a person or entity for access to: (1) tracks, conduits, subways, or poles; or (2) other equipment on, over, or under a street or highway; owned or controlled by the person or entity. Specifies that providers of cable service are communications service providers regulated under certificates of territorial authority issued by the Indiana utility regulatory commission. Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Recent Status: 1/11/2021 - Authored By Mark Messmer Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB272

SB312 WORK SHARING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM (YODER S) Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program (program). Requires an employer that desires to participate in the program to submit a work sharing plan for approval by the commissioner of the department of workforce development. Establishes the work sharing benefit as equal to an affected employee's unemployment benefit reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage of the employee's normal weekly work hours that the employee works under the approved work sharing plan. Current Status: 1/12/2021 - Referred to Senate Pensions and Labor Recent Status: 1/12/2021 - Authored By Shelli Yoder Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB312

SB336 ASSESSMENT AND TAX EXEMPTIONS (FREEMAN A) Provides that the business personal property exemption from taxation is based on the assessed value of the business personal property instead of the acquisition cost. Provides that a reward received for providing information that assists in the arrest, indictment, or filing of charges against a person is exempt from the tax imposed on adjusted gross income. Provides that the minimum valuation applicable to the total amount of a taxpayer's assessable depreciable personal property in a taxing district is 30% of the adjusted cost of the depreciable personal property beginning with the January 1, 2022, assessment date. Provides an exemption from the 30% minimum valuation limitation for new depreciable personal property purchased after December 31, 2021. Provides that for special integrated steel mill or oil refinery/petrochemical equipment purchased after December 31, 2021, a taxpayer may elect to calculate the true tax value of the equipment in the ninth year of acquisition and each year thereafter by multiplying the adjusted cost of the equipment by zero. Current Status: 1/26/2021 - Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Recent Status: 1/11/2021 - First Reading Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB336

SB348 WASTEWATER TASK FORCE (KOCH E) Establishes the task force on wastewater infrastructure investment and service to underserved areas (task force). Provides that the task force consists of the following 14 members: (1) Four members of the senate, with the president pro tempore appointing three members (one of whom serves as co-chair of the task force), and the minority leader appointing one member. (2) Four members of the house of representatives, with the speaker appointing three members (one of whom serves as co-chair of the task force), and the minority leader appointing one member. (3) Six gubernatorial appointees, including the following: (A) One officer or employee of the state. (B) One member representing operators of wastewater management systems. (C) One engineer, or another professional, with expertise in wastewater management systems. (D) One member representing ratepayers. (E) One member representing municipalities served by a wastewater operator not under the jurisdiction of the utility regulatory commission (IURC). (F) One member of the general public. Sets forth the duties of the task force. Requires the task force to develop a long term…MORE Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Utilities Recent Status: 1/11/2021 - Authored By Eric Koch Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB348

SB373 CARBON CREDIT PROGRAMS (GLICK S) Amends the law concerning the President Benjamin Harrison conservation trust program to give the program additional powers relating to the reduction of carbon footprints. Authorizes the program to: (1) receive money from persons wishing to invest in actions that will result in carbon sequestration; (2) deposit the money in an account called the INpact forest carbon account; (3) use money in the account to purchase property that will generate carbon offsets and make grants to land trusts or other entities that will purchase property to generate carbon offsets; and (4) sell or facilitate the sale of carbon offsets. Provides that money in the INpact forest carbon account may be used to pay all costs and expenses associated with the new program functions. Amends the law concerning the clean water Indiana program to create an account called the INpact farmland…MORE Current Status: 2/1/2021 - Senate Natural Resources, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Recent Status: 1/12/2021 - Referred to Senate Natural Resources Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB373

SB376 NONSCHOOL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE (RAATZ J) Requires the state board of education (state board) to adopt administrative rules to allow an organization to provide credit under a Core 40 curriculum model for alternative programs in which students obtain credit counting toward the student's graduation requirements from nonschool educational experience that applies or incorporates content area knowledge in lieu of a required or elective course in the Core 40 curriculum model. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Senate Education and Career Development Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Authored By Jeff Raatz Priority: Tier 2 - Medium

State Bill Page: SB376

HB1008 STUDENT LEARNING RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM (CARBAUGH M) Establishes the: (1) student learning recovery grant program; and (2) student learning recovery grant program fund (fund). Provides that, to be eligible to receive a grant, an eligible entity must develop and submit a student learning acceleration plan (plan). Establishes requirements for a plan. Appropriates to the fund from the state general fund for the purposes of the program $150,000,000 for the 2021 state fiscal year. Current Status: 1/27/2021 - House Ways and Means, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1008

HB1011 EQUAL PAY; WAGE DISCLOSURE PROTECTION (JACKSON C) Provides that it is an unlawful employment practice to: (1) pay wages that discriminate based on sex for substantially similar work; (2) discharge, discipline, discriminate against, coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any employee or other person because the employee inquired about, disclosed, compared, or otherwise discussed the employee's wages; (3) require as a condition of employment nondisclosure by an employee of the employee's wages; or (4) require an employee to sign a waiver or other document that purports to deny the employee the right to disclose the employee's wage information. Provides the civil rights commission has jurisdiction for the investigation and resolution of complaints of these employment actions. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By Carolyn Jackson Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1011

HB1013 RAILROAD CROSSINGS (JACKSON C) Requires a railroad corporation to inform the local law enforcement authority of a blocked railroad-highway grade crossing in certain instances. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Roads and Transportation Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By Carolyn Jackson Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1013

HB1026 MEDICAL MARIJUANA (LUCAS J) Permits the use of medical marijuana by persons with serious medical conditions as determined by their physician. Establishes a medical marijuana program to permit the cultivation, processing, testing, transportation, and dispensing of medical marijuana by holders of a valid permit. Requires the state department of health (state department) to implement and enforce the medical marijuana program. Requires that permit holders undertake steps to prevent diversion of medical marijuana to unauthorized persons. Requires that medical marijuana and medical marijuana products be properly labeled, placed in child resistant packaging, and tested by an independent testing laboratory before being made available for purchase. Prohibits packaging medical marijuana in a manner that is appealing to children. Authorizes research on medical marijuana in accordance with rules set forth by the state department. Prohibits discrimination against medical marijuana users. Prohibits harassment of medical marijuana users by law enforcement officers, and prohibits cooperation with federal law enforcement officials seeking to enforce federal laws that criminalize the use of marijuana authorized in Indiana. Makes conforming amendments. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Public Health Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By Jim Lucas Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1026

HB1028 MARIJUANA (LUCAS J) Decriminalizes the possession of: (1) 30 grams or less of marijuana; or (2) five grams or less of hash oil or hashish; by making the violation a Class D infraction. Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally possesses an instrument, a device, or another object that the person intends to use for introducing marijuana into the person's body commits a Class D infraction. Establishes a per se intoxication level of 10 nanograms of THC per milliliter of whole blood for purposes of operating while intoxicated laws, and requires that the analysis of controlled substances in a person's blood measure only the controlled substance and not the metabolites of the controlled substance. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By Jim Lucas Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1028

HB1031 RESIDENTIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (MOED J) Defines "residential housing" as housing or workforce housing that consists of single family dwelling units sufficient to secure quality housing in reasonable proximity to employment. Revises the requirements an allocation area must meet for the redevelopment commission to establish a program for housing. Allows the redevelopment commission of a consolidated city (commission) to establish a program for residential housing development and a tax increment funding allocation area for the program if the average of new, residential houses constructed in the consolidated city in each of the preceding three years is less than 1% of the total number of residential houses located in the consolidated city. Requires the department of local government finance, in cooperation with the appropriate agency of the consolidated city, to determine eligibility for the residential housing development program. Specifies the findings the commission must make before adopting the residential housing development program….MORE Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Coauthored by Representative Pressel Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1031

HB1046 HEMP FLOWER (LUCAS J) Removes smokable hemp as a crime. Legalizes all parts of the hemp plant for the purposes of agricultural production. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By Jim Lucas Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1046

HB1047 EDUCATION MATTERS (LUCAS J) Provides that any statute or rule establishing requirements regarding teacher salary, evaluations, or curriculum or any other requirement regarding the employment of teachers other than teacher licensing requirements is, as applicable, repealed or voided. Establishes the education options account program (program). Requires the treasurer of state to administer the program. Establishes: (1) the education options account fund; and (2) requirements and conditions for the program. Requires the treasurer of state to: (1) annually request a parent of an eligible student who is participating in the program to complete a written survey; and (2) annually provide a summary of the survey to the governor and the legislative council. Continuously appropriates money from the education options account fund and the accounts established within the fund for the purposes of the program. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Education Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By Jim Lucas Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1047

HB1062 BYRON RATCLIFFE SR. RACIAL PROFILING REFORM ACT (PRYOR C) Honors the memory of Byron Ratcliffe Sr. by doing the following: (1) Prohibiting law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers from engaging in racial profiling or conducting unlawful pretextual stops. (2) Requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt a detailed policy that defines the elements of racial profiling and unlawful pretextual stops. (3) Requiring law enforcement agencies to collect certain data pertaining to stops made by law enforcement officers. (4) Requiring law enforcement officers to receive training that includes cultural diversity awareness training and education concerning racial profiling and unlawful pretextual stops. (5) Requiring law enforcement agencies to transmit to the attorney general certain information concerning: (A) complaints concerning racial profiling and unlawful…MORE Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Coauthored by Representative Campbell Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1062

HB1075 ANNUAL REVIEW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FOR BIAS (JACKSON C) Provides that the chief executive officer of a law enforcement department or agency in Indiana (chief executive officer) shall be the officer in charge of an investigation when there is: (1) a complaint made against; or (2) an internal investigation of; a law enforcement officer involving bias or prejudice. Provides that if the chief executive officer concludes that a law enforcement officer's actions were a result of bias or prejudice, the chief executive officer shall include the incident in a written report submitted to the executive director of the law enforcement training board and to the legislative council not later than March 31 of each year. Provides that the written report detailing a law enforcement officer's actions involving bias or prejudice shall also include the following, if applicable: (1) Each arrest. (2) Each search warrant or arrest warrant that was executed. (3) Each incident involving the use of force. (4) Each incident involving the use of force causing death. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Coauthored by Representative Pryor Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1075

HB1131 BIAS MOTIVATED CRIMES (BOY P) Establishes a sentencing procedure that requires a court, when sentencing an individual who has committed a crime that is motivated by a bias against another individual's actual or perceived age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity, military service, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation to impose an additional fixed term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, if the offense is a felony, or three years, if the offense is a misdemeanor. Requires law enforcement agencies to report bias motivated crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code Recent Status: 1/7/2021 - Authored By Pat Boy Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1131

HB1136 PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAM (CAMPBELL C) Requires the department of workforce development to establish a paid family and medical leave program to provide payments for employees who take family and medical leave. Establishes the family and medical leave fund to be funded with appropriations from the general assembly and payroll contributions. Specifies requirements for administration of the paid family and medical leave program. Provides for the department of workforce development to approve an employer's use of a private plan to meet the paid family and medical leave program obligations. Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Recent Status: 1/7/2021 - Coauthored by Representative Davisson Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1136

HB1153 MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION MATTERS (SHACKLEFORD R) Specifies that an individual's incarceration, hospitalization, or other temporary cessation in substance or chemical use may not be used as a factor in determining the individual's eligibility for coverage in: (1) a state employee health care plan; (2) Medicaid; (3) the healthy Indiana plan; (4) a policy of accident and sickness insurance; or (5) a health maintenance health care contract. Requires an opioid treatment program to: (1) provide a patient of the facility referral for continuing care before releasing the patient from care by the facility; and (2) counsel female patients concerning the effects of the program treatment if the female is or becomes pregnant and provide to the patient birth control if requested by the patient. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to annually perform an audit of 20% of an opioid treatment program facility's patient plans to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations…MORE Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to House Public Health Recent Status: 1/7/2021 - Authored By Robin Shackleford Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1153

HB1205 RIOTING (MCNAMARA W) Removes immunity under the Indiana tort claims act for the failure to enforce a law if the failure to enforce the law: (1) occurs in connection with an unlawful assembly; and (2) constitutes gross negligence. Requires a person convicted of a battery against a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services provider to: (1) serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 or 90 days, depending on the severity of the injury; and (2) make restitution to the victim. Defines "tumultuous conduct" and "unlawful assembly" for purposes of the rioting statute, and requires a person convicted of rioting to: (1) serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days; and (2) make restitution to the victim. Defines "camp" and "state capitol and related property", and makes unlawful camping on state capitol and related property a Class A misdemeanor. Allows for the civil forfeiture of property that is used by a person to finance a crime committed by a person while a (lawful or unlawful)…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Coauthored by Representatives Steuerwald, Bartels, VanNatter Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1205

