Introduced Version HOUSE BILL No. 1130 _____ DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL Citations Affected: IC 36-7-22.1. Synopsis: Economic development districts. Creates a procedure to establish a community infrastructure improvement district (district). Specifies that the procedure added by the bill allowing for the establishment of a district does not authorize the unit to establish a district that overlaps with an economic improvement district. Requires a petition for the establishment of a district to include a rate and methodology report. Specifies the contents of the report. Specifies the basis upon which benefits accruing to parcels of real property within a district may be apportioned among those parcels. Requires a determination that the aggregate assessments within a district: (1) do not exceed 30% of the projected assessed value of property within the district; or (2) in the case of a district that is established for single family residences, do not exceed 10% of the projected assessed value per single family residence within the district; before a legislative body may adopt an ordinance to establish a district. Requires a community infrastructure improvement board (board) to assist the county treasurer in order to make certain specified determinations and designations regarding annual assessments within a district. Adds specific provisions that apply to the board's issuance of revenue bonds. Sunsets these provisions after five years. Effective: July 1, 2024. Manning January 8, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means. 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 Introduced Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024) PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type. Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution. Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. HOUSE BILL No. 1130 A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: 1 SECTION 1. IC 36-7-22.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 3 JULY 1, 2024]: 4 Chapter 22.1. Community Infrastructure Improvement 5 Districts 6 Sec. 1. (a) This chapter applies to all units except townships. 7 (b) This chapter does not authorize a unit to establish a 8 community infrastructure improvement district that overlaps with 9 an economic improvement district established under IC 36-7-22. 10 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "assessment" means a charge 11 determined under section 14(a) of this chapter by applying the 12 percentage of benefit apportioned to a parcel within a community 13 infrastructure improvement district to the cost associated with 14 economic improvement projects giving rise to such benefits. Costs 15 subject to assessment for these purposes include all costs of the 16 economic improvement projects as well as financing and 17 administrative costs. In the case of bonds or notes issued pursuant 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 2 1 to section 26 of this chapter, financing costs shall include, without 2 limitation, principal and interest, related reserve funds, cost of 3 insurance, and costs associated with ancillary financial 4 arrangements with respect to the bonds or notes. 5 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "board" refers to a community 6 infrastructure improvement board established under section 13 of 7 this chapter. 8 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "economic improvement project" 9 means the following: 10 (1) Planning or managing development or improvement 11 activities. 12 (2) Designing, landscaping, beautifying, constructing, or 13 maintaining public areas, public improvements, or public 14 ways (including designing, constructing, or maintaining 15 lighting, infrastructure, utility facilities, improvements, and 16 equipment, water facilities, improvements, and equipment, 17 sewage facilities, improvements, and equipment, streets, or 18 sidewalks for a public area or public way). 19 (3) Promoting commercial activity or public events. 20 (4) Supporting business recruitment and development. 21 (5) Providing security for public areas. 22 (6) Acquiring, constructing, or maintaining parking facilities. 23 (7) Constructing, rehabilitating, or repairing residential 24 property, including improvements related to the habitability 25 of the residential property. 26 (8) Acquiring, constructing, rehabilitating, or repairing 27 redevelopment projects, economic development facilities 28 described in IC 36-7-11.9-3, pollution control facilities 29 described in IC 36-7-11.9-9, or other local improvements. 30 (9) Constructing, rehabilitating, or repairing industrial or 31 commercial property associated with a qualified 32 redevelopment site (as defined in IC 6-3.1-34-6). 33 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "projected assessed value" 34 means: 35 (1) with respect to the community infrastructure 36 improvement district, an assessed value of the property within 37 the community infrastructure improvement district, plus the 38 as-built projected assessed value of the economic 39 improvement project to be constructed in the community 40 infrastructure improvement district as determined pursuant 41 to a third party evaluation accepted by the legislative body; 42 and 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 3 1 (2) with respect to an individual parcel, the as-built (or 2 as-improved, as appropriate) projected assessed value of the 3 parcel as determined pursuant to a third party evaluation 4 accepted by the legislative body; 5 including in both cases the assessed value of a property subject to 6 a voluntary assessment agreement as set forth in section 10(e) of 7 this chapter. 8 Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "rate and method of 9 apportionment report" means a report relating to a developer's 10 planned economic development of the subject parcels, which must 11 set forth at least the following: 12 (1) A list of parcels consistent with the parcels identified in the 13 petition for the establishment of the community infrastructure 14 improvement district under section 7 of this chapter. 15 (2) A statement of: 16 (A) the proposed assessment formula under section 7(b)(5) 17 of this chapter; 18 (B) the apportionment of benefits under section 8(a) of this 19 chapter; and 20 (C) zones or other classifications, if any, relating to the 21 formula under clause (A) or the apportionment under 22 clause (B). 23 (3) The proposed total assessment per parcel, including: 24 (A) the lump sum payment amount if the assessment is 25 payable as a lump sum; 26 (B) the method for converting a lump sum assessment to 27 annual installments, if applicable; and 28 (C) a schedule of annual installments and an 29 accompanying amortization schedule of the assessment, if 30 any. 31 (4) A statement of the basis and methodology for reassessment 32 in the case of a parcel division or consolidation of the assessed 33 property, status of development or the completion of 34 improvements associated with the assessed property or 35 changes in zoning classification of the property, and any 36 resulting assessment changes. 37 (5) The proposed maximum number of years during which the 38 assessment may be paid in annual installments. 39 (6) The proposed method for establishing the assessment for 40 the initial year and each year thereafter. 41 Sec. 7. (a) A person that intends to file a petition for the 42 establishment of a community infrastructure improvement district 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 4 1 under this section must first provide written notice to the clerk (as 2 defined in IC 36-1-2) in the case of a municipality, or the county 3 auditor, in the case of a county, of the person's intent before 4 initiating the petition process. 5 (b) A petition for the establishment of a community 6 infrastructure improvement district may be filed with the clerk of 7 the municipality or the county auditor not later than one hundred 8 twenty (120) days after the date on which the notice of intent for 9 the petition is filed with the clerk of the municipality or the county 10 auditor under subsection (a). The petition must include the 11 following information: 12 (1) The boundaries of the proposed district, including the 13 boundaries of any zones to be established under section 8(b) 14 of this chapter. 15 (2) The name and address of each parcel and owner of land 16 within the proposed district and a description of the existing 17 land use and zoning classification of each parcel. 18 (3) A detailed description of the economic improvement 19 projects to be carried out within the proposed district, the 20 estimated cost of these projects, and the benefits to accrue to 21 the property owners within the district. 22 (4) A plan for the application of assessment revenue to the 23 cost of the economic improvement projects within the district. 24 (5) A proposed formula for determining the percentage of the 25 total benefit to be received by each parcel of real property 26 within the district, in the manner provided by section 8 of this 27 chapter. 28 (6) The number of years in which assessments will be levied. 29 (7) A proposed list of members for the board. 30 (c) The petition shall be accompanied by a rate and method of 31 apportionment report. 32 (d) The clerk of the municipality or the county auditor shall 33 retain the paper copy of a petition filed under this section for not 34 less than ninety (90) days from the date the petition is filed with the 35 clerk of the municipality or the county auditor. 36 Sec. 8. (a) The benefits accruing to parcels of real property 37 within a community infrastructure improvement district may be 38 apportioned among those parcels on any basis reasonably 39 representative of the diffusion of benefits from the economic 40 improvement project, including the following: 41 (1) Proximity of the parcel to the project. 