Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana House Bill HB1193 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	Introduced Version
3	3	HOUSE BILL No. 1193
4	4	_____
5	5	DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
6	6	Citations Affected: IC 3-10; IC 3-11-2-12; IC 3-13-10-3; IC 6-1.1;
7	7	IC 36-2-15-0.3; IC 36-6; IC 36-7; IC 36-9-11.1-11.
8	8	Synopsis: Township assessors. Abolishes the office of township
9	9	assessor, effective January 1, 2028. Transfers the duties of the township
10	10	assessor to the county assessor of the county in which the township is
11	11	located. Provides that if the office of township assessor becomes vacant
12	12	before January 1, 2028, the office is abolished and the duties of the
13	13	township assessor are transferred to the county assessor.
14	14	Effective: Upon passage; July 1, 2025.
15	15	Lauer
16	16	January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government.
17	17	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 Introduced
18	18	First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
19	19	PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
20	20	Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
21	21	additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
22	22	Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
23	23	provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
24	24	word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
25	25	a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
26	26	Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
27	27	between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
28	28	HOUSE BILL No. 1193
29	29	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local
30	30	government.
31	31	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
32	32	1 SECTION 1. IC 3-10-1-19, AS AMENDED BY P.L.227-2023,
33	33	2 SECTION 58, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
34	34	3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 19. (a) The ballot for a primary election shall be
35	35	4 printed in substantially the form described in this section for all the
36	36	5 offices for which candidates have qualified under IC 3-8.
37	37	6 (b) The following shall be printed as the heading for the ballot for
38	38	7 a political party:
39	39	8 "OFFICIAL PRIMARY BALLOT
40	40	9 _________________ Party (insert the name of the political party)".
41	41	10 (c) The following shall be printed immediately below the heading
42	42	11 required by subsection (b) or be posted in each voting booth as
43	43	12 provided in IC 3-11-2-8(b):
44	44	13 (1) For paper ballots, print: To vote for a person, make a voting
45	45	14 mark (X or U) on or in the box before the person's name in the
46	46	15 proper column.
47	47	16 (2) For optical scan ballots, print: To vote for a person, darken or
48	48	17 shade in the circle, oval, or square (or draw a line to connect the
49	49	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 2
50	50	1 arrow) that precedes the person's name in the proper column.
51	51	2 (3) For optical scan ballots that do not contain a candidate's name,
52	52	3 print: To vote for a person, darken or shade in the oval that
53	53	4 precedes the number assigned to the person's name in the proper
54	54	5 column.
55	55	6 (4) For electronic voting systems, print: To vote for a person,
56	56	7 touch the screen (or press the button) in the location indicated.
57	57	8 (d) Local public questions shall be placed on the primary election
58	58	9 ballot after the heading and the voting instructions described in
59	59	10 subsection (c) (if the instructions are printed on the ballot) and before
60	60	11 the offices described in subsection (g).
61	61	12 (e) The local public questions described in subsection (d) shall be
62	62	13 placed as follows:
63	63	14 (1) In a separate column on the ballot if voting is by paper ballot.
64	64	15 (2) After the heading and the voting instructions described in
65	65	16 subsection (c) (if the instructions are printed on the ballot) and
66	66	17 before the offices described in subsection (g), in the form
67	67	18 specified in IC 3-11-13-11 if voting is by ballot card.
68	68	19 (3) As provided by either of the following if voting is by an
69	69	20 electronic voting system:
70	70	21 (A) On a separate screen for a public question.
71	71	22 (B) After the heading and the voting instructions described in
72	72	23 subsection (c) (if the instructions are printed on the ballot) and
73	73	24 before the offices described in subsection (g), in the form
74	74	25 specified in IC 3-11-14-3.5.
75	75	26 (f) A public question shall be placed on the primary election ballot
76	76	27 in the following form:
77	77	28 (The explanatory text for the public question,
78	78	29 if required by law.)
79	79	30 "Shall (insert public question)?"
80	80	31 [] YES
81	81	32 [] NO
82	82	33 (g) The offices with candidates for nomination shall be placed on
83	83	34 the primary election ballot in the following order:
84	84	35 (1) Federal and state offices:
85	85	36 (A) President of the United States.
86	86	37 (B) United States Senator.
87	87	38 (C) Governor.
88	88	39 (D) United States Representative.
89	89	40 (2) Legislative offices:
90	90	41 (A) State senator.
91	91	42 (B) State representative.
92	92	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 3
93	93	1 (3) Circuit offices and county judicial offices:
94	94	2 (A) Judge of the circuit court, and unless otherwise specified
95	95	3 under IC 33, with each division separate if there is more than
96	96	4 one (1) judge of the circuit court.
97	97	5 (B) Judge of the superior court, and unless otherwise specified
98	98	6 under IC 33, with each division separate if there is more than
99	99	7 one (1) judge of the superior court.
100	100	8 (C) Judge of the probate court.
101	101	9 (D) Prosecuting attorney.
102	102	10 (E) Circuit court clerk.
103	103	11 (4) County offices:
104	104	12 (A) County auditor.
