IN
Indiana House Bill HB1292

Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana House Bill HB1292 Compare Versions

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1+*EH1292.1*
2+April 4, 2025
3+ENGROSSED
4+HOUSE BILL No. 1292
5+_____
6+DIGEST OF HB 1292 (Updated April 3, 2025 11:45 am - DI 120)
7+Citations Affected: IC 36-7.
8+Synopsis: Professional sports development commission. Establishes
9+the northwest Indiana professional sports development commission.
10+Authorizes the commission to study various plans and
11+recommendations that are proposed with respect to attracting a
12+professional sports franchise to northwest Indiana. Authorizes the
13+commission to prepare a comprehensive master plan for building the
14+facilities and other infrastructure necessary for attracting and
15+developing one or more professional sports franchises in northwest
16+Indiana. Creates the professional sports development fund.
17+Effective: July 1, 2025.
18+Harris, Manning, O'Brien, Miller D
19+(SENATE SPONSORS — MISHLER, POL JR., CHARBONNEAU, ZAY)
20+January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory
21+Reform.
22+February 3, 2025, reported — Do Pass. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
23+pursuant to Rule 126.3.
24+February 13, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass.
25+February 17, 2025, read second time, ordered engrossed. Engrossed.
26+February 18, 2025, read third time, passed. Yeas 83, nays 6.
27+SENATE ACTION
28+March 3, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Appropriations.
29+April 3, 2025, amended, reported favorably — Do Pass.
30+EH 1292—LS 6513/DI 125 April 4, 2025
131 First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
232 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
333 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
434 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
535 Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
636 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
737 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
838 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
939 Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
1040 between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
11-HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1292
12-AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
41+ENGROSSED
42+HOUSE BILL No. 1292
43+A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local
44+government.
1345 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
14-SECTION 1. IC 36-7-41 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
15-A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
16-1, 2025]:
17-Chapter 41. Professional Sports Development in Northwest
18-Indiana
19-Sec. 1. (a) As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the
20-northwest Indiana professional sports development commission
21-established by section 2 of this chapter.
22-(b) As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the local
23-professional sports development fund created by section 13 of this
24-chapter.
25-(c) As used in this chapter, "professional sports franchise"
26-refers to a club, corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership,
27-limited liability company, association, or other legal entity
28-operating a professional sports team that belongs to one (1) of the
29-following:
30-(1) A professional football league established before 1930.
31-(2) A professional baseball league established before 1910.
32-(3) An association of professional basketball teams established
33-before 1960.
34-(4) A North American hockey league that has had at least one
35-(1) franchise in the United States since 1924.
36-HEA 1292 — Concur 2
37-(5) A professional soccer league established in 1993.
38-Sec. 2. The northwest Indiana professional sports development
39-commission is established.
40-Sec. 3. (a) The commission consists of the following seventeen
41-(17) members:
42-(1) The mayor of East Chicago.
43-(2) The mayor of Gary.
44-(3) The mayor of Hammond.
45-(4) The mayor of Michigan City.
46-(5) The mayor of LaPorte.
47-(6) The mayor of Portage.
48-(7) The mayor of South Bend.
49-(8) Four (4) members appointed under subsection (b).
50-(9) Four (4) members appointed under subsection (c).
51-(10) One (1) member appointed by the executive director of
52-the northwest Indiana regional development authority.
53-(11) One (1) member appointed by the governor to represent
54-the Indiana economic development corporation.
55-(b) The board of county commissioners for each of the following
56-counties shall appoint to the commission one (1) member from
57-among the board's membership:
58-(1) Lake County.
59-(2) Porter County.
60-(3) LaPorte County.
61-(4) St. Joseph County.
62-(c) The county council for each of the following counties shall
63-appoint to the commission one (1) member from among the
64-council's membership:
65-(1) Lake County.
66-(2) Porter County.
67-(3) LaPorte County.
68-(4) St. Joseph County.
69-Sec. 4. A member of the commission may designate an
70-individual to serve on the commission in the member's place.
71-Sec. 5. (a) The term of each member is two (2) years and ends
72-June 30 of an odd-numbered year.
73-(b) A member may be reappointed.
74-Sec. 6. A vacancy occurring in the membership of the
75-commission shall be filled by the appointing authority to serve the
76-remainder of the term.
77-Sec. 7. (a) A quorum of the commission must be present to
78-conduct the commission's business. A quorum consists of nine (9)
79-HEA 1292 — Concur 3
80-members of the commission.
81-(b) The affirmative votes of nine (9) members of the commission
82-are required for the commission to take action on any measure.
83-Sec. 8. (a) The commission shall hold its initial meeting before
84-September 1, 2025, at the call of the member appointed under
85-section 3(a)(10) of this chapter.
86-(b) The commission shall elect the following officers from
87-among the members of the commission:
88-(1) A chairperson.
89-(2) A vice chairperson.
90-(3) A treasurer.
91-(c) The term of each officer elected under subsection (b):
92-(1) is one (1) year; and
93-(2) ends on June 30.
94-(d) An officer may be reelected.
95-Sec. 9. The commission shall fix the time for regular meetings.
96-Sec. 10. The commission may do the following:
97-(1) Study various plans and recommendations that are
98-proposed with respect to attracting one (1) or more
99-professional sports franchises to northwest Indiana.
100-(2) Prepare a comprehensive master plan for building the
101-facilities and other infrastructure necessary for attracting and
102-developing professional sports franchises in northwest
103-Indiana.
104-(3) Coordinate the implementation of the comprehensive
105-master plan.
106-(4) Monitor the progress of implementation of the
107-comprehensive master plan.
108-(5) Report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
109-Indiana economic development corporation, the legislative
110-council, and the budget committee on:
111-(A) the activities of the commission; and
112-(B) the progress of implementation of the comprehensive
113-master plan.
114-A report provided under this subdivision to the legislative
115-council must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
116-Sec. 11. When necessary to accomplish the purposes of the
117-commission, the commission may do the following:
118-(1) Conduct studies necessary for the performance of the
119-commission's duties.
120-(2) Publicize, advertise, and distribute reports on the
121-commission's purposes, objectives, and findings.
122-HEA 1292 — Concur 4
123-(3) Provide recommendations in matters related to the
124-commission's functions and objectives to the following:
125-(A) The governor and, in an electronic format under
126-IC 5-14-6, the general assembly.
127-(B) Political subdivisions that have territory within
128-northwest Indiana.
129-(C) Other public and private agencies.
130-(4) When requested, act as a coordinating agency for
131-programs and activities of other public and private agencies
132-that are related to the commission's objectives.
133-(5) Receive grants and appropriations from the following:
134-(A) Federal, state, and local governments.
135-(B) Individuals.
136-(C) Foundations.
137-(D) Other organizations.
138-(6) Enter into agreements or contracts regarding the
139-acceptance or use of these grants and appropriations for the
140-purpose of carrying out the commission's activities under this
141-chapter.
142-(7) Acquire and dispose of real or personal property by grant,
143-gift, purchase, lease, devise, or otherwise.
144-(8) Hold, use, improve, maintain, operate, own, manage, or
145-lease as lessor or lessee:
146-(A) real or personal property; or
147-(B) any interest in real or personal property.
148-(9) Contract for staff services with qualified agencies or
149-individuals.
150-Sec. 12. (a) After approval of the budget by the commission,
151-money may be expended only as budgeted, unless a majority vote
152-of the commission authorizes other expenditures.
153-(b) The treasurer of the commission is responsible for the
154-safekeeping and deposit of money the commission receives under
155-this chapter. The state board of accounts shall:
156-(1) prescribe the methods and forms for keeping; and
157-(2) periodically audit;
158-the accounts, records, and books of the commission.
159-(c) The treasurer of the commission may receive, disburse, and
160-handle money belonging to the commission, subject to the
161-following:
162-(1) Applicable statutes.
163-(2) Procedures established by the commission.
164-Sec. 13. (a) The local professional sports development fund is
165-HEA 1292 — Concur 5
166-created. The commission may make expenditures from the fund
167-only to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
168-(b) The fund consists of the following:
169-(1) Grants, gifts, and donations intended for deposit in the
170-fund.
171-(2) Interest that accrues from money in the fund.
172-(3) Money from any other source deposited in the fund.
173-(c) The commission shall do the following:
174-(1) Hold the fund in the name of the commission.
175-(2) Administer the fund.
176-(3) Make all expenditures from the fund.
177-HEA 1292 — Concur Speaker of the House of Representatives
178-President of the Senate
179-President Pro Tempore
180-Governor of the State of Indiana
181-Date: Time:
182-HEA 1292 — Concur
46+1 SECTION 1. IC 36-7-41 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
47+2 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
48+3 1, 2025]:
49+4 Chapter 41. Professional Sports Development in Northwest
50+5 Indiana
51+6 Sec. 1. (a) As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the
52+7 northwest Indiana professional sports development commission
53+8 established by section 2 of this chapter.
54+9 (b) As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the local
55+10 professional sports development fund created by section 13 of this
56+11 chapter.
57+12 (c) As used in this chapter, "professional sports franchise"
58+13 refers to a club, corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership,
59+14 limited liability company, association, or other legal entity
60+15 operating a professional sports team that belongs to one (1) of the
61+16 following:
62+17 (1) A professional football league established before 1930.
63+EH 1292—LS 6513/DI 125 2
64+1 (2) A professional baseball league established before 1910.
65+2 (3) An association of professional basketball teams established
66+3 before 1960.
67+4 (4) A North American hockey league that has had at least one
68+5 (1) franchise in the United States since 1924.
69+6 (5) A professional soccer league established in 1993.
70+7 Sec. 2. The northwest Indiana professional sports development
71+8 commission is established.
72+9 Sec. 3. (a) The commission consists of the following seventeen
73+10 (17) members:
74+11 (1) The mayor of East Chicago.
75+12 (2) The mayor of Gary.
76+13 (3) The mayor of Hammond.
77+14 (4) The mayor of Michigan City.
78+15 (5) The mayor of LaPorte.
79+16 (6) The mayor of Portage.
80+17 (7) The mayor of South Bend.
81+18 (8) Four (4) members appointed under subsection (b).
82+19 (9) Four (4) members appointed under subsection (c).
83+20 (10) One (1) member appointed by the executive director of
84+21 the northwest Indiana regional development authority.
85+22 (11) One (1) member appointed by the governor to represent
86+23 the Indiana economic development corporation.
87+24 (b) The board of county commissioners for each of the following
88+25 counties shall appoint to the commission one (1) member from
89+26 among the board's membership:
90+27 (1) Lake County.
91+28 (2) Porter County.
92+29 (3) LaPorte County.
93+30 (4) St. Joseph County.
94+31 (c) The county council for each of the following counties shall
95+32 appoint to the commission one (1) member from among the
96+33 council's membership:
97+34 (1) Lake County.
98+35 (2) Porter County.
99+36 (3) LaPorte County.
100+37 (4) St. Joseph County.
101+38 Sec. 4. A member of the commission may designate an
102+39 individual to serve on the commission in the member's place.
103+40 Sec. 5. (a) The term of each member is two (2) years and ends
104+41 June 30 of an odd-numbered year.
105+42 (b) A member may be reappointed.
106+EH 1292—LS 6513/DI 125 3
107+1 Sec. 6. A vacancy occurring in the membership of the
108+2 commission shall be filled by the appointing authority to serve the
109+3 remainder of the term.
110+4 Sec. 7. (a) A quorum of the commission must be present to
111+5 conduct the commission's business. A quorum consists of nine (9)
112+6 members of the commission.
113+7 (b) The affirmative votes of nine (9) members of the commission
114+8 are required for the commission to take action on any measure.
115+9 Sec. 8. (a) The commission shall hold its initial meeting before
116+10 September 1, 2025, at the call of the member appointed under
117+11 section 3(a)(10) of this chapter.
118+12 (b) The commission shall elect the following officers from
119+13 among the members of the commission:
120+14 (1) A chairperson.
121+15 (2) A vice chairperson.
122+16 (3) A treasurer.
123+17 (c) The term of each officer elected under subsection (b):
124+18 (1) is one (1) year; and
125+19 (2) ends on June 30.
126+20 (d) An officer may be reelected.
127+21 Sec. 9. The commission shall fix the time for regular meetings.
128+22 Sec. 10. The commission may do the following:
129+23 (1) Study various plans and recommendations that are
130+24 proposed with respect to attracting one (1) or more
131+25 professional sports franchises to northwest Indiana.
132+26 (2) Prepare a comprehensive master plan for building the
133+27 facilities and other infrastructure necessary for attracting and
134+28 developing professional sports franchises in northwest
135+29 Indiana.
136+30 (3) Coordinate the implementation of the comprehensive
137+31 master plan.
138+32 (4) Monitor the progress of implementation of the
139+33 comprehensive master plan.
140+34 (5) Report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
141+35 Indiana economic development corporation, the legislative
142+36 council, and the budget committee on:
143+37 (A) the activities of the commission; and
144+38 (B) the progress of implementation of the comprehensive
145+39 master plan.
146+40 A report provided under this subdivision to the legislative
147+41 council must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
148+42 Sec. 11. When necessary to accomplish the purposes of the
149+EH 1292—LS 6513/DI 125 4
150+1 commission, the commission may do the following:
151+2 (1) Conduct studies necessary for the performance of the
152+3 commission's duties.
153+4 (2) Publicize, advertise, and distribute reports on the
154+5 commission's purposes, objectives, and findings.
155+6 (3) Provide recommendations in matters related to the
156+7 commission's functions and objectives to the following:
157+8 (A) The governor and, in an electronic format under
158+9 IC 5-14-6, the general assembly.
159+10 (B) Political subdivisions that have territory within
160+11 northwest Indiana.
161+12 (C) Other public and private agencies.
162+13 (4) When requested, act as a coordinating agency for
163+14 programs and activities of other public and private agencies
164+15 that are related to the commission's objectives.
165+16 (5) Receive grants and appropriations from the following:
166+17 (A) Federal, state, and local governments.
167+18 (B) Individuals.
168+19 (C) Foundations.
169+20 (D) Other organizations.
170+21 (6) Enter into agreements or contracts regarding the
171+22 acceptance or use of these grants and appropriations for the
172+23 purpose of carrying out the commission's activities under this
173+24 chapter.
174+25 (7) Acquire and dispose of real or personal property by grant,
175+26 gift, purchase, lease, devise, or otherwise.
176+27 (8) Hold, use, improve, maintain, operate, own, manage, or
177+28 lease as lessor or lessee:
178+29 (A) real or personal property; or
179+30 (B) any interest in real or personal property.
180+31 (9) Contract for staff services with qualified agencies or
181+32 individuals.
182+33 Sec. 12. (a) After approval of the budget by the commission,
183+34 money may be expended only as budgeted, unless a majority vote
184+35 of the commission authorizes other expenditures.
185+36 (b) The treasurer of the commission is responsible for the
186+37 safekeeping and deposit of money the commission receives under
187+38 this chapter. The state board of accounts shall:
188+39 (1) prescribe the methods and forms for keeping; and
189+40 (2) periodically audit;
190+41 the accounts, records, and books of the commission.
191+42 (c) The treasurer of the commission may receive, disburse, and
192+EH 1292—LS 6513/DI 125 5
193+1 handle money belonging to the commission, subject to the
194+2 following:
195+3 (1) Applicable statutes.
196+4 (2) Procedures established by the commission.
197+5 Sec. 13. (a) The local professional sports development fund is
198+6 created. The commission may make expenditures from the fund
199+7 only to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
200+8 (b) The fund consists of the following:
201+9 (1) Grants, gifts, and donations intended for deposit in the
202+10 fund.
203+11 (2) Interest that accrues from money in the fund.
204+12 (3) Money from any other source deposited in the fund.
205+13 (c) The commission shall do the following:
206+14 (1) Hold the fund in the name of the commission.
207+15 (2) Administer the fund.
208+16 (3) Make all expenditures from the fund.
209+EH 1292—LS 6513/DI 125 6
210+COMMITTEE REPORT
211+Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Government and Regulatory
212+Reform, to which was referred House Bill 1292, has had the same
213+under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
214+House with the recommendation that said bill do pass.
215+(Reference is to HB 1292 as introduced.)
216+MILLER D
217+Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0
218+_____
219+COMMITTEE REPORT
220+Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was
221+referred House Bill 1292, has had the same under consideration and
222+begs leave to report the same back to the House with the
223+recommendation that said bill be amended as follows:
224+Page 1, line 10, delete "14" and insert "13".
225+Page 3, delete lines 6 through 20.
226+Page 3, line 21, delete "8." and insert "7.".
227+Page 3, line 26, delete "9." and insert "8.".
228+Page 3, line 38, delete "10." and insert "9.".
229+Page 4, line 2, delete "11." and insert "10.".
230+Page 4, line 22, delete "12." and insert "11.".
231+Page 5, delete lines 11 through 12.
232+ Page 5, line 13, delete "(10)" and insert "(9)".
233+Page 5, line 15, delete "13." and insert "12.".
234+Page 5, line 29, delete "14." and insert "13.".
235+and when so amended that said bill do pass.
236+(Reference is to HB 1292 as printed February 3, 2025.)
237+THOMPSON
238+Committee Vote: yeas 18, nays 1.
239+_____
240+COMMITTEE REPORT
241+Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Appropriations, to which
242+was referred House Bill No. 1292, has had the same under
243+EH 1292—LS 6513/DI 125 7
244+consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with
245+the recommendation that said bill be AMENDED as follows:
246+Page 1, line 9, after "the" insert "local".
247+Page 2, line 8, delete "nineteen (19)" and insert "seventeen (17)".
248+Page 2, delete lines 21 through 22.
249+Page 2, line 23, delete "(12)" and insert "(11)".
250+Page 2, delete lines 25 through 26.
251+Page 3, line 2, delete "the applicable year." and insert "an
252+odd-numbered year.".
253+Page 3, line 5, delete "authority." and insert "authority to serve the
254+remainder of the term.".
255+Page 3, line 7, delete "ten (10)" and insert "nine (9)".
256+Page 3, line 9, delete "ten (10)" and insert "nine (9)".
257+Page 3, delete lines 23 through 28, begin a new paragraph and
258+insert:
259+"Sec. 9. The commission shall fix the time for regular meetings.".
260+Page 5, line 12, after "The" insert "local".
261+Page 5, delete line 16.
262+Page 5, line 17, delete "(2)" and insert "(1)".
263+ Page 5, line 19, delete "(3)" and insert "(2)".
264+Page 5, line 20, delete "(4)" and insert "(3)".
265+Page 5, delete lines 25 through 26.
266+and when so amended that said bill do pass.
267+(Reference is to HB 1292 as printed February 13, 2025.)
268+MISHLER, Chairperson
269+Committee Vote: Yeas 12, Nays 0.
270+EH 1292—LS 6513/DI 125