42 (2) Accessibility of the parcel to the project. 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 5 1 (3) True cash value of the parcel. 2 (4) True cash value of any improvement on the parcel. 3 (5) Age of any improvement on the parcel. 4 (6) Land use class of the parcel. 5 (7) Equivalent units, including, in the case of an apartment 6 building, the number of units in the building. 7 (8) Parcel square footage. 8 (9) Parcel front footage. 9 (10) Gross floor area. 10 (11) Benefit availability. 11 (12) Impervious surface area. 12 (13) Other similar factors. 13 The apportionment of benefits under this subsection may be 14 adjusted by zone or land use as provided in subsections (b) and (c). 15 (b) If the benefit of the economic improvement project varies 16 from one (1) area to another within the community infrastructure 17 improvement district, up to three (3) zones may be established 18 within the district to delineate the approximate difference in 19 beneficial impact, and benefits may be apportioned accordingly. 20 (c) In order to encourage the retention or development of 21 various land uses within the district, assessments may be adjusted 22 according to the zoning classification of the property. 23 Sec. 9. (a) After receipt of a petition under section 7 of this 24 chapter, the clerk of the municipality or the county auditor shall, 25 in the manner provided by IC 5-3-1, publish notice of a hearing on 26 the proposed community infrastructure improvement district. The 27 clerk of the municipality or the county auditor shall mail a copy of 28 the notice to each owner of real property within the proposed 29 community infrastructure improvement district. The notice must 30 include the boundaries of the proposed district, a description of the 31 proposed projects, the proposed formula for determining the 32 percentage of the total benefit to be received by each parcel of 33 property, and the hearing date. The date of the hearing may not be 34 more than sixty (60) days after the date on which the notice is 35 mailed. 36 (b) At the public hearing under subsection (a), the legislative 37 body shall hear all owners of real property in the proposed district 38 (who appear and request to be heard) upon the questions of: 39 (1) the sufficiency of the notice; 40 (2) whether the proposed economic improvement projects are 41 of public utility and benefit; 42 (3) whether the formula to be used for the assessment of 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 6 1 special benefits is appropriate; and 2 (4) whether the district contains all, or more or less than all, 3 of the property specially benefited by the proposed project. 4 Sec. 10. (a) After conducting a hearing on the proposed 5 community infrastructure improvement district, the legislative 6 body may adopt an ordinance establishing the community 7 infrastructure improvement district if it determines that: 8 (1) the petition meets the requirements of this section and 9 sections 7 and 8 of this chapter; 10 (2) the economic improvement projects to be undertaken in 11 the district will provide special benefits to property owners in 12 the district and will be of public utility and benefit; 13 (3) the benefits provided by the project will be new benefits 14 that do not replace benefits existing before the establishment 15 of the district; 16 (4) the formula to be used for the assessment of benefits is 17 appropriate; 18 (5) except as provided in subdivision (6), aggregate 19 assessments under this chapter do not exceed thirty percent 20 (30%) of the projected assessed value of property within the 21 district; and 22 (6) in the case of a community infrastructure improvement 23 district that is established for single family residences, the 24 aggregate assessments under this chapter do not exceed ten 25 percent (10%) of the projected assessed value per single 26 family residence within the district. 27 (b) The legislative body may adopt the ordinance only if it 28 determines that the petition has been signed by one hundred 29 percent (100%) of the owners of real property subject to 30 assessment within the proposed district. 31 (c) Unless an owner of property has entered into a voluntary 32 assessment agreement associated with the economic improvement 33 project, the signature of a person shall not be considered in 34 determining whether the requirement under subsection (b) is met 35 if the person's property: 36 (1) is: 37 (A) owned by a nonprofit entity and is exempt from 38 property taxation under IC 6-1.1-10-16; 39 (B) owned by the state or a state agency or leased to a state 40 agency and is exempt from property taxation under 41 IC 6-1.1-10 or any other law; or 42 (C) owned by a political subdivision of the state and is 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 7 1 exempt from property taxation under IC 6-1.1-10 or any 2 other law; or 3 (2) would be exempt from assessments under the ordinance. 