Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana House Bill HB1312 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	HB1312.3
2		-	Reprinted
3		-	February 18, 2025
	1	+	HB1312.2
	2	+	February 13, 2025
4	3		HOUSE BILL No. 1312
5	4		_____
6		-	DIGEST OF HB 1312 (Updated February 17, 2025 4:~~33 pm~~ - DI 87)
	5	+	DIGEST OF HB 1312 (Updated February 12, 2025 7:49 am - DI 140)
7	6		Citations Affected: IC 5-3; IC 5-15; IC 6-1.1; IC 36-8; noncode.
8	7		Synopsis: Public notices. Requires the Indiana office of technology
9	8		(office) to establish a state public notice website not later than July 1,
10	9		2026. Prohibits the office from charging a fee for publishing or viewing
11	10		notices. Allows a person to satisfy any notice statute by publishing
12	11		notice in any of the following forms of media: (1) Newspaper,
13	12		including print edition or electronic edition. (2) Locality newspaper,
14	13		including print edition or electronic edition. (3) The state public notice
15	14		website. (4) Political subdivision website. Requires the Indiana
16	15		archives and records administration (administration) to establish
17	16		standards and guidelines and enter into memoranda of understanding
18	17		with agencies for the transfer and preservation of public notices from
19	18		the state public notice website to the administration to preserve public
20	19		notices for historical purposes. Phases out the publication of notices on
21	20		the political subdivision website. Phases in the publication of notices
22	21		on the state public notice website.
23	22		Effective: July 1, 2025.
24	23		Meltzer, Miller D, Zimmerman
25	24		January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory
26	25		Reform.
27	26		February 3, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass. Referred to Committee on Ways and
28	27		Means pursuant to Rule 126.3.
29	28		February 13, 2025, reported — Do Pass.
30		-	February 17, 2025, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
31		-	HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 Reprinted
32		-	February 18, 2025
	29	+	HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 February 13, 2025
33	30		First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
34	31		PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
35	32		Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
36	33		additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
37	34		Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
38	35		provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
39	36		word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
40	37		a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
41	38		Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
42	39		between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
43	40		HOUSE BILL No. 1312
44	41		A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
45	42		and local administration.
46	43		Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
47	44		1 SECTION 1. IC 5-3-1-0.8 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
48	45		2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
49	46		3 1, 2025]: Sec. 0.8. As used in this chapter, "state public notice
50	47		4 website" means the website established under IC 5-3-1.6.
51	48		5 SECTION 2. IC 5-3-1-0.9, AS ADDED BY P.L.122-2024,
52	49		6 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
53	50		7 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 0.9. (a) This section applies to the publication of
54	51		8 notice of an event that meets both of the following requirements:
55	52		9 (1) Notice of the event is required by statute to be published two
56	53		10 (2) or more times.
57	54		11 (2) Notice is published:
58	55		12 (A) at least one (1) time before July 1, 2024; and
59	56		13 (B) at least one (1) time after June 30, 2024.
60	57		14 (b) Sections 0.2, 0.4, and 0.7 of this chapter (as in effect on June 30,
61	58		15 2024) continue to apply to any notices of the event that are published
62	59		16 after June 30, 2024, as if SEA 252-2024 had not been enacted.
63	60		17 (c) This section expires July 1, 2027. 2025.
64	61		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 2
65	62		1 SECTION 3. IC 5-3-1-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.84-2023,
66	63		2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
67	64		3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. (a) The cost of all public notice advertising
68	65		4 which any elected or appointed public official or governmental agency
69	66		5 is required by law to have published, or orders published, for which the
70	67		6 compensation to the newspapers, locality newspapers, or qualified
71	68		7 publications publishing such advertising is drawn from and is the
72	69		8 ultimate obligation of the public treasury of the governmental unit
73	70		9 concerned with the advertising shall be charged to and collected from
74	71		10 the proper fund of the public treasury and paid over to the newspapers,
75	72		11 locality newspapers, or qualified publications publishing such
76	73		12 advertising, after proof of publication and claim for payment has been
77	74		13 filed.
78	75		14 (b) The basic charges for publishing public notice advertising shall
79	76		15 be by the line and shall be computed based on a square of two hundred
80	77		16 and fifty (250) ems at the following rates:
81	78		17 (1) Before January 1, 1996, three dollars and thirty cents ($3.30)
82	79		18 per square for the first insertion in newspapers or qualified
83	80		19 publications plus one dollar and sixty-five cents ($1.65) per
84	81		20 square for each additional insertion in newspapers, or qualified
85	82		21 publications.
86	83		22 (2) After December 31, 1995, and before December 31, 2005, a
87	84		23 newspaper or qualified publication may, effective January 1 of
88	85		24 any year, increase the basic charges by five percent (5%) more
89	86		25 than the basic charges that were in effect during the previous year.
90	87		26 However, the basic charges for the first insertion of a public
91	88		27 notice in a newspaper, or qualified publication may not exceed the
92	89		28 lowest classified advertising rate charged to advertisers by the
93	90		29 newspaper, or qualified publication for comparable use of the
94	91		30 same amount of space for other purposes.
95	92		31 (3) After December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2017, a
96	93		32 newspaper or qualified publication may, effective January 1 of
97	94		33 any year, increase the basic charges by not more than two and
98	95		34 three-quarters percent (2.75%) more than the basic charges that
99	96		35 were in effect during the previous year. However, the basic
100	97		36 charges for the first insertion of a public notice in a newspaper or
101	98		37 qualified publication may not exceed the lowest classified
102	99		38 advertising rate charged to advertisers by the newspaper or
103	100		39 qualified publication for comparable use of the same amount of
104	101		40 space for other purposes and must include all multiple insertion
105	102		41 discounts extended to the newspaper's other advertisers.
106	103		42 (4) After December 31, 2016, a newspaper, locality newspaper,
107	104		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 3
108	105		1 or qualified publication may, effective January 1 of any year,
109	106		2 increase the basic charges by not more than two and
110	107		3 three-quarters percent (2.75%) more than the basic charges that
111	108		4 were in effect during the previous year. However, the basic
112	109		5 charges for the first insertion of a public notice in a newspaper,
113	110		6 locality newspaper, or qualified publication may not exceed the
114	111		7 lowest classified advertising rate charged to advertisers by the
115	112		8 newspaper, locality newspaper, or qualified publication for
116	113		9 comparable use of the same amount of space for other purposes
117	114		10 and must include all multiple insertion discounts extended to the
118	115		11 newspaper's, locality newspaper's, or qualified publication's other
119	116		12 advertisers.
120	117		13 An additional charge of fifty percent (50%) shall be allowed for the
121	118		14 publication of all public notice advertising containing rule or tabular
122	119		15 work.
123	120		16 (c) All public notice advertisements shall be set in solid type that is
124	121		17 at least 7 point type, without any leads or other devices for increasing
125	122		18 space. All public notice advertisements shall be headed by not more
126	123		19 than two (2) lines, neither of which shall total more than four (4) solid
127	124		20 lines of the type in which the body of the advertisement is set. Public
128	125		21 notice advertisements may be submitted by an appointed or elected
129	126		22 official or a governmental agency to a newspaper, locality newspaper,
130	127		23 or qualified publication in electronic form, if the newspaper, locality
131	128		24 newspaper, or qualified publication is equipped to accept information
132	129		25 in compatible electronic form.
133	130		26 (d) Each newspaper, locality newspaper, or qualified publication
134	131		27 publishing public notice advertising shall submit proof of publication
135	132		28 and claim for payment in duplicate on each public notice advertisement
136	133		29 published. For each additional proof of publication required by a public
137	134		30 official, a charge of one dollar ($1) per copy shall be allowed each
138	135		31 newspaper, locality newspaper, or qualified publication furnishing
139	136		32 proof of publication.
140	137		33 (e) The circulation of a newspaper, locality newspaper, or qualified
141	138		34 publication is determined as follows:
142	139		35 (1) For a newspaper, by the circulation stated on line 10.C. (Total
143	140		36 Paid and/or Requested Circulation of Single Issue Published
144	141		37 Nearest to Filing Date) of the Statement of Ownership,
145	142		38 Management and Circulation required by 39 U.S.C. 3685 that was
146	143		39 filed during the previous year.
147	144		40 (2) For a locality newspaper, by a verified affidavit filed with each
148	145		41 agency, department, or office of the political subdivision that has
149	146		42 public notices the locality newspaper wants to publish. The
150	147		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 4
151	148		1 affidavit must:
152	149		2 (A) be filed with the agency, department, or office of the
153	150		3 political subdivision before January 1 of each year; and
154	151		4 (B) attest to the circulation of the locality newspaper for the
155	152		5 issue published nearest to October 1 of the previous year, as
156	153		6 determined by an independent audit of the locality newspaper
157	154		7 performed for the previous year.
158	155		8 (3) For a qualified publication, by a verified affidavit filed with
159	156		9 each governmental agency that has public notices the qualified
160	157		10 publication wants to publish. The affidavit must:
161	158		11 (A) be filed with the governmental agency before January 1 of
162	159		12 each year; and
163	160		13 (B) attest to the circulation of the qualified publication for the
164	161		14 issue published nearest to October 1 of the previous year.
165	162		15 (f) This subsection applies to a towing service acting as an agent of
166	163		16 a governmental agency to facilitate the removal of abandoned vehicles
167	164		17 or parts. A towing service shall be charged the basic rates charged for
168	165		18 all public notice advertising in subsection (b)(4) for providing the
169	166		19 notice required under IC 9-22-1-23.
170	167		20 (g) The basic charge for publication of a notice in an electronic
171	168		21 edition of a newspaper or locality newspaper shall be the same as
172	169		22 the basic charge for publication of the notice in the print edition.
173	170		23 (h) After June 30, 2026, the office of technology established by
174	171		24 IC 4-13.1-2-1 may not charge a fee to publish a notice on the state
175	172		25 public notice website.
176	173		26 SECTION 4. IC 5-3-1-1.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.146-2024,
177	174		27 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
178	175		28 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. (a) This section applies to a notice that must
179	176		29 be published in accordance with this chapter.
180	177		30 (b) As used in this section, "political subdivision" has the
181	178		31 meaning set forth in IC 5-3-5-3.
182	179		32 (c) As used in this chapter, "state agency" has the meaning set
183	180		33 forth in IC 1-1-15-3.
184	181		34 (b) If a newspaper or locality newspaper maintains a website, a
185	182		35 notice that is published in the newspaper or locality newspaper must
186	183		36 also be posted on the website of the newspaper or locality newspaper.
187	184		37 The notice must appear on the website on the same day the notice
188	185		38 appears in the newspaper or locality newspaper.
189	186		39 (c) The state board of accounts shall develop a standard form for
190	187		40 notices posted on a newspaper's or locality newspaper's website.
191	188		41 (d) A newspaper or locality newspaper may not charge a fee for
192	189		42 posting a notice on the newspaper's or locality newspaper's website
193	190		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 5
194	191		under this section.1
195	192		2 (d) Notwithstanding any express statutory requirement of
196	193		3 publishing a notice in a specific form of media, a person satisfies
197	194		4 the statutory requirement by publishing the notice in any of the
198	195		5 following media:
199	196		6 (1) Publication in any of the following forms of a newspaper:
200	197		7 (A) A print edition newspaper that is published in or
201	198		8 circulates within the political subdivision specified in the
202	199		9 statute.
203	200		10 (B) An electronic edition published by the newspaper
204	201		11 described in clause (A).
205	202		12 (2) Publication in any of the following forms of a locality
206	203		13 newspaper:
207	204		14 (A) A print edition locality newspaper that circulates
208	205		15 within the political subdivision specified in the statute.
209	206		16 (B) An electronic edition published by the locality
210	207		17 newspaper described in clause (A).
211	208		18 (3) Publication on the state public notice website under
212	209		19 IC 5-3-1.6 in accordance with the following:
213	210		20 (A) Beginning July 1, 2026:
214	211		21 (i) a state agency; or
215	212		22 (ii) a political subdivision primarily located within a
216	213		23 county having a population of not more than fifty
217	214		24 thousand (50,000);
218	215		25 may make the first publication of a notice and any
219	216		26 subsequent publications of the notice that are required by
220	217		27 law on the state public notice website.
221	218		28 (B) Beginning January 1, 2027, a political subdivision
222	219		29 primarily located within a county having a population of
223	220		30 not more than one hundred thousand (100,000) may make
224	221		31 the first publication of a notice and any subsequent
225	222		32 publications of the notice that are required by law on the
226	223		33 state public notice website.
227	224		34 (C) Beginning July 1, 2027, any body corporate and politic
228	225		35 or other instrumentality of state or local government not
229	226		36 described in subdivision (1) or (2) may make the first
230	227		37 publication of a notice and any subsequent publications of
231	228		38 the notice that are required by law on the state public
232	229		39 notice website.
233	230		40 (4) Publication on a political subdivision website under
234	231		41 IC 5-3-5 until the date that the person is authorized under
235	232		42 subdivision (3) to publish notice on the state public notice
236	233		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 6
237	234		1 website.
238	235		2 (e) This section does not exempt a person from complying with
239	236		3 any other statutory requirement, including deadlines for
240	237		publication of notice and frequency of publication. 4 However,
241	238		5 notwithstanding any law that requires a public notice to be
242	239		6 published on at least two (2) days and for a specified frequency, a
243	240		7 notice published on the state public notice website shall be
244	241		8 maintained on the state public notice website for the period as set
245	242		forth in IC 5-3-1.6-4.9
246	243		10 (f) A newspaper or locality newspaper may not:
247	244		11 (1) charge a person a fee for viewing or searching the
248	245		12 newspaper's or locality newspaper's electronic edition for
249	246		13 public notices; or
250	247		14 (2) require a person to register on the newspaper's or locality
251	248		15 newspaper's website in order to view or search for public
252	249		16 notices in the electronic edition.
253	250		17 (g) The basic charge for publication of a notice in an electronic
254	251		18 edition of a newspaper or locality newspaper shall be the same as
255	252		19 the basic charge for publication of the notice in the print edition in
256	253		20 accordance with section 1 of this chapter.