105	105	13 (B) County recorder.
106	106	14 (C) County treasurer.
107	107	15 (D) County sheriff.
108	108	16 (E) County coroner.
109	109	17 (F) County surveyor.
110	110	18 (G) County assessor.
111	111	19 (H) County commissioner.
112	112	20 (I) County council member.
113	113	21 (5) Township offices:
114	114	22 (A) Township assessor (only in a township referred to in
115	115	23 IC 36-6-5-1(d)).
116	116	24 (B) (A) Township trustee.
117	117	25 (C) (B) Township board member.
118	118	26 (D) (C) Judge of the small claims court.
119	119	27 (E) (D) Constable of the small claims court.
120	120	28 (6) City offices:
121	121	29 (A) Mayor.
122	122	30 (B) Clerk or clerk-treasurer.
123	123	31 (C) Judge of the city court.
124	124	32 (D) City-county council member or common council member.
125	125	33 (7) Town offices:
126	126	34 (A) Clerk-treasurer.
127	127	35 (B) Judge of the town court.
128	128	36 (C) Town council member.
129	129	37 (h) The political party offices with candidates for election shall be
130	130	38 placed on the primary election ballot in the following order after the
131	131	39 offices described in subsection (g):
132	132	40 (1) Precinct committeeman.
133	133	41 (2) State convention delegate.
134	134	42 (i) The local offices to be elected at the primary election shall be
135	135	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 4
136	136	1 placed on the primary election ballot after the offices described in
137	137	2 subsection (h).
138	138	3 (j) The offices described in subsection (i) shall be placed as follows:
139	139	4 (1) In a separate column on the ballot if voting is by paper ballot.
140	140	5 (2) After the offices described in subsection (h) in the form
141	141	6 specified in IC 3-11-13-11 if voting is by ballot card.
142	142	7 (3) Either:
143	143	8 (A) on a separate screen for each office or public question; or
144	144	9 (B) after the offices described in subsection (h) in the form
145	145	10 specified in IC 3-11-14-3.5;
146	146	11 if voting is by an electronic voting system.
147	147	12 (k) If no candidate has filed to run for an office on the primary ballot
148	148	13 then the county election board may print "NO CANDIDATE FILED"
149	149	14 in the place on the ballot where a candidate's name would have been
150	150	15 printed.
151	151	16 SECTION 2. IC 3-10-2-13, AS AMENDED BY P.L.278-2019,
152	152	17 SECTION 41, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
153	153	18 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 13. The following public officials shall be elected
154	154	19 at the general election before their terms of office expire and every four
155	155	20 (4) years thereafter:
156	156	21 (1) Clerk of the circuit court.
157	157	22 (2) County auditor.
158	158	23 (3) County recorder.
159	159	24 (4) County treasurer.
160	160	25 (5) County sheriff.
161	161	26 (6) County coroner.
162	162	27 (7) County surveyor.
163	163	28 (8) County assessor.
164	164	29 (9) County commissioner.
165	165	30 (10) County council member.
166	166	31 (11) Township trustee.
167	167	32 (12) Township board member.
168	168	33 (13) Township assessor (only in a township referred to in
169	169	34 IC 36-6-5-1(d)).
170	170	35 (14) (13) Judge of a small claims court.
171	171	36 (15) (14) Constable of a small claims court.
172	172	37 SECTION 3. IC 3-11-2-12, AS AMENDED BY P.L.227-2023,
173	173	38 SECTION 67, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
174	174	39 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 12. (a) The following offices shall be placed on
175	175	40 the general election ballot in the following order after the public
176	176	41 questions described in section 10(a) of this chapter:
177	177	42 (1) Federal and state offices:
178	178	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 5
179	179	1 (A) President and Vice President of the United States.
180	180	2 (B) United States Senator.
181	181	3 (C) Governor and lieutenant governor.
182	182	4 (D) Secretary of state.
183	183	5 (E) Auditor of state.
184	184	6 (F) Treasurer of state.
185	185	7 (G) Attorney general.
186	186	8 (H) United States Representative. If an election to fill a
187	187	9 vacancy in an office of United States Representative under
188	188	10 IC 3-10-8 is held on the same day as the election for the next
189	189	11 term of the same office, the ballot shall list the election to fill
190	190	12 the vacancy in the office immediately after the election for the
191	191	13 next term of the office.
192	192	14 (2) Legislative offices:
193	193	15 (A) State senator.
194	194	16 (B) State representative.
195	195	17 (3) Circuit offices and county judicial offices:
196	196	18 (A) Judge of the circuit court, and unless otherwise specified
197	197	19 under IC 33, with each division separate if there is more than
198	198	20 one (1) judge of the circuit court.
199	199	21 (B) Judge of the superior court, and unless otherwise specified
200	200	22 under IC 33, with each division separate if there is more than
201	201	23 one (1) judge of the superior court.
202	202	24 (C) Judge of the probate court.
203	203	25 (D) Prosecuting attorney.
204	204	26 (E) Clerk of the circuit court.