4 (d) In addition, unless an owner of property has entered into a 5 voluntary assessment agreement, neither the parcel of real 6 property nor the assessed value of any property may be considered 7 in determining the total parcels of real property or the total 8 assessed value of property in the proposed district for purposes of 9 determining whether the requirement under subsection (b) is met 10 if the property: 11 (1) is: 12 (A) owned by a nonprofit entity and is exempt from 13 property taxation under IC 6-1.1-10-16; 14 (B) owned by the state or a state agency or leased to a state 15 agency and is exempt from property taxation under 16 IC 6-1.1-10 or any other law; or 17 (C) owned by a political subdivision of the state and is 18 exempt from property taxation under IC 6-1.1-10 or any 19 other law; or 20 (2) would be exempt from assessment under the ordinance. 21 (e) The assessed value of a property subject to a voluntary 22 assessment agreement is the most recent of valuations from either 23 the county assessor or a third party evaluation accepted by the 24 legislative body. 25 Sec. 11. (a) An ordinance adopted under section 10 of this 26 chapter may be repealed or amended only after notice of the 27 proposed repeal or amendment is published and mailed in the 28 manner provided by section 9 of this chapter. However, in no event 29 shall any ordinance adopted under this chapter be repealed or 30 amended if there is any outstanding debt payable from 31 assessments. 32 (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), an ordinance adopted under 33 section 10 of this chapter may be amended to add additional, 34 contiguous parcels to which benefits of economic improvement 35 projects accrue at the request of the owner or owners of such 36 parcels. If an ordinance is amended under this subsection, the rate 37 and method of apportionment report shall be amended to reflect 38 the revised list of parcels and related assessments, and notice must 39 be provided under section 14(b) of this chapter. 40 Sec. 12. An ordinance adopted under section 10 of this chapter 41 may provide that businesses established within the district after the 42 creation of the district are exempt from special assessments for a 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 8 1 period not to exceed one (1) year. 2 Sec. 13. An ordinance adopted under section 10 of this chapter 3 must establish a community infrastructure improvement board to 4 be appointed by the legislative body. The board must have at least 5 three (3) members, and a majority of the board members must own 6 real property within the district. However, if there is only one (1) 7 property owner within a district, the legislative body shall appoint 8 one (1) member to the community infrastructure improvement 9 board who owns real property within the district and not more 10 than two (2) other members who are not required to own real 11 property within the district. 12 Sec. 14. (a) The following apply: 13 (1) The board shall use the formula approved by the 14 legislative body under section 10(a)(4) of this chapter to 15 determine the percentage of benefit to be received by each 16 parcel of real property within the community infrastructure 17 improvement district. The board shall apply the percentage 18 determined for each parcel to the total amount that is to be 19 defrayed by special assessment and determine the special 20 assessment for each parcel. 21 (2) In the event of a reassessment as provided in section 6(4) 22 of this chapter, the next assessment installment will include an 23 additional amount owed, if any, equal to the difference 24 between the amount originally calculated in subdivision (1) 25 and the amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (1) using 26 the reassessment methodology described in the rate and 27 method of apportionment report. 28 (b) Promptly after determining the proposed assessment for 29 each parcel, the board shall mail notice to each owner of property 30 to be assessed. The notice must: 31 (1) describe any potential proposed special assessment and 32 estimates of related annual installments thereof, including any 33 method by which the assessments or installments may change 34 depending on factors as set forth in the rate and method of 35 apportionment report; 36 (2) state that the rate and method of apportionment report 37 and the proposed special assessment on each parcel of real 38 property in the community infrastructure improvement 39 district is on file and can be seen in the board's office; 40 (3) state the time and place where written remonstrances 41 against the special assessment may be filed; 42 (4) set forth the time and place where the board will hear any 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 9 1 owner of assessed real property who has filed a remonstrance 2 before the hearing date; and 3 (5) state that the board, after hearing evidence, may decrease, 4 or leave unchanged, the special assessment on any parcel. 5 (c) The notices must be deposited in the mail twenty (20) days 6 before the hearing date. The notices to the owners must be 7 addressed as the names and addresses appear on the tax duplicates 8 and the records of the county auditor. 9 (d) At the time fixed in the notice, the board shall hear any 10 owner of assessed real property who has filed a written 11 remonstrance before the date of the hearing. The hearing may be 12 continued from time to time as long as is necessary to hear the 13 owners. 14 (e) The board shall render its decision by either confirming or 15 decreasing each special assessment by setting opposite each name, 16 parcel, and proposed assessment, the amount of the assessment as 17 determined by the board. However, if the total of the special 18 assessments exceeds the amount needed, the board shall make a 19 prorated reduction in each special assessment. 20 (f) Except as provided in section 15 of this chapter, the signing 21 of the special assessment schedule by a majority of the members of 22 the board and the delivery of the schedule to the county auditor 23 constitute a final and conclusive determination of the benefits that 24 are assessed. 25 (g) Each special assessment is a lien on the real property that is 26 assessed, second only to ad valorem property taxes levied on that 27 property. 28 (h) The board shall certify to the county auditor the schedule of 29 special assessments of benefits. For purposes of providing 30 substantiation of the deductibility of a special assessment for 31 federal adjusted gross income tax purposes under Section 164 of 32 the Internal Revenue Code, the board shall, to the extent 33 practicable, supplement the schedule of special assessments 34 provided to the county auditor with a statement that identifies the 35 part of each special assessment that is allocable to interest, 36 maintenance, and repair charges. If the board provides the county 37 auditor with the statement, the county auditor shall show, on the 38 tax statement, the part of the special assessment that is for interest 39 and maintenance and repair items separately from the remainder 40 of the special assessment. 41 (i) An assessment or reassessment, interest, the expense of 42 collection, and reasonable attorney's fees, if incurred, is: 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 10 1 (1) a lien that is effective from the date of the ordinance or 2 order levying the assessment until the assessment is paid; 3 (2) a lien that is subject to and subordinate to: 4 (A) all liens and encumbrances existing at the time the 5 assessment lien becomes effective; and 6 (B) any later extension or amendment of the liens and 7 encumbrances existing at the time the assessment lien 8 became effective; 9 (3) a lien that runs with the land and that portion of an 10 assessment payment that has not yet come due is not 11 eliminated by transfer of the parcel to a tax exempt owner; 12 and 13 (4) an assessment lien that may be enforced by the governing 14 body in the same manner that mortgages are foreclosed. 15 (j) Delinquent installments of the assessment shall incur interest, 16 penalties, and attorney's fees in the same manner as delinquent ad 17 valorem taxes. 18 (k) The owner of assessed property, including those by way of 19 voluntary assessment, may pay at any time all or any part of the 20 assessment, with interest that has accrued on the assessment, on 21 any lot or parcel. 22 Sec. 15. (a) Any owner of real property in a community 23 infrastructure improvement district may file an action contesting 24 the validity of: 25 (1) the ordinance adopted under section 10 of this chapter; or 26 (2) the assessment schedule adopted under section 14 of this 27 chapter. 28 (b) An action under this section must be filed: 29 (1) in the circuit or superior court of the county in which the 30 community infrastructure improvement district is located; 31 and 32 (2) within thirty (30) days after adoption of either the 33 ordinance or assessment schedule, respectively. 34 Sec. 16. Within thirty (30) days after the county auditor receives 35 the certification of final scheduled assessments for the completion 36 of the economic improvement project, the county auditor shall 37 deliver a copy of the certificate to the county treasurer. Each year, 38 the board, which may work through a third party administrator, 39 shall assist the county treasurer in order to: 40 (1) prepare an annual assessment roll, which shall reflect 41 which parcels, if any, have fully paid any applicable 42 assessment and therefore no longer owe an assessment 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 11 1 installment; 2 (2) designate which parcels are assessed, and in what 3 amounts, going forward; 4 (3) establish annual assessment installments consistent with 5 the rate and method of apportionment report; and 6 (4) calculate and add to the annual assessment installments 7 due any penalties, interest, fees, or payments owed under 8 section 14(j) of this chapter, and other amounts due. 9 Each year, the treasurer shall add the full annual assessment 10 installment due in that year to the tax statements of the person 11 owning the property affected by the assessment, designating it in 12 a manner distinct from general taxes. 