SB 327 Indiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Marion County small claims fees.

Summary

Requires a clerk to collect a small claims service fee of $26 in each action filed in a Marion County small claims court. Establishes the small claims fund. Requires the court to distribute certain fees to the county auditor for distribution to the small claims fund. Provides that the fees in the small claims fund are to be distributed equally among the townships and the fees must fund the operation of the small claims court located within the township.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Mar 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Senate Bill (H) → Senate Bill (S) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Marion County small claims court system by clarifying jurisdiction rules, establishing a new small claims fund, and modifying fee collection and distribution requirements. The changes ensure that only the Marion County small claims court handles specific cases, define where cases must be filed, and create a structured way to distribute collected fees among townships for court operations.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope to include jurisdiction clarifications for circuit, superior, and probate courts in Marion County, while adding new fee categories and distribution requirements for the small claims fund.

SCOPE

Removed concurrent jurisdiction between circuit/superior courts and Marion County small claims court for specific cases, designating only the small claims court for those matters.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that small claims matters must be filed in a specific township or contiguous township.

Repealed provisions concerning low caseload courts that previously had different fee distribution rules.

FISCAL

Expanded fee distribution requirements to include document storage fees, 25% of judicial salaries fees, township docket and late fees, small claims service fees, and 40% of court administration fees.

TIMELINE

Updated bill effective date references and revision dates throughout the document.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2025

How they voted

48–1

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 50

Feb 20, 2025

D Democratic10

9 Yea 1

90% Yea

R Republican40

39 Yea 1 Nay

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third reading: passed; Roll Call 184: yeas 48, nays 1

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment #2 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report: do pass, adopted

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor