Indiana Bills

Establishes the rural utility infrastructure grant fund (fund) for the purpose of providing grants to specified eligible entities to use in obtaining the utility infrastructure required to meet the growing demand for utility service in rural areas in Indiana. Provides that the fund shall be administered by the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) or its successor. Requires the corporation to adopt rules to implement these provisions.

Defines "landlocked property" as real property that has been shut off from all public highways as a result of the vacation of one or more public highways. Provides that if an action of the state, or an agency or political subdivision of the state, causes real property to become landlocked property, the county assessor of the county in which the landlocked property is located must assess the value of the landlocked property at the same rate that native forest land, a forest plantation, or wildlands are assessed for as long as the property qualifies as landlocked property.

Establishes the ethics implementation fund (fund) for the purpose of providing grants to course providers that offer ethics training courses for teachers. Charges the department of education (department) with administering the fund. Requires the department to create authorization and approval processes. Requires the department to create guidelines to provide professional development credit to teachers who have successfully completed an ethics training course. Makes an appropriation.

Allows counties, cities, and towns to adopt a local sales tax applicable to tangible personal property delivered (not by common carrier) within the geographic boundaries of the political subdivision. Provides that the local option sales tax revenue may be used for infrastructure improvements. Provides that the department of state revenue shall maintain several data bases of local sales tax data associated with the local option sales tax, in accordance with the requirements of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Adds the local option sales tax to the list of local taxes that may be captured by the state in the case of a local unit failing to make timely debt payments and sources of revenue that may be used by the local unit to make debt service payments.

Entitles an employee to at least 36 hours of paid mental health leave per calendar year. Provides that unused paid mental health leave rolls over to the next calendar year and that an employer is not required to pay out unused paid mental health leave upon the termination of an employment relationship. Requires an employee to provide reasonable advance notice when paid mental health leave will be used. Prohibits an employer from discriminating or taking adverse action against an employee who uses paid mental health leave.

HB 1649 provides a 2% salary increase for state police and conservation officers during odd-numbered years. This bill directly affects current state police officers and conservation officers employed by the state. The key mechanism is a fixed percentage raise applied automatically in odd-numbered years, without requiring additional legislative action each time. The legislation focuses solely on adjusting base salaries for these specific law enforcement roles. It was introduced by Representative Judy and referred to the Veterans Affairs and Public Safety committee.

Repeals statutory language that the vapor pens and e-liquid article does not apply to a manufacturer of a closed system vapor product. Requires a manufacturer of vapor products that contain nicotine and e-liquid that contains nicotine to certify that the manufacturer is going to comply with certain manufacturing and safety requirements and that the manufacturer has received from or submitted certain documents to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Requires a manufacturer to submit certain information to the alcohol and tobacco commission. Requires the commission to create a directory that lists all: (1) vapor products and e-liquid manufacturers; and (2) vapor products and e-liquid in which certification forms have been submitted to the commission. Provides that vapor products and e-liquid not included in the directory cannot be sold to consumers in Indiana. Provides penalties for violations. Requires certain nonresident or foreign manufacturers of vapor products or e-liquids to appoint an agent for service of process and to submit to the commission a surety bond. Requires the commission to submit a report to the general assembly each year regarding the status of the directory, information regarding the collection of fees, enforcement activities, and other information.

This bill modifies the legal definition of "eligible choice scholarship student" to determine who qualifies for state-funded education vouchers. The change directly affects families applying for private school scholarships through the state's choice scholarship program. By amending the definition, the legislation alters the criteria used to assess student eligibility for these financial assistance funds. The bill is currently in the early stages of review and has not yet been assigned specific policy impacts beyond this definitional update.

Legalizes the sale and use of cannabis by a person at least 18 years of age. Requires the Indiana department of health to establish a program to issue a medical cannabis identification card to a patient whose physician has recommended cannabis to treat a medical condition. Permits the sale of cannabis to a person less than 18 years of age if the person has been issued a medical cannabis identification card, and exempts purchases by a medical cannabis cardholder from sales tax. Makes conforming amendments.

Requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission) to include in the commission's annual report and publish on the commission's website: (1) the average amount paid by an Indiana resident for: (A) energy utility service; (B) water and wastewater utility service; and (C) gas distribution service; in the preceding year; and (2) the statistical change in each of these average amounts since the first year for which the commission reported the average amount.

Requires the department of natural resources to create the landowner forest management program. Requires the Indiana state department of agriculture to: (1) conduct an inventory of all forest land lost in Indiana from 2010 to 2024; and (2) conduct an economic impact study based on the findings of the lost forest land report. Makes an appropriation.

Provides that a person having the care of a dependent who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally fails to secure a loaded firearm in the person's residence or vehicle commits neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony, if the dependent uses the firearm to cause bodily injury or death to any person. Enhances the offense to a Level 5 felony in particular instances. Specifies exceptions and defenses. Specifies sign requirements for retail dealers. Defines terms and makes conforming amendments.