13 Sec. 17. Assessments collected under this chapter shall be paid 14 to the board. 15 Sec. 18. (a) The board shall establish a community 16 infrastructure improvement fund and shall deposit in this fund all 17 assessments received under this chapter and any other amounts 18 received by the board. 19 (b) Money in the community infrastructure improvement fund 20 may be used only for the purposes specified in the ordinance 21 establishing the community infrastructure improvement district. 22 Any money earned from investment of money in the fund becomes 23 a part of the fund. 24 Sec. 19. (a) Before November 1 of each year, the board shall 25 prepare and submit to the fiscal body a budget for the following 26 calendar year governing the board's projected expenditures from 27 the community infrastructure improvement fund. The budget must 28 include amounts to pay debt service on any bonds supported by 29 assessments and assessment installments until the bonds are paid 30 in full. The fiscal body may approve, modify, or reject the proposed 31 budget. 32 (b) The board may make an expenditure from the community 33 infrastructure improvement fund only if the expenditure was 34 approved by the fiscal body in its review of the board's budget or 35 was otherwise approved by the fiscal body. 36 Sec. 20. The board must comply with IC 36-1-12 when 37 contracting for public works. 38 Sec. 21. The board may enter into lease or contractual 39 agreements, or both, with governmental, nonprofit, or other 40 private entities for the purpose of carrying out economic 41 improvement projects. 42 Sec. 22. If the ordinance that established a community 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 12 1 infrastructure improvement district is repealed, the assets and 2 liabilities of the community infrastructure improvement district 3 shall be disposed of in the manner determined by the unit. 4 However, liabilities incurred by the community infrastructure 5 improvement district are not an obligation of the unit and are 6 payable only from the special assessments and other revenues of 7 the district. 8 Sec. 23. The board shall submit an annual report to the 9 legislative body and the fiscal body before February 15 of each 10 year. The report must summarize the board's activities and 11 expenditures during the preceding calendar year. 12 Sec. 24. The board may: 13 (1) exercise any of the powers of a unit under IC 36-7-12-18 or 14 IC 36-7-12-18.5; or 15 (2) issue revenue bonds under section 26 of this chapter; 16 to finance an economic improvement project. 17 Sec. 25. Upon acceptance or rejection of a proposed community 18 infrastructure improvement district following a petition under this 19 chapter, the resulting district (or the person that files the petition, 20 if the proposed district is rejected) shall, at the request of the unit, 21 reimburse the unit for all or part of the reasonable expenses 22 incurred by the unit to comply with this chapter. The legislative 23 body of the unit may choose not to collect all or part of the 24 reasonable expenses incurred to comply with this chapter. 25 Sec. 26. (a) In accordance with section 24 of this chapter, the 26 board may issue bonds or notes payable from assessments assessed 27 under this chapter to finance economic improvement projects. The 28 bonds or notes may be publicly offered or privately placed in the 29 manner determined by the board. Such assessments are not ad 30 valorem property taxes and any bonds or notes payable from the 31 assessment revenue are not general obligations of the unit that 32 established the community infrastructure improvement district. 33 (b) The board may enter into ancillary financial agreements 34 relating to and in furtherance of its issuance of bonds or notes 35 under this chapter, including agreements with the unit that 36 established the district. 37 (c) Bonds or notes issued under this chapter shall include 38 provisions for redemptions from property owners who choose to 39 make one (1) time lump sum assessment prepayments on the 40 unamortized portion of any assessment applicable to their 41 property. 42 (d) Bonds or notes issued under this chapter are subject to the 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120 13 1 following limitations: 2 (1) The bonds or notes may be issued for a period not to 3 exceed thirty-five (35) years. 4 (2) The average life of the bonds or notes may not exceed one 5 hundred twenty percent (120%) of the average economic life 6 of the improvements for which the bonds or notes are issued. 7 Sec. 27. This chapter expires July 1, 2029. 2024 IN 1130—LS 6314/DI 120