HB 1144 Indiana House · 2026 Regular Session

Tourism improvement districts.

Summary
Provides that a person may circulate a petition to create a tourism improvement district (district) within the territory of a county, city, or town (local unit). Specifies the contents of the tourism improvement district plan that must be filed with a petition to establish a district. Provides that the legislative body of the local unit may require in the district plan that the boundaries of the district be drawn to: (1) exclude businesses; or (2) prevent overlap of the district with another area or district in which a special assessment is imposed. Provides that owners of businesses located within a district may be charged a special assessment to fund improvements and other district activities. Provides that, after a hearing on a petition to establish a district, a local unit's legislative body may adopt the ordinance establishing the district only if it determines that the petition has been signed by: (1) at least 50% of the owners of businesses within the proposed district; and (2) the owners of businesses within the proposed district that constitute more than 50% of the revenue to be collected from the special assessments. Requires the county, city, or town legislative body, at the public hearing on the establishment of a district, to hear from each individual business owner that wishes to make a request for exclusion from the district. Specifies the contents of the ordinance establishing a district and the length of time for which a district may exist. Allows a district to issue bonds and specifies the term of any bonds issued. Provides that a district may be renewed. Sets forth an annual 30 day period in which the owners of the businesses in the district may request disestablishment of the district under specified conditions. Requires the local unit to contract with a private nonprofit district management association to administer and implement the district's activities and improvements. Excludes from inclusion within a district: (1) property that receives a homestead standard deduction; (2) property used for single family residential housing; and (3) property used for multi-unit residential housing.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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What changed between versions

Introduced House Bill (H) House Bill (H) · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to change the legislative body responsible for reviewing the bill from the Committee on Local Government to the Committee on Ways and Means. Additionally, the digest was updated to clarify that business owners must meet two specific criteria to establish a tourism improvement district: owning at least 50% of the businesses in the area and representing more than 50% of the revenue from special assessments. The amendment also added new exclusions to prevent residential properties, including single-family homes and those with homestead deductions, from being included in these districts.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by explicitly excluding residential properties (single-family and multi-unit) and properties with homestead standard deductions from being included in tourism improvement districts.
TIMELINE

The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means instead of the Committee on Local Government, indicating a shift in the legislative focus to financial matters.

ELIGIBILITY

The digest was updated to clarify that establishing a district requires owners to meet two conditions: owning at least 50% of the businesses and constituting more than 50% of the revenue from special assessments.

SCOPE

New exclusions were added to prevent single-family residential housing, multi-unit residential housing, and properties receiving homestead standard deductions from being included in the district.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors