Budget & Taxes

Amends and adds provisions regarding the regional development tax credit. Specifies the award of certain credits under the aggregate tax credit cap that the Indiana economic development corporation may certify each state fiscal year. Authorizes a county or city that is currently participating in a regional development authority to change its membership and instead participate in a new or different regional development authority.

Abolishes the assessment of tangible property after December 31, 2026, and the imposition of property taxes after December 31, 2027. Provides that a political subdivision may not issue any new bonds, notes, or warrants, or enter into any leases or obligations to be paid from property tax revenue, or that include a pledge to levy property taxes if other funds are insufficient. Provides that: (1) no property tax increment financing district or allocation area may be established, amended, or renewed; and (2) no bonds, leases, or other obligations may be issued, entered into, or extended for a property tax increment financing district or allocation area. Provides that a school corporation may impose an annual fee to replace the loss of revenue previously collected by the school corporation from the imposition of an operating referendum tax levy or school safety referendum tax levy. Prescribes procedures for the fixing and reviewing of a political subdivision's budget. Prohibits the imposition of new levies for controlled projects, operating referenda, and school safety referenda. Abolishes the offices of county assessor and township assessor. Extends the sales and use tax application to transactions involving services, except for health care or mental health services (including insurance premiums for policies covering these services) and services provided for charitable tax exempt purposes. Establishes the local revenue sharing fund (fund) into which revenue from the portion of revenue from the extended sales and use tax is to be deposited. Requires the state comptroller to distribute to taxing units the portion of all the state sales and use tax revenue attributable to services from the fund. Continually appropriates money from the fund. Requires the legislative services agency to prepare legislation for introduction in the 2027 regular session of the general assembly to make appropriate required changes in statutes. Makes corresponding changes.

HB 1401 establishes a state-funded program pairing employers with childcare providers to offer subsidized childcare assistance to working parents. It directly affects eligible employers who partner with the program and working parents seeking affordable childcare options. The bill creates a partnership mechanism where the state provides funding (via an appropriation) to help employers cover childcare costs for their employees. The bill was recently introduced and referred to the Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions for review.

Provides a child and dependent care refundable tax credit against an individual's Indiana adjusted gross income tax for employment related child and dependent care expenses based on the percentage of the federal child and dependent care tax credit the taxpayer claimed for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes. Provides a child tax credit against an individual's Indiana adjusted gross income tax. 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.

Provides that a taxpayer who is covered by a health insurance plan may deduct from the taxpayer's adjusted gross income an amount equal to the total amount of premiums on the health insurance plan the taxpayer paid for coverage during the taxable year.

Provides that a power subsidiary or a person engaged as a public utility is not a retail merchant making a retail transaction when the subsidiary or person furnishes or sells electrical energy, natural or artificial gas, water, steam, or steam heating service to a person for domestic consumption.

Makes changes to the amount of supplemental wagering tax that the treasurer of state is required to pay to each riverboat operating in Gary. Makes changes to the distribution of wagering tax revenue to the city of Gary. Legalizes and validates bonds, notes, evidences of indebtedness, leases, or other written obligations issued or executed by or in the name of the: (1) Indiana finance authority; (2) development authority; and (3) Lake County Convention Center Authority (authority); as authorized or approved by resolution or ordinance adopted before February 28, 2026. Provides that the authority is established when the construction of the convention and event center is substantially completed so that the convention and event center can be used for its intended purpose. (Current law provides for the establishment of the authority upon the adoption of the proposal for the development, operation, and ownership of the Lake County convention and event center.) Requires a member appointed to the authority to be an Indiana resident. Provides that an attorney in active standing may not be appointed to the authority. Provides that the Lake County convention and event center reserve fund shall be administered by the Lake County commissioners until the authority is established. Repeals a provision that allocates deposits of Gary riverboat graduated wagering tax revenue.

Eliminates the assessed value cap that applies to the property tax deduction for a veteran who: (1) has a total disability; or (2) is at least 62 years of age and has at least a 10% disability.

Establishes an early childhood scholarship tax credit for contributions made to a scholarship granting organization that conducts a program to provide scholarships for children who attend a qualified early child care provider. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 50% of the amount of the contribution. Limits the total amount of tax credits awarded in a state fiscal year to not more than $100,000,000. Requires the department of education (department) to certify early childhood scholarship granting organizations that meet certain criteria. Requires qualified early childhood scholarship granting organizations to enter into an agreement with the department. Specifies conditions that must be included in the agreement. Provides that a school corporation that operates an early childhood education program may not limit consideration for participation in the program solely to those residing within the school district.

Provides that an individual who resides in a county with a local income tax and has a principal place of employment or business in a different county shall also pay a local income tax in the county where the individual maintains the principal place of employment. Provides that the local income tax rate in effect for a local taxpayer in the county where the local taxpayer maintains the local taxpayer's principal place of business or employment is one fourth of the sum of the local income tax rates imposed on the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers who reside in the county where the local taxpayer maintains the local taxpayer's principal place of business or employment. Provides that a local taxpayer is entitled to a credit against the tax imposed by a county in the county where the local taxpayer resides equal to the amount of the tax paid in the county where the local taxpayer has a principal place of business or employment.