205	205	27 (4) County offices:
206	206	28 (A) County auditor.
207	207	29 (B) County recorder.
208	208	30 (C) County treasurer.
209	209	31 (D) County sheriff.
210	210	32 (E) County coroner.
211	211	33 (F) County surveyor.
212	212	34 (G) County assessor.
213	213	35 (H) County commissioner.
214	214	36 (I) County council member.
215	215	37 (5) Township offices:
216	216	38 (A) Township assessor (only in a township referred to in
217	217	39 IC 36-6-5-1(d)).
218	218	40 (B) (A) Township trustee.
219	219	41 (C) (B) Township board member.
220	220	42 (D) (C) Judge of the small claims court.
221	221	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 6
222	222	1 (E) (D) Constable of the small claims court.
223	223	2 (6) City offices:
224	224	3 (A) Mayor.
225	225	4 (B) Clerk or clerk-treasurer.
226	226	5 (C) Judge of the city court.
227	227	6 (D) City-county council member or common council member.
228	228	7 (7) Town offices:
229	229	8 (A) Clerk-treasurer.
230	230	9 (B) Judge of the town court.
231	231	10 (C) Town council member.
232	232	11 (b) If a major political party does not nominate a candidate for an
233	233	12 office on a general, municipal, or special election ballot then the county
234	234	13 election board may print "NO CANDIDATE FILED" in the place on
235	235	14 the ballot where the name of the major political party's nominee would
236	236	15 be printed.
237	237	16 SECTION 4. IC 3-13-10-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.119-2005,
238	238	17 SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
239	239	18 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 3. (a) This section applies to a vacancy in the
240	240	19 office of township assessor. not covered by section 1 of this chapter.
241	241	20 (b) A vacancy shall be filled by the county assessor, subject to the
242	242	21 approval of the department of local government finance. Except as
243	243	22 provided in subsection (c), the county assessor shall make the
244	244	23 appointment not later than thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs. If
245	245	24 the vacancy occurred because the elected township assessor failed to
246	246	25 qualify or was removed, the person who is appointed must be of the
247	247	26 same political party as the elected township assessor.
248	248	27 (c) If a vacancy exists because of the death of the township assessor,
249	249	28 the county assessor shall make the appointment required by subsection
250	250	29 (b) not later than thirty (30) days after the county assessor receives
251	251	30 notice of the death under IC 5-8-6. The county assessor may not fill the
252	252	31 vacancy as required by subsection (b) until the county assessor receives
253	253	32 notice of the death under IC 5-8-6.
254	254	33 (b) Notwithstanding section 1 of this chapter or any other law,
255	255	34 if the office of township assessor becomes vacant, all of the
256	256	35 following apply:
257	257	36 (1) The vacancy may not be filled.
258	258	37 (2) The office of township assessor is abolished in that
259	259	38 township, as provided in IC 36-6-5-5.
260	260	39 (3) The county assessor of the county in which the township is
261	261	40 located shall assume the duties of the township assessor as
262	262	41 provided in IC 36-6-5-5.
263	263	42 (c) This section expires January 1, 2028.
264	264	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 7
265	265	1 SECTION 5. IC 6-1.1-5-9, AS AMENDED BY P.L.146-2008,
266	266	2 SECTION 88, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
267	267	3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 9. In a county containing a consolidated city
268	268	4 (1) the township assessor has the duties and authority described
269	269	5 in sections 1 through 8 of this chapter; and
270	270	6 (2) the county assessor has the duties and authority described in
271	271	7 sections 1 through 8 of this chapter. for a township for which
272	272	8 there is no township assessor.
273	273	9 These duties and authority include effecting the transfer of title to real
274	274	10 property and preparing, maintaining, approving, correcting, indexing,
275	275	11 and publishing the list or record of, or description of title to, real
276	276	12 property. If a court renders a judgment for the partition or transfer of
277	277	13 real property located in a county containing a consolidated city, the
278	278	14 clerk of the court shall deliver the transcript to the county assessor.
279	279	15 SECTION 6. IC 6-1.1-5.5-12, AS AMENDED BY P.L.148-2024,
280	280	16 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
281	281	17 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 12. (a) A party to a conveyance who:
282	282	18 (1) either:
283	283	19 (A) files a sales disclosure form that does not contain all of the
284	284	20 information required by this chapter; or
285	285	21 (B) files a sales disclosure form that contains inaccurate
286	286	22 information;
287	287	23 and receives from the township assessor (in a county containing
288	288	24 a consolidated city) or the county assessor (in any other county)
289	289	25 written notice of the problems described in clause (A) or (B); and
290	290	26 (2) fails to file a correct sales disclosure form that fully complies
291	291	27 with all requirements of this chapter within thirty (30) days after
292	292	28 the date of the notice under subdivision (1);
293	293	29 is subject to a penalty in the amount determined under subsection (b).
294	294	30 (b) The amount of the penalty under subsection (a) is the greater of:
295	295	31 (1) one hundred dollars ($100); or
296	296	32 (2) twenty-five thousandths percent (0.025%) of the sale price of
297	297	33 the real property transferred under the conveyance document.
298	298	34 (c) The township assessor in a county containing a consolidated city,
299	299	35 or the county assessor in any other county, shall:
300	300	36 (1) determine the penalty imposed under this section;
301	301	37 (2) assess the penalty to the party to a conveyance; and
302	302	38 (3) notify the party to the conveyance that the penalty is payable
303	303	39 not later than thirty (30) days after notice of the assessment.
304	304	40 (d) The county auditor shall:
305	305	41 (1) collect the penalty imposed under this section;
306	306	42 (2) deposit penalty collections as required under section 4 of this
307	307	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 8
308	308	1 chapter; and
309	309	2 (3) notify the prosecuting attorney of the appropriate judicial
310	310	3 circuit of delinquent payments.
311	311	4 (e) The prosecuting attorney of the appropriate judicial circuit shall
312	312	5 initiate an action to recover a delinquent penalty under this section. In
313	313	6 a successful action against a person for a delinquent penalty, the court
314	314	7 shall award the prosecuting attorney reasonable attorney's fees.
315	315	8 SECTION 7. IC 6-1.1-18.5-4.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.1-2010,
316	316	9 SECTION 29, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
317	317	10 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4.5. The department of local government finance
318	318	11 shall adjust the maximum permissible ad valorem tax levy of each
319	319	12 county and township to reflect any transfer of duties between assessors
320	320	13 under IC 36-2-15-5, or IC 36-6-5-2 (repealed), IC 36-6-5-5, or
321	321	14 IC 36-6-5-6.
322	322	15 SECTION 8. IC 36-2-15-0.3 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY
323	323	16 1, 2025]. Sec. 0.3. (a) The following are transferred to the county
324	324	17 assessor:
325	325	18 (1) On July 1, 2008:
326	326	19 (A) employment positions as of June 30, 2008, of each elected
327	327	20 township assessor in the county whose duties relating to the
328	328	21 assessment of tangible property are transferred to the county
329	329	22 assessor under IC 36-6-5-1(h), as added by P.L.146-2008,
330	330	23 including:
331	331	24 (i) the employment position of the elected township
332	332	25 assessor; and
333	333	26 (ii) the employment positions of all employees of the elected
334	334	27 township assessor;
335	335	28 (B) real and personal property of:
336	336	29 (i) elected township assessors in the county whose duties
337	337	30 relating to the assessment of tangible property are
338	338	31 transferred to the county assessor under IC 36-6-5-1(h), as
339	339	32 added by P.L.146-2008; and
340	340	33 (ii) township trustee-assessors in the county;
341	341	34 used solely to carry out property assessment duties;
342	342	35 (C) obligations outstanding on June 30, 2008, of:
343	343	36 (i) elected township assessors in the county whose duties
344	344	37 relating to the assessment of tangible property are
345	345	38 transferred to the county assessor under IC 36-6-5-1(h), as
346	346	39 added by P.L.146-2008; and
347	347	40 (ii) township trustee-assessors in the county;
348	348	41 relating to the assessment of tangible property; and
349	349	42 (D) funds of:
350	350	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 9
351	351	1 (i) elected township assessors in the county whose duties
352	352	2 relating to the assessment of tangible property are
353	353	3 transferred to the county assessor under IC 36-6-5-1(h), as
354	354	4 added by P.L.146-2008; and
355	355	5 (ii) township trustee-assessors in the county;
356	356	6 on hand for the purpose of carrying out property assessment
357	357	7 duties in the amount determined by the county auditor.
358	358	8 (2) On January 1, 2009:
359	359	9 (A) employment positions as of December 31, 2008, of each
360	360	10 elected township assessor in the county whose duties relating
361	361	11 to the assessment of tangible property are transferred to the
362	362	12 county assessor as the result of a referendum under this
363	363	13 chapter, as amended by P.L.146-2008, including:
364	364	14 (i) the employment position of the elected township
365	365	15 assessor; and
366	366	16 (ii) the employment positions of all employees of the elected
367	367	17 township assessor;
368	368	18 (B) real and personal property of elected township assessors in
369	369	19 the county whose duties relating to the assessment of tangible
370	370	20 property are transferred to the county assessor as the result of
371	371	21 a referendum under this chapter, as amended by P.L.146-2008,
372	372	22 used solely to carry out property assessment duties;
373	373	23 (C) obligations outstanding on December 31, 2008, of elected
374	374	24 township assessors in the county whose duties relating to the
375	375	25 assessment of tangible property are transferred to the county
376	376	26 assessor as the result of a referendum under this chapter, as
377	377	27 amended by P.L.146-2008, relating to the assessment of
378	378	28 tangible property; and
379	379	29 (D) funds of elected township assessors in the county whose
380	380	30 duties relating to the assessment of tangible property are
381	381	31 transferred to the county assessor as the result of a referendum
382	382	32 under this chapter, as amended by P.L.146-2008, on hand for
383	383	33 the purpose of carrying out property assessment duties in the
384	384	34 amount determined by the county auditor.