257	254		21 SECTION 5. IC 5-3-1-1.6 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
258	255		22 2025]. Sec. 1.6. (a) This section applies to a notice published by a
259	256		23 political subdivision in a newspaper or locality newspaper under
260	257		24 section 4 of this chapter.
261	258		25 (b) This subsection applies if a newspaper or locality newspaper
262	259		26 publishes:
263	260		27 (1) a print edition not more than three (3) times a week; and
264	261		28 (2) an electronic edition.
265	262		29 A notice may be published in either the print edition or the electronic
266	263		30 edition.
267	264		31 (c) This subsection applies if a newspaper or locality newspaper:
268	265		32 (1) publishes a print edition not more than two (2) times a week;
269	266		33 and
270	267		34 (2) does not publish an electronic edition.
271	268		35 A notice may be published in either the print edition or on the website
272	269		36 of the newspaper or locality newspaper. If the newspaper or locality
273	270		37 newspaper does not maintain a website, a notice may be published in
274	271		38 either the print edition or on the political subdivision's official website
275	272		39 (as defined in IC 5-3-5-2) in accordance with IC 5-3-5.
276	273		40 (d) A newspaper or locality newspaper may not:
277	274		41 (1) charge a person a fee for viewing or searching the website or
278	275		42 electronic edition for public notices; or
279	276		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 7
280	277		1 (2) require a person to register on the newspaper or locality
281	278		2 newspaper's website in order to view or search for public notices
282	279		3 on the website.
283	280		4 (e) The basic charge for publication of a notice in an electronic
284	281		5 edition shall be the same as the basic charge for publication of the
285	282		6 notice in the print edition in accordance with section 1 of this chapter.
286	283		7 SECTION 6. IC 5-3-1-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.147-2016,
287	284		8 SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
288	285		9 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. (a) Whenever officers of a political subdivision
289	286		10 are required to publish a notice affecting the political subdivision, they
290	287		11 shall may publish the notice in two (2) newspapers of the forms of
291	288		12 media listed under section 1.5(d) of this chapter. If officers choose
292	289		13 to publish a notice in any form of newspaper or locality newspaper,
293	290		14 the newspaper's or locality newspaper's print edition must be
294	291		15 published in or circulate within the political subdivision as provided
295	292		16 in section 1.5(d) of this chapter.
296	293		17 (b) This subsection applies to notices published by county officers.
297	294		18 If there is only one (1) newspaper published in the county, then
298	295		19 publication in that newspaper alone is sufficient.
299	296		20 (c) This subsection applies to notices published by city, town, or
300	297		21 school corporation officers. If there is only one (1) newspaper
301	298		22 published in the municipality or school corporation, then publication
302	299		23 in that newspaper alone is sufficient. If no newspaper is published in
303	300		24 the municipality or school corporation, then publication of the notice
304	301		25 shall be made in one (1) of the following:
305	302		26 (1) A locality newspaper that circulates within the municipality or
306	303		27 school corporation.
307	304		28 (2) A newspaper published in the county in which the
308	305		29 municipality or school corporation is located and that circulates
309	306		30 within the municipality or school corporation.
310	307		31 (d) This subsection applies to notices published by officers of
311	308		32 political subdivisions not covered by subsection (a) or (b). If there is
312	309		33 only one (1) newspaper published in the political subdivision, then the
313	310		34 notice shall be published in that newspaper. If no newspaper is
314	311		35 published in the political subdivision, then publication of the notice
315	312		36 shall be made in one (1) of the following:
316	313		37 (1) A locality newspaper that circulates within the municipality or
317	314		38 school corporation.
318	315		39 (2) A newspaper published in the county and that circulates
319	316		40 within the political subdivision.
320	317		41 (e) This subsection applies to a political subdivision, including a
321	318		42 city, town, or school corporation. Notwithstanding any other law, if a
322	319		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 8
323	320		1 political subdivision has territory in more than one (1) county, public
324	321		2 notices that are required by law or ordered to be published must be
325	322		3 given as follows:
326	323		4 (1) By publication in two (2) newspapers published within the
327	324		5 boundaries of the political subdivision.
328	325		6 (2) If only one (1) newspaper is published within the boundaries
329	326		7 of the political subdivision, by publication of the notice in that
330	327		8 newspaper and in one (1) of the following:
331	328		9 (A) A locality newspaper that circulates within the political
332	329		10 subdivision.
333	330		11 (B) In another newspaper:
334	331		12 (i) published in any county in which the political subdivision
335	332		13 extends; and
336	333		14 (ii) that has a general circulation in the political subdivision.
337	334		15 (3) If no newspaper is published within the boundaries of the
338	335		16 political subdivision, by publishing the notice in two (2)
339	336		17 publications, consisting of either or both of the following:
340	337		18 (A) A locality newspaper that circulates within the political