HB1209 BIAS MOTIVATED CRIMES (PORTER G) Provides that a bias motivated crime is a crime in which the person who commits the crime knowingly or intentionally selects: (1) the individual against whom the crime was committed; or (2) any property damaged or otherwise affected by the crime; in whole or in part because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or disability of the individual or a group of individuals, whether or not the person's belief or perception was correct. Amends the law that requires law enforcement agencies to collect and report information concerning bias motivated crimes. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Authored By Gregory Porter Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1209

HB1224 CRAFT HEMP FLOWER AND HEMP PRODUCTION (EBERHART S) Requires a modified retail merchant's certificate for a merchant that sells craft hemp flower. Provides that the information on a modified retail merchant's certificate application submitted under this section is confidential and is not subject to public inspection or copying. Excludes craft hemp flower from the definition of "hemp product". Removes references to smokable hemp. Provides that the state seed commissioner may not adopt or enforce a rule that is more strict than required under federal law or regulation. Repeals a law that requires that a hemp bud or a hemp flower be sold only to a processor licensed in Indiana….MORE Current Status: 1/25/2021 – Hearing Scheduled, House Commerce, Small Business & Econ Devel Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Commerce, Small Business & Economic Development Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1224

HB1234 FAIR AND OPEN COMPETITION FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS (TORR J) Provides that a public agency may not do any of the following: (1) Impose by rule, ordinance, or other action, or in the bid specifications or contract documents for a public works project, a requirement inconsistent with, in addition to, or more stringent or restrictive than certain statutory prequalification or any other requirement of an applicable public works statute. (2) Award a public works contract to a contractor under a contract award standard other than the contract award standard of the applicable public works statute. (3) Require a potential bidder on a public works project to provide any information other than the applicable financial information required by the prequalification statutes or as prescribed by the state board of accounts under the applicable public works statute. (4) By rule, ordinance, or any…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Coauthored by Representative Miller D Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1234

HB1238 NORTHEAST INDIANA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (HEINE D) Establishes the northeast Indiana strategic development commission (commission). Provides for appointment of members of the commission. Specifies the purposes of the commission. Current Status: 1/28/2021 - House Government and Regulatory Reform, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Government and Regulatory Reform Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1238

HB1245 PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH DISCRIMINATION (BAUER M) Prohibits an employer from discriminating against a pregnant job applicant or employee. Requires an employer to provide reasonable employment accommodations for a pregnant employee. Requires the civil rights commission to investigate complaints and attempt to resolve complaints. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Coauthored by Representative Hamilton Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1245

HB1363 CONTROLLED PROJECTS (THOMPSON J) Adds back the following deductions in calculating the basis for taxation of property for purposes of a referendum tax levy that is approved after June 30, 2021: (1) The homestead standard deduction. (2) The supplemental homestead deduction. (3) The mortgage deduction. Modifies the threshold amounts used for determining whether a political subdivision's project is a controlled project and whether the petition and remonstrance process or the referendum process applies. Bases these threshold amounts on gross assessed value. Provides that, for purposes…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Authored By Jeffrey Thompson Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1363

HB1274 TRAILS FUNDING (HAMILTON C) Makes appropriations from the state general fund to the department of natural resources for the recreational trail maintenance fund to be used for the next level trails program for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Ways and Means Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Coauthored by Representative Cook Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1274

HB1278 EDUCATION MATTERS (JUDY C) Provides that, for each school year, a school corporation shall conduct at least: (1) 900 hours of instructional time for students in grades 1 through 6; and (2) 1,080 hours of instructional time for students in grades 7 through 12. (Current law requires the following: (1) That a school corporation conducts at least 180 student instructional days. (2) That a student instructional day in grades 1 through 6 consists of at least five hours of instructional time and a student instructional day in grades 7 through 12 consists of at least six hours of instructional time.) Defines "instructional day". Simplifies and makes corresponding changes to reducing tuition support if a school corporation fails to conduct the minimum number of instructional hours during a school year…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Education Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Authored By Chris Judy Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1278