385	385	35 (b) Before July 1, 2008, the county assessor shall interview, or give
386	386	36 the opportunity to interview to, each individual who:
387	387	37 (1) is an employee of:
388	388	38 (A) an elected township assessor in the county whose duties
389	389	39 relating to the assessment of tangible property are transferred
390	390	40 to the county assessor under IC 36-6-5-1(h), as added by
391	391	41 P.L.146-2008; or
392	392	42 (B) a trustee-assessor in the county;
393	393	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 10
394	394	1 as of March 19, 2008; and
395	395	2 (2) applies before June 1, 2008, for an employment position
396	396	3 referred to in subsection (a)(1)(A).
397	397	4 (c) Before December 31, 2008, the county assessor shall interview,
398	398	5 or give the opportunity to interview to, each individual who:
399	399	6 (1) is an employee of an elected township assessor in the county
400	400	7 whose duties relating to the assessment of tangible property are
401	401	8 transferred to the county assessor as the result of a referendum
402	402	9 under this chapter, as amended by P.L.146-2008, as of March 19,
403	403	10 2008; and
404	404	11 (2) applies before December 1, 2008, for an employment position
405	405	12 referred to in subsection (a)(2)(A).
406	406	13 (d) A township served on June 30, 2008, by a township assessor
407	407	14 whose duties relating to the assessment of tangible property are
408	408	15 transferred to the county assessor under IC 36-6-5-1(h), as added by
409	409	16 P.L.146-2008 shall transfer to the county assessor all revenue received
410	410	17 after the date of the transfer that is received by the township for the
411	411	18 purpose of carrying out property assessment duties in the amount
412	412	19 determined by the county auditor.
413	413	20 SECTION 9. IC 36-6-1.5-7, AS ADDED BY P.L.240-2005,
414	414	21 SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
415	415	22 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 7. If township governments merge under this
416	416	23 chapter,
417	417	24 (1) IC 36-6-6 applies to the election of the township board and
418	418	25 (2) IC 36-6-5-1 applies to the election of a township assessor;
419	419	26 of the new township government.
420	420	27 SECTION 10. IC 36-6-5-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.167-2015,
421	421	28 SECTION 14, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
422	422	29 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. (a) Subject to subsection (g), before 2009, a
423	423	30 township assessor shall be elected under IC 3-10-2-13 by the voters of
424	424	31 each township:
425	425	32 (1) having:
426	426	33 (A) a population of more than eight thousand (8,000); or
427	427	34 (B) an elected township assessor or the authority to elect a
428	428	35 township assessor before January 1, 1979; and
429	429	36 (2) in which the number of parcels of real property on January 1,
430	430	37 2008, is at least fifteen thousand (15,000).
431	431	38 (b) Subject to subsection (g), before 2009, a township assessor shall
432	432	39 be elected under IC 3-10-2-14 (repealed effective July 1, 2008) in each
433	433	40 township:
434	434	41 (1) having a population of more than five thousand (5,000) but
435	435	42 not more than eight thousand (8,000), if:
436	436	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 11
437	437	1 (A) the legislative body of the township, by resolution,
438	438	2 declares that the office of township assessor is necessary; and
439	439	3 (B) the resolution is filed with the county election board not
440	440	4 later than the first date that a declaration of candidacy may be
441	441	5 filed under IC 3-8-2; and
442	442	6 (2) in which the number of parcels of real property on January 1,
443	443	7 2008, is at least fifteen thousand (15,000).
444	444	8 (c) Subject to subsection (g), a township government that is created
445	445	9 by merger under IC 36-6-1.5 shall elect only one (1) township assessor
446	446	10 under this section.
447	447	11 (d) Subject to subsection (g), after 2008 a township assessor shall
448	448	12 be elected under IC 3-10-2-13 only by the voters of each township in
449	449	13 which:
450	450	14 (1) the number of parcels of real property on January 1, 2008, is
451	451	15 at least fifteen thousand (15,000); and
452	452	16 (2) the transfer to the county assessor of the assessment duties
453	453	17 prescribed by IC 6-1.1 is disapproved in the referendum under
454	454	18 IC 36-2-15.
455	455	19 (e) (a) The township assessor must reside within the township as
456	456	20 provided in Article 6, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of
457	457	21 Indiana. The assessor forfeits office if the assessor ceases to be a
458	458	22 resident of the township.
459	459	23 (f) (b) The term of office of a township assessor is four (4) years,
460	460	24 beginning January 1 after election. and continuing until a successor is
461	461	25 elected and qualified. However, the term of office of a township
462	462	26 assessor elected at a general election in which no other township
463	463	27 officer is elected ends on December 31 after the next election in which
464	464	28 any other township officer is elected.
465	465	29 (g) (c) To be eligible to serve as a township assessor, an individual
466	466	30 must meet the following qualifications before taking office:
467	467	31 (1) If the individual has never held the office of township
468	468	32 assessor, the individual must have attained a level two
469	469	33 assessor-appraiser certification under IC 6-1.1-35.5.
