SB 355 Indiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Municipal elections.

Summary

Moves, as a general rule, elections of town officers to even-numbered years. Allows a town that has a population of more than 10,000 to pass a resolution to opt out of the general rule. Allows a city to pass a resolution to opt in to the general rule. Increases the amount of time that a voter may remain in the voting booth at a primary, general, municipal, or special election, from four minutes to seven minutes. Makes conforming amendments.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jan 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) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to clarify that it applies to both cities and towns, not just cities. It also updated the bill number from SB 355.2 to SB 355.1 and adjusted the reprint date to January 29, 2025. The digest was shortened to remove specific town population thresholds, and the bill now includes a new section establishing a process for municipalities to vote on whether to hold elections in even-numbered years.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to apply to both cities and towns rather than just cities, and a new voting mechanism was added for municipalities to opt out of the general election timing rule.

SCOPE

The bill now applies to both cities and towns instead of just cities, and the digest was updated to reflect this broader applicability.

REQUIREMENT

A new section was added allowing municipalities to vote on whether to hold municipal elections in even-numbered years, with a specific ballot question to be placed at the 2026 primary election.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from SB 355.2 to SB 355.1, and the reprint date was updated from February 20, 2025 to January 29, 2025.

DEFINITION

Citations were updated to include IC 3-10-7 in addition to IC 3-10-5.5 and IC 3-10-6 for municipal election references.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2025

How they voted

29–20

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 50

Feb 20, 2025

D Democratic10

1 Yea 8 Nay 1

80% Nay

R Republican40

28 Yea 12 Nay

70% 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 185: yeas 29, nays 20

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment #7 (Gaskill) prevailed; voice vote

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report: do pass, adopted

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor