Indiana

Domestic violence reports. Removes language concerning an affidavit from provisions concerning probable cause for battery and domestic battery. Requires a law enforcement officer to provide a victim who requests a protection order with the required forms and appropriate assistance in completing and filing the forms.

Local income taxes. Provides that within a county's total expenditure rate, the county may adopt: (1) up to a 0.7% rate (instead of a 1.2% rate) for county general purpose revenue; (2) up to a 0.2% rate (instead of a 0.4% rate) for fire protection and emergency medical services; (3) up to a 0.2% rate for nonmunicipal civil taxing unit general purpose revenue; and (4) up to a 1.9% rate (instead of a 1.2% rate) for certain cities and towns that are not eligible to adopt a municipal LIT rate. Eliminates provisions that expire local income tax rates each year. Authorizes a city or town to impose a municipal LIT rate up to 1.9% (instead of 1.2%). Modifies the population threshold required for a city or town to impose a municipal LIT rate. Modifies the formula used to determine distribution amounts of revenue from a tax rate imposed for fire protection and emergency medical services.

Sale of hemp containing products. Provides that a person selling certain hemp products may not permit an individual less than 21 years of age to enter the retail premises, and makes a violation a Class C infraction.

Water intensive facilities. Provides that if a proposed economic development project includes proposed construction or establishment of a facility that will consume an average of at least 500,000 gallons of water per day in ordinary operation (water intensive facility), the Indiana finance authority (IFA) may not approve a bid for the project, the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) may not grant a job creation incentive for the project, and a local unit may not provide financing for the project unless the IFA, IEDC, or local unit: (1) provides notice of the proposed water intensive facility to the water utility that provides water utility service to the proposed location of the water intensive facility; (2) receives from the water utility a plan for provision of water utility service to the water intensive facility; (3) determines that the water utility's plan adequately ensures that: (A) the water utility can reliably meet both the ordinary and peak water demand of the water intensive facility; and (B) incremental costs of supplying water to the water intensive facility will be allocated to and paid by the water intensive facility; and (4) provides the water utility's plan to the local plan commission.

Wage matters. Updates or amends certain portions of the definition of "employee". Provides that an employer who knowingly sells merchandise or supplies to an employee for higher than the market price commits a Class C infraction. Provides that an employer must pay each employee at least semimonthly or biweekly the amount due the employee. (Current law gives the employee the choice.) Provides that a wage assignment: (1) is not required to have a revocation provision on or after July 1, 2026; and (2) may benefit the employer under certain circumstances. Specifies that an employee may bring an action under certain wage provisions if an employer makes an improper wage deduction. Reorganizes certain minimum wage and wage claim provisions. Changes the statute of limitations with respect to certain minimum wage and wage claim provisions. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Voter identification. Provides that a REAL ID driver's license or identification card that complies with certain requirements is sufficient proof of identification for purposes of elections statutes.

Exclusionary rule. Prohibits the exclusion of otherwise admissible evidence based on a violation of the Constitution of the State of Indiana, the Constitution of the United States, or the laws of the United States or Indiana unless certain conditions apply. Provides that an appeal from a court's order excluding evidence may be taken directly to the supreme court.

Administrative rules review. Establishes the administrative rules review committee. Requires an agency to submit a rule, including an executive order, and the latest version of the regulatory analysis with any supporting documents to the office of fiscal management and analysis of the legislative services agency to estimate the fiscal impact on state and local government. Provides that if the fiscal impact is estimated to be greater than $300,000 in any two year period, the rule and supporting documents shall be provided to the administrative rules review committee for review. Provides that the rule described may not take effect unless authorized by a bill enacted by the general assembly, unless the governor certifies that an emergency exists and the rule is necessary to address the emergency. Specifies that a rule enacted to address an emergency expires after one year.

Natural resource entrance fees. Allows counties to adopt an ordinance to impose a surcharge of not more than $2 in addition to the fees charged by the department of natural resources (department) for entry into state parks and state recreation areas. Requires the department to collect the surcharge and to report and pay the surcharge to each county treasurer. Provides that the revenue collected is to be used for purposes related to first responders and infrastructure improvements. Provides that the surcharge may not be imposed on a person who holds an annual pass.

Crimes concerning gift cards. Establishes the offenses of gift card theft, a Class A misdemeanor, and gift card fraud, a Level 6 felony.

Zoning overlay districts for solar projects. Provides that after December 31, 2025, a permit authority may not establish in a unit a zoning overlay district in which one or more commercial solar energy projects (CSE projects) will be located unless each underlying zoning district across which the proposed overlay district will extend is zoned for a use that, under the unit's existing zoning ordinance at the time the overlay district is proposed, permits the location of a CSE project within that underlying district. Provides that if one or more underlying zoning districts across which the proposed overlay district will extend is not zoned for a use that permits the location of a CSE project within that underlying district, each such underlying zoning district, or part of the zoning district, must be rezoned for a use that permits the location of a CSE project within all or part of the underlying zoning district.

Data center development. Requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission) to establish a working group to: (1) determine an estimate of the future electricity demands of the data center industry in Indiana; and (2) report to the general assembly regarding the working group's findings and recommendations not later than October 31, 2026. Requires: (1) a person that operates a data center in Indiana to submit to the commission a quarterly report of the amount of electricity used by the data center in the immediately preceding quarter; and (2) the commission to publish a summary of the reported information on the commission's website. Provides that a county, municipality, or township shall, before issuing a permit to a person for construction of a data center: (1) require the person to disclose the projected power and water usage of the facility; and (2) perform a site assessment to determine the possible effects of the data center.

Attorney eligibility for real estate broker exam. Allows a licensed attorney to obtain a real estate broker license without completing an approved broker course of study.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment program. Requires the Indiana department of veterans' affairs to establish and administer a hyperbaric oxygen treatment program (program) to make grants to certain providers to provide diagnostic testing and hyperbaric oxygen treatment to qualified service members. Establishes program requirements. Requires the Indiana department of health to: (1) issue a request for proposals to offer treatment under the program; and (2) adopt rules to implement these provisions, including rules concerning program eligibility, treatment plan requirements, criteria for approving payments for treatment, and confidentiality. Provides that funding for the program is paid from the military family relief fund. Makes conforming amendments related to the sunset of the hyperbaric oxygen treatment pilot program.

Collection of toll road user fees. Requires the Indiana department of transportation to establish and implement an electronic or nonmanual tolling program as the sole means for charging and collecting user fees. Provides that a public-private agreement between the Indiana finance authority and an operator that is entered into, renewed, or amended after June 30, 2026, must contain a provision requiring the operator to establish and implement an electronic or nonmanual tolling program as the sole means for charging and collecting user fees.

Sentence modification. Requires the department of correction to issue a certificate of eligibility for rehabilitative release (certificate) to certain convicted persons. Provides that a certificate must be issued to the following: (1) A person sentenced for a crime other than murder who is at least 60 years of age, and has served at least 20 years in the department of correction. (2) A person serving a sentence for murder who is at least 62 years of age, and has served at least 30 years in the department of correction. Allows a convicted person who has received a certificate to file a petition for sentence modification without the consent of the prosecuting attorney. Provides certain criteria that the court must consider when ruling on a petition for sentence modification. Allows a court to grant a petition for sentence modification if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that: (1) the convicted person is no longer a danger to public safety; (2) the convicted person has demonstrated significant rehabilitative efforts, including participation in educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs; and (3) the interest of justice supports sentence modification. Allows the state public defender to represent a convicted person on a petition for sentence modification that is based upon a certificate. Allows certain convicted persons to file a petition for sentence reduction. Requires a petition for sentence reduction to identify information related the convicted person, sentence sought to be reduced, and evidence in support of the request. Allows a court to dismiss an incomplete petition or set a hearing on a properly filed petition. Requires that notice of a hearing be served on the petitioner, convicted person, counsel, department of correction, prosecuting attorney, and the victim or witness. Requires a court to appoint a public defender to represent the convicted person. Provides that the court is to take certain factors into consideration when deciding a petition for sentence reduction. Specifies that if the evidence supports that the convicted person does not present a significant safety risk to the community, there is a rebuttable presumption that the convicted person's sentence should be reduced by at least 20%. Requires the court to issue a final appealable order with findings of fact.

Lake County Convention Center. Makes changes to the amount of supplemental wagering tax that the treasurer of state is required to pay to each riverboat operating in Gary. Makes changes to the distribution of wagering tax revenue to the city of Gary. Legalizes and validates bonds, notes, evidences of indebtedness, leases, or other written obligations issued or executed by or in the name of the: (1) Indiana finance authority; (2) development authority; and (3) Lake County Convention Center Authority (authority); as authorized or approved by resolution or ordinance adopted before February 28, 2026. Provides that the authority is established when the construction of the convention and event center is substantially completed so that the convention and event center can be used for its intended purpose. (Current law provides for the establishment of the authority upon the adoption of the proposal for the development, operation, and ownership of the Lake County convention and event center.) Requires a member appointed to the authority to be an Indiana resident. Provides that an attorney in active standing may not be appointed to the authority. Provides that the Lake County convention and event center reserve fund shall be administered by the Lake County commissioners until the authority is established. Repeals a provision that allocates deposits of Gary riverboat graduated wagering tax revenue.

Various food matters. Establishes the Indiana food protection panel (panel). Provides that a recipient of an enforcement action taken by a local health officer following a food establishment inspection may appeal the action to the panel. Prohibits the health and hospital corporation or a local health department from imposing requirements or standards that exceed the minimum sanitary standards adopted by the Indiana department of health (state department). Requires the state department to: (1) provide local health departments with guidelines concerning the interpretation of the state department's rules; (2) designate an employee as the point of contact for local health departments on sanitary standards for food establishments; and (3) distribute the contact information of the designated employee to the local health departments. Requires the state department to create a business model determination worksheet and distribute the worksheet to all the local health departments. Permits an individual vendor at a farmers' market or roadside stand to sell certain meat products. Adds provisions concerning limited custom exempt meat product sales. Prohibits a person from misbranding a food product containing insect protein and selling a misbranded food product containing insect protein as a food product. Requires a person selling a food product containing insect protein to label the food product with a label stating "THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS INSECT PROTEIN". Prohibits a county, city, or town (unit) from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that prevents a person from cultivating a vegetable garden on certain property. Allows a unit to adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that imposes the same standards and requirements as those imposed on certain property.

Physician standards of practice. Specifies that the provisions prohibiting a physician or practitioner from aiding or abetting in the provision of gender transition procedures to a minor do not prohibit a physician or other practitioner from: (1) releasing a minor's health information to another physician or other practitioner in the course of the receiving practitioner's care of the minor; or (2) discussing a minor's medical history with another physician or other practitioner providing care to the minor.

Prohibition of certain abortion funding. Prohibits an Indiana governmental entity from making a payment from any fund under its control for the costs associated with procuring an abortion, including travel expenses, unless the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman. Specifies that the prohibition does not apply to a payment made by an Indiana governmental entity to provide group health insurance for employees of the Indiana governmental entity.

Education matters. Prohibits a school corporation, public school, governing body of a school corporation, or state educational institution from spending public funds to: (1) hire or contract with, for the purpose of lobbying a member of the general assembly, a person required to register as a lobbyist; or (2) pay a nonprofit association or organization that: (A) primarily represents school corporations, public schools, governing bodies, or state educational institutions; and (B) hires or contracts with a person required to register as a lobbyist. Provides that a taxpayer or resident of Indiana may bring a civil action for a violation of the prohibited conduct. Provides that a school corporation may not convert a scheduled instructional day to virtual instruction because of the planned or coordinated absence of teachers or other personnel for the purpose of participating in a protest, demonstration, or political advocacy event. Provides that a school corporation that violates this provision is subject to a reduction in state tuition support for each day of violation. Provides that a school employer may not deduct any dues, fee, assessment, or other sum of money from the wages or other earnings of an employee to hold for or pay to a school employee organization. Repeals provisions regarding certain deductions of dues from pay by school employers.

Deferred retirement option plan. Allows a member of the 1925 police pension fund, 1937 firefighters' pension fund, 1953 police pension fund (Indianapolis), or 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund to withdraw from the deferred retirement option plan (DROP) and make an election to enter the DROP for a second time not earlier than three years after the date the member withdraws from the DROP. Provides that a member may make an election to enter the DROP only twice in the member's lifetime.

Ratification of amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Provides for ratification of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States concerning congressional apportionment.

Titles for vintage vehicles. Establishes a procedure for applying for bonded certificates of title for vintage motor vehicles. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to amend the Indiana Administrative Code to make a conforming amendment. Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally provides false information to receive a bonded certificate of title commits fraud involving a bonded certificate of title, a Level 6 felony.

Restrictions on lobbying for a foreign adversary. Provides that a lobbyist may not: (1) register as a lobbyist for a foreign adversary client; and (2) contract as a lobbyist to represent a foreign adversary.