470	470	34 (2) If the individual has held the office of township assessor, the
471	471	35 individual must have attained a level three assessor-appraiser
472	472	36 certification under IC 6-1.1-35.5.
473	473	37 (h) After June 30, 2008, the county assessor shall perform the
474	474	38 assessment duties prescribed by IC 6-1.1 in a township in which the
475	475	39 number of parcels of real property on January 1, 2008, is less than
476	476	40 fifteen thousand (15,000).
477	477	41 (d) This section expires January 1, 2028.
478	478	42 SECTION 11. IC 36-6-5-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.146-2008,
479	479	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 12
480	480	1 SECTION 711, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
481	481	2 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in
482	482	3 subsection (b), the assessor shall perform the duties prescribed by
483	483	4 statute, including assessment duties prescribed by IC 6-1.1.
484	484	5 (b) Subsection (a) does not apply if the duties of the township
485	485	6 assessor have been transferred to the county assessor as described in
486	486	7 IC 6-1.1-1-24 or IC 36-2-15.
487	487	8 (c) This section expires January 1, 2028.
488	488	9 SECTION 12. IC 36-6-5-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.167-2015,
489	489	10 SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
490	490	11 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. (a) Before July 1, 2017, an employee of a
491	491	12 township assessor who performs real property assessing duties must
492	492	13 have attained the level of certification under IC 6-1.1-35.5 that the
493	493	14 township assessor is required to attain under section 1(g) 1(c) of this
494	494	15 chapter.
495	495	16 (b) After June 30, 2017, an employee of a township assessor who is
496	496	17 responsible for placing an assessed valuation on real property must
497	497	18 have attained the certification of a level three assessor-appraiser under
498	498	19 IC 6-1.1-35.5.
499	499	20 (c) This subsection applies after June 30, 2017. If the township
500	500	21 assessor has not attained the certification of a level three
501	501	22 assessor-appraiser under IC 6-1.1-35.5, the township fiscal body shall
502	502	23 authorize either of the following:
503	503	24 (1) The appointment of at least one (1) deputy or employee who
504	504	25 has attained the certification of a level three assessor-appraiser
505	505	26 under IC 6-1.1-35.5.
506	506	27 (2) Contracting with a person who has attained, or who employs
507	507	28 for purposes of the contract an individual who has attained, the
508	508	29 certification of a level three assessor-appraiser under
509	509	30 IC 6-1.1-35.5. The individual under contract with the township
510	510	31 assessor under this subdivision shall assist the township assessor
511	511	32 with assessment duties as determined by the township assessor.
512	512	33 Payment for the deputy, employee, or contractor shall be made from the
513	513	34 budget for the township assessor.
514	514	35 (d) This section expires January 1, 2028.
515	515	36 SECTION 13. IC 36-6-5-5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
516	516	37 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
517	517	38 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 5. (a) If the office of a township assessor
518	518	39 becomes vacant, the following apply on the date the office becomes
519	519	40 vacant:
520	520	41 (1) The office of township assessor for that township is
521	521	42 abolished.
522	522	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 13
523	523	1 (2) The county assessor of the county in which the township is
524	524	2 located shall assume the duties of the township assessor.
525	525	3 (3) All of the following are transferred to the county assessor:
526	526	4 (A) All employment positions of all employees of the
527	527	5 township assessor.
528	528	6 (B) The real and personal property of the township
529	529	7 assessor.
530	530	8 (C) The obligations outstanding on the date the office of
531	531	9 township assessor becomes vacant.
532	532	10 (D) The funds of the township assessor.
533	533	11 (b) An employee of the office of the township assessor on the
534	534	12 date the office of the township assessor becomes vacant is entitled
535	535	13 to remain in the employee's position transferred under subsection
536	536	14 (a) until the earlier of the following:
537	537	15 (1) The employee resigns from the position.
538	538	16 (2) The employee's employment is terminated. However, an
539	539	17 employee described in this subsection may be terminated only
540	540	18 in the same manner that other employees of the county
541	541	19 assessor may be terminated.
542	542	20 (c) The county auditor shall transfer to the county assessor all
543	543	21 revenue received by the township:
544	544	22 (1) through the date that the office of the township assessor
545	545	23 became vacant; and
546	546	24 (2) for the purpose of carrying out property assessment
547	547	25 duties;
548	548	26 in the amount determined by the county auditor.
549	549	27 SECTION 14. IC 36-6-5-6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
550	550	28 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
551	551	29 1, 2025]: Sec. 6. (a) This section applies to the office of a township
552	552	30 assessor in existence on December 31, 2027.
553	553	31 (b) On January 1, 2028, the office of township assessor is
554	554	32 abolished.
555	555	33 (c) On January 1, 2028, all the powers and duties of the
556	556	34 township assessor are transferred to the county assessor of the
557	557	35 county in which the township is located.
558	558	36 (d) On January 1, 2028, all of the following are transferred to
559	559	37 the county assessor:
560	560	38 (1) All employment positions as of December 31, 2027, of each
561	561	39 township assessor in the county, including all of the following:
562	562	40 (A) The employment position of the township assessor.
