Provides that a county board or assessing official shall not enter a property to conduct a physical inspection without first receiving the permission of the taxpayer to enter the property. Provides that under specific circumstances, that an individual may serve as a tax representative of any taxpayer concerning property subject to property taxes. Changes the expiration date for the county option circuit breaker tax credit. Describes elements that must be included in a report that must be prepared by the department of local government finance and presented to an interim study committee regarding automated valuation systems.
Requires the legislative services agency to perform a fiscal impact analysis for all executive orders issued by the governor within seven days of an order's issuance. (Under current law, this requirement only applies to a governor's declaration of a disaster emergency by executive order.) Provides that if the implementation and compliance costs of a proposed rule are expected to exceed $500,000 (instead of $1,000,000) over a two year period, the publisher may not publish the proposed rule until the budget committee has reviewed the rule. Amends the Pokagon Indiana Education Fund to allow payments to be made to both public and private Indiana institutions of higher learning for the purposes of the fund. Makes the following changes (effective July 1, 2028) regarding community mental health centers (CMHC): (1) Allows a county to meet CMHC funding requirements from any funding source in lieu of or in combination with property taxes but excluding federal funds. (2) Adds provisions concerning the location where certain CMHC services may be provided. (3) Specifies additional items that are required to be reported by a CMHC in its annual report. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on courts and the judiciary the task of undertaking a comprehensive study of all court fees and fines. Allows the budget agency, subject to budget committee review, to use the appropriation to the financial responsibility and opportunity growth fund (fund) in HEA 1001-2025 or augment the fund for the purpose of providing funding to the Child Care and Development Fund voucher program in addition to the uses for the appropriation as authorized in HEA 1001-2025.
Provides that the horse racing commission may issue three satellite facility licenses (instead of four per permit holder under current law). Requires Allen County, DeKalb County, and Steuben County to place a public question on the 2026 general election ballot that seeks approval from the voters to permit inland casino gambling. Authorizes the Indiana gaming commission (commission) to award a new riverboat license for an inland casino in Allen County, DeKalb County, or Steuben County. Prohibits the commission from awarding an owner's license to operate a casino in Allen County, DeKalb County, or Steuben County if the voters of the county do not approve casino gaming in the county. Specifies application requirements, including local government support and the applicant's commitment and plan to invest at least $500,000,000 for the development of a casino and nongaming amenities. Requires an approved applicant to pay $150,000,000 to the commission to be deposited by the commission as follows: (1) $100,000,000 to the state general fund; and (2) $50,000,000 to the shuttered riverboat fund to be used for local units that are affected by a shuttered riverboat or inland casino closure. Provides that if a licensed owner ceases operations or goes out of business, the license issued under this section is terminated effective on that date.
Allows a participant in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan to elect a joint and survivor option for the payment of the participant's retirement allowance. Provides for a thirteenth check in calendar year 2026 for certain members, participants, or beneficiaries of the: (1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (2) Indiana public employees' retirement fund; (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan; (4) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (5) state police 1987 benefit system.
Increases the maximum number of individuals an entity may employ to be eligible for the employer child care expenditure income tax credit. Provides that costs incurred: (1) for the operating costs of a child care facility operated for a taxpayer's employees; or (2) under a contract with a child care facility to provide child care services to employees of the taxpayer, or under a contract with an intermediate entity that contracts with one or more child care facilities for child care services; are qualified expenditures for purposes of the employer child care expenditure income tax credit. Allows a redevelopment commission to use revenue collected in a tax increment financing district to expend money or provide financial assistance to entities for the purpose of encouraging or incentivizing the construction or expansion of child care facilities.
HB 1048 increases the clothing and automobile expense reimbursement for active volunteer fire department (VFD) members from $100 to $250 per year. This change directly affects volunteer firefighters who incur personal costs for uniforms, work-related clothing, and vehicle use while serving. The bill provides a concrete financial adjustment to cover these out-of-pocket expenses, simplifying reimbursement for VFD members. It does not alter eligibility requirements or create new administrative processes. The bill passed committee with a "do pass" recommendation in early 2026.
Requires the Indiana department of education to elect to participate as a covered state in the federal tax credit scholarship program for elementary and secondary education under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code (enacted in Public Law 119-21, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025). Makes conforming changes to the school scholarship tax credit in current law. Requires the governor and the department of workforce development, in consultation with the commission for higher education, to: (1) establish a process to identify eligible workforce training programs; (2) establish a process for institutions and programs to apply for recognition as an eligible workforce training program; (3) coordinate certain workforce training matters; and (4) require eligible workforce training programs to provide certain datasets to the department. Provides that the department of workforce development must maintain alignment with federal rules governing workforce Pell grants.
Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to commit $35,000,000 in redevelopment tax credits each state fiscal year among development authorities, qualified nonprofit organizations, and certain local economic development organizations that may be granted to taxpayers for qualified investments. Provides that the IEDC and an operating partner shall administer the federal Unmanned Aircraft System Test Site program in Indiana. Requires that $15,000,000 of the $300,000,000 of the IEDC's annual certifiable tax credit amount must be allocated to the small town opportunity initiative (initiative). Establishes the initiative. Provides that initiative projects are not subject to any statutory or administrative repayment obligation. Amends the venture capital investment tax credit (tax credit) to specify: (1) that certain investment policies of funds that qualify as a "qualified Indiana investment fund" apply only to investable capital, excluding management fees, legal fees, and other expenses incurred in the operation of the fund; (2) that a taxpayer is not prevented from combining individual tax credits of less than $10,000 for assignment; and (3) qualified business eligibility. Provides that if a Level 2 certified technology park (park): (1) has reached the limit of deposits for a Level 2 park; (2) maintains its certification; and (3) is located within a qualified military base enhancement area; the park shall become a Level 3 park and may receive an additional annual incremental income tax deposit of up to $250,000 until July 1, 2029.
Requires the state to make contributions after December 31, 2026, that match, dollar for dollar, each state employee's deferred compensation contributions, not to exceed $28 per paycheck. Specifies limitations on state contributions, including the availability of biennial appropriations. Allows in certain circumstances the budget agency to suspend contributions, resume contributions, and make contributions that were missed due to suspension. Specifies a process by which portions of the funding sources for the retirement medical benefits account must be transferred to the state comptroller for the purpose of making matching contributions. Provides as a default rule that after December 31, 2026, each participant's membership in the retirement medical benefits account is terminated, participant subaccounts are forfeited, and subaccount amounts must be transferred to the state general fund. Specifies exceptions. Requires the state comptroller to transfer certain amounts from the state general fund to each participant's defined contribution plan. Specifies a time frame within which a participant in the retirement medical benefits account may elect to remain a participant. Establishes the 2027 retiree health benefit trust. Provides that the retiree health benefit trust fund will be terminated when certain conditions are met. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on pension management oversight.)
Specifies that a board of trustees of a regional water, sewage, or solid waste district (board) must notify the district authority in writing before taking certain actions. Provides that a trustee appointed to a board serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Prohibits a regional water, sewage, or solid waste district (district) created after June 30, 2026, from incurring any indebtedness without first obtaining the approval of the county fiscal body. Specifies that if a district created after June 30, 2026, contains territory in more than one county, the district must first obtain the approval of each county fiscal body in which the district contains territory before incurring any indebtedness. Establishes a timeline for the county fiscal body to approve or deny a district's request to incur indebtedness.