HB1385 ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT PROGRAMS (MANNING E) Authorizes an electric utility (defined for purposes of these provisions as a public utility that is subject to the jurisdiction of the utility regulatory commission (IURC)) to request approval from the IURC to implement a pilot program to do any of the following: (1) Install, own, or operate charging infrastructure and make-ready infrastructure for electric vehicles. (2) Provide incentives or rebates to customers to encourage customer investment in electric vehicles and in associated individual electric vehicle infrastructure. Provides that an electric utility's request may include a request for: (1) assurance of cost recovery for pilot program costs, up to the amount of an approved cost estimate; and (2) deferral of pilot program costs. Provides that the IURC shall approve an electric utility's request if the IURC finds the proposed pilot program and costs to be reasonable and consistent with state policy. Specifies that an electric utility is not…MORE Current Status: 1/26/2021 - House Utilities, Energy & Telecommunications (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1385

HB1394 NET METERING FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION (COOK A) Amends the statute concerning distributed electricity generation as follows: (1) Defines a "public use customer" of an electricity supplier as a customer that is: (A) a school corporation; or (B) a local unit. (2) Provides that an electricity supplier's net metering tariff must be made and remain available to customers until the earlier of: (A) January 1 of the first calendar year after the calendar year in which the aggregate amount of net metering facility nameplate capacity under the electricity supplier's net metering tariff equals at least 3% (versus 1.5% under current law) of the electricity supplier's most recent summer peak load; or (B) July 1, 2024 (versus July 1, 2022, under current law). (3) Provides that before July 1, 2021, an electricity supplier shall amend its net metering tariff, or file a new net metering tariff with the utility regulatory commission (IURC), to do the following: (A) Establish as the allowed limit on the aggregate amount of net metering facility nameplate capacity under the tariff an amount equal to at least three percent (3%) of the electricity supplier's most recent summer peak load. (B) Allow a public use customer that: (i) operates a net metering facility on a premises that the public use customer owns or controls…MORE Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Coauthored by Representatives Negele and Schaibley Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1394

HB1491 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT (MOED J) Establishes the tourism industry recovery fund to provide loans and grants to promote, encourage, and support travel and tourism in Indiana in light of the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Provides that the fund is administered by the destination development corporation. Requires the corporation to establish criteria for loans and grants. Allows the corporation to award loans and grants from the fund. Makes an appropriation. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to House Ways and Means Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Authored By Justin Moed Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1491

HB1569 INDIANA STAGES RELIEF (JOHNSON B) Establishes an application process for: (1) operators of qualifying performing arts venues; (2) producers; and (3) promoters; to apply for grants for purposes of offsetting the economic impact to the music, comedy, and performing arts industry as a result of COVID- 19. Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation shall administer the grants. Provides that grants shall be issued with money received from the federal government in relation to COVID-19. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Committee on Ways and Means Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Coauthored by Representative Andrade Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: HB1569

SB33 EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION OFFICERS (FORD J) Provides that each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic school shall maintain at least one equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. Establishes duties for the equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. Requires the department of education (department) to provide certain information and resources for an equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. Provides that the department, with the approval of the state board of education, may assign additional duties to an equity, diversity, and inclusion officer to: (1) improve comprehensive strategy fostering equitable, diverse, and inclusive training; and (2) provide and promote education to cultivate an awareness and understanding of the various federal, state, and local…MORE Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Senate Education and Career Development Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By J.D. Ford Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB33

SB34 UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY (TOMES J) Provides that a person convicted of rioting is not eligible: (1) for employment by the state or a local unit of government; and (2) to receive certain state and local benefits. Removes immunity under the Indiana tort claims act for the failure to enforce a law if the failure to enforce the law: (1) occurs in connection with an unlawful assembly; and (2) constitutes gross negligence. Allows for the civil forfeiture of property that is used by a person to finance a crime committed by a person who is a member of an unlawful assembly. Prohibits a person from being released on bail without a hearing in open court, establishes a rebuttable presumption that money bail shall be required, and requires a court to consider whether bail conditions more stringent than…MORE Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By James Tomes Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB34

SB36 PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT (BECKER V) Establishes the psychology interjurisdictional compact concerning interjurisdictional telepsychology and the temporary authorization to practice psychology in another compact state. Sets forth requirements of a compact state. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Senate Health and Provider Services Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By Vaneta Becker Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB36

SB67 CALL CENTER WORKER AND CONSUMER PROTECTION (NIEZGODSKI D) Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to compile a list of all employers that relocate a call center to a foreign country and to disqualify employers on that list from state grants, loans, and tax credits. Requires an employer receiving a state grant, loan, or tax credit to notify the IEDC if the employer intends to relocate a call center. Imposes a civil penalty on an employer that does not notify the IEDC. Current Status: 1/4/2021 - Referred to Senate Pensions and Labor Recent Status: 1/4/2021 - Authored By David Niezgodski Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB67

SB86 CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TAX RATES (TALLIAN K) Halts the phased changes to the corporate adjusted gross income tax rate at 5.25%. Halts the phased changes to the financial institutions tax rate at 6%. Current Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Rules and Legislative Procedure Recent Status: 1/11/2021 - Authored By Karen Tallian Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB86

SB119 PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION IN CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES (LANANE T) Extends certain antidiscrimination and civil rights statutes to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. Provides that every discriminatory practice relating to the acquisition or sale of real estate, education, public accommodations, employment, or the extending of credit is considered unlawful unless it is specifically exempted. Current Status: 1/7/2021 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Recent Status: 1/7/2021 - Authored By Timothy Lanane Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB119

SB121 STUDY OF LOW-CARBON AND GREEN INDUSTRIES (LANANE T) Requires the Indiana University Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs to: (1) assess the potential for the development of low-carbon and green industries in Indiana and the job creation, economic growth, and wealth generation that could result for Indiana communities from the development of these industries; and (2) report the results of its assessment to the legislative council in an electronic format not later than December 1, 2021. Current Status: 1/5/2021 - Referred to Senate Environmental Affairs Recent Status: 1/5/2021 - Authored By Timothy Lanane Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB121

SB123 AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY COMPACT (KRUSE D) Enacts the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact. Makes conforming amendments. Current Status: 1/27/2021 - Senate Education and Career Development, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Recent Status: 1/13/2021 - Senate Education and Career Development, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB123

SB170 FOOD DESERT GRANT PROGRAM (FORD J) Establishes the food desert grant program within the state department of health (ISDH) to assist new and existing retail businesses in offering fresh and unprocessed foods within a "food desert" (an underserved geographic area where, as determined by the ISDH, affordable fresh and healthy foods are difficult to obtain). Provides that a grant awarded under the program may be used to establish a new retail grocery store or to renovate, expand, or upgrade an existing retail business that will increase the availability and quality of fresh produce and other healthy foods. Requires the ISDH to consider certain criteria when determining whether to award a grant and requires the recipient of a grant to abide by certain terms and conditions. Establishes the food desert fund for purposes of awarding grants under the program. Requires the ISDH to report on the program annually to the general assembly. Current Status: 1/5/2021 - Referred to Senate Health and Provider Services Recent Status: 1/5/2021 - Authored By J.D. Ford Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB170

SB305 PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT (MESSMER M) Enacts the physical therapy licensure compact. Makes conforming amendments. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - added as second author Senator Charbonneau Recent Status: 1/11/2021 - Referred to Senate Health and Provider Services Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB305

SB406 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND (QADDOURA F) Establishes the Indiana local projects fund (fund) to provide grants to nonprofit organizations and units of local government. Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) shall administer the fund. Defines "nonprofit organization" as a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is community development and revitalization. Provides that the fund is to support proposals for local community development and revitalization, including job creation. Provides that grants may not exceed $5,000,000 per project. Provides that grants must be matched by the applicant. Provides that the board of the corporation shall form a strategic review committee to review applications for grants. Specifies the criteria the board shall consider in making a grant. Current Status: 1/14/2021 - Referred to Senate Appropriations Recent Status: 1/14/2021 - Authored By Fady Qaddoura Priority: Tier 3 - Low

State Bill Page: SB406