563	563	41 (B) The employment positions of all employees of the
564	564	42 township assessor.
565	565	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 14
566	566	1 (2) The real and personal property of each township assessor
567	567	2 in the county.
568	568	3 (3) The obligations outstanding on December 31, 2027, of each
569	569	4 township assessor in the county.
570	570	5 (4) The funds of each township assessor in the county.
571	571	6 (e) Before January 1, 2028, the county assessor shall interview,
572	572	7 or give the opportunity to interview to, each individual who:
573	573	8 (1) is, as of October 1, 2027, an employee of a township
574	574	9 assessor in the county; and
575	575	10 (2) applies before December 1, 2027, for an employment
576	576	11 position referred to in subsection (d)(1).
577	577	12 (f) The county auditor shall transfer to the county assessor all
578	578	13 revenue received after December 31, 2027, by the township for the
579	579	14 purpose of carrying out property assessment duties in the amount
580	580	15 determined by the county auditor.
581	581	16 SECTION 15. IC 36-6-5-7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
582	582	17 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
583	583	18 1, 2025]: Sec. 7. (a) Each county assessor and township assessor
584	584	19 whose duties will be transferred under section 6 of this chapter
585	585	20 shall:
586	586	21 (1) organize the records of the assessor's office relating to the
587	587	22 assessment of tangible property in a manner prescribed by the
588	588	23 department of local government finance; and
589	589	24 (2) transfer the records before January 1, 2028, as directed by
590	590	25 the department of local government finance.
591	591	26 (b) The department of local government finance shall determine
592	592	27 a procedure and schedule for the transfer of the records and
593	593	28 operations. The assessors shall assist each other and coordinate
594	594	29 their efforts to:
595	595	30 (1) ensure an orderly transfer of all records; and
596	596	31 (2) provide for an uninterrupted and professional transition
597	597	32 of the functions of assessors consistent with this chapter,
598	598	33 IC 6-1.1, and the directions of the department of local
599	599	34 government finance.
600	600	35 SECTION 16. IC 36-6-5-9 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
601	601	36 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
602	602	37 1, 2025]: Sec. 9. This chapter expires January 1, 2030.
603	603	38 SECTION 17. IC 36-7-11.2-11, AS AMENDED BY P.L.219-2007,
604	604	39 SECTION 121, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
605	605	40 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 11. As used in this chapter, "notice"
606	606	41 means written notice:
607	607	42 (1) served personally upon the person, official, or office entitled
608	608	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 15
609	609	1 to the notice; or
610	610	2 (2) served upon the person, official, or office by placing the notice
611	611	3 in the United States mail, first class postage prepaid, properly
612	612	4 addressed to the person, official, or office. Notice is considered
613	613	5 served if mailed in the manner prescribed by this subdivision
614	614	6 properly addressed to the following:
615	615	7 (A) The governor, both to the address of the governor's official
616	616	8 residence and to the governor's executive office in
617	617	9 Indianapolis.
618	618	10 (B) The Indiana department of transportation, to the
619	619	11 commissioner.
620	620	12 (C) The department of natural resources, both to the director
621	621	13 of the department and to the director of the department's
622	622	14 division of historic preservation and archeology.
623	623	15 (D) The department of metropolitan development.
624	624	16 (E) An occupant, to:
625	625	17 (i) the person by name; or
626	626	18 (ii) if the name is unknown, the "Occupant" at the address of
627	627	19 the Meridian Street or bordering property occupied by the
628	628	20 person.
629	629	21 (F) An owner, to the person by the name shown to be the name
630	630	22 of the owner, and at the person's address, as the address
631	631	23 appears in the records in the bound volumes of the most recent
632	632	24 real estate tax assessment records as the records appear in
633	633	25 (i) the offices of the township assessors; or
634	634	26 (ii) the office of the county assessor
635	635	27 in Marion County.
636	636	28 (G) A neighborhood association or the society, to the
637	637	29 organization at the latest address as shown in the records of the
638	638	30 commission.
639	639	31 SECTION 18. IC 36-7-11.2-58, AS AMENDED BY P.L.146-2008,
640	640	32 SECTION 719, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
641	641	33 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 58. (a) A person who has filed a
642	642	34 petition under section 56 or 57 of this chapter shall, not later than ten
643	643	35 (10) days after the filing, serve notice upon all interested parties. The
644	644	36 notice must state the following:
645	645	37 (1) The full name and address of the following:
646	646	38 (A) The petitioner.
647	647	39 (B) Each attorney acting for and on behalf of the petitioner.
648	648	40 (2) The street address of the Meridian Street and bordering
649	649	41 property for which the petition was filed.
650	650	42 (3) The name of the owner of the property.
651	651	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 16
652	652	1 (4) The full name and address of, and the type of business, if any,
653	653	2 conducted by:
654	654	3 (A) each person who at the time of the filing is a party to; and
655	655	4 (B) each person who is a disclosed or an undisclosed principal
656	656	5 for whom the party was acting as agent in entering into;
657	657	6 a contract of sale, lease, option to purchase or lease, agreement to
658	658	7 build or develop, or other written agreement of any kind or nature
659	659	8 concerning the subject property or the present or future
660	660	9 ownership, use, occupancy, possession, or development of the
661	661	10 subject property.
662	662	11 (5) A description of the contract of sale, lease, option to purchase
663	663	12 or lease, agreement to build or develop, or other written
664	664	13 agreement sufficient to disclose the full nature of the interest of
665	665	14 the party or of the party's principal in the subject property or in
666	666	15 the present or future ownership, use, occupancy, possession, or
667	667	16 development of the subject property.
668	668	17 (6) A description of the proposed use for which the rezoning or
669	669	18 zoning variance is sought, sufficiently detailed to appraise the
670	670	19 notice recipient of the true character, nature, extent, and physical
671	671	20 properties of the proposed use.
672	672	21 (7) The date of the filing of the petition.
673	673	22 (8) The date, time, and place of the next regular meeting of the
674	674	23 commission if a petition is for approval of a zoning variance. If a
675	675	24 petition is filed with the development commission, the notice does
676	676	25 not have to specify the date of a hearing before the commission or
677	677	26 the development commission. However, the person filing the
678	678	27 petition shall give ten (10) days notice of the date, time, and place
679	679	28 of a hearing before the commission on the petition after the
680	680	29 referral of the petition to the commission by the development
681	681	30 commission.
682	682	31 (b) For purposes of giving notice to the interested parties who are
683	683	32 owners, the records in the bound volumes of the recent real estate tax
684	684	33 assessment records as the records appear in
685	685	34 (1) the offices of the township assessors (if any); or
686	686	35 (2) the office of the county assessor
687	687	36 as of the date of filing are considered determinative of the persons who
688	688	37 are owners.
689	689	38 SECTION 19. IC 36-7-15.1-32, AS AMENDED BY P.L.146-2008,
690	690	39 SECTION 759, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
691	691	40 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 32. (a) The commission must
692	692	41 establish a program for housing. The program, which may include such
693	693	42 elements as the commission considers appropriate, must be adopted as
694	694	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 17
695	695	1 part of a redevelopment plan or amendment to a redevelopment plan,
696	696	2 and must establish an allocation area for purposes of sections 26 and
697	697	3 35 of this chapter for the accomplishment of the program.
698	698	4 (b) The notice and hearing provisions of sections 10 and 10.5 of this
699	699	5 chapter apply to the resolution adopted under subsection (a). Judicial
700	700	6 review of the resolution may be made under section 11 of this chapter.
701	701	7 (c) Before formal submission of any housing program to the
702	702	8 commission, the department shall consult with persons interested in or
703	703	9 affected by the proposed program and provide the affected
704	704	10 neighborhood associations, residents, township assessors (if any), and
705	705	11 the county assessor with an adequate opportunity to participate in an
706	706	12 advisory role in planning, implementing, and evaluating the proposed
707	707	13 program. The department may hold public meetings in the affected
708	708	14 neighborhood to obtain the views of neighborhood associations and
709	709	15 residents.
710	710	16 SECTION 20. IC 36-9-11.1-11, AS AMENDED BY P.L.146-2008,
711	711	17 SECTION 789, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
712	712	18 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 11. (a) All property of every kind,
713	713	19 including air rights, acquired for off-street parking purposes, and all its
714	714	20 funds and receipts, are exempt from taxation for all purposes. When
715	715	21 any real property is acquired by the consolidated city, the county
716	716	22 auditor shall, upon certification of that fact by the board, cancel all
717	717	23 taxes then a lien. The certificate of the board must specifically describe
718	718	24 the real property, including air rights, and the purpose for which
719	719	25 acquired.
720	720	26 (b) A lessee of the city may not be assessed any tax upon any land,
721	721	27 air rights, or improvements leased from the city, but the separate
722	722	28 leasehold interest has the same status as leases on taxable real property,
723	723	29 notwithstanding any other law. Whenever the city sells any such
724	724	30 property to anyone for private use, the property becomes liable for all
725	725	31 taxes after that, as other property is so liable and is assessed, and the
726	726	32 board shall report all such sales to the township assessor, or the county
727	727	33 assessor, if there is no township assessor for the township, who shall
728	728	34 cause the property to be upon the proper tax records.
729	729	35 (c) If the duties of the township assessor have been transferred to the
730	730	36 county assessor as described in IC 6-1.1-1-24, a reference to the
731	731	37 township assessor in this section is considered to be a reference to the
732	732	38 county assessor.
733	733	39 SECTION 21. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025] (a) The legislative
734	734	40 services agency, under the supervision of the code revision
735	735	41 committee, shall prepare legislation for introduction during the
736	736	42 2028 session of the general assembly to amend Indiana law to make
737	737	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144 18
738	738	1 necessary corrections and changes in the Indiana Code to reflect
739	739	2 the abolition of the office of township assessor.
740	740	3 (b) This SECTION expires July 1, 2030.
741	741	4 SECTION 22. An emergency is declared for this act.
742	742	2025 IN 1193—LS 7071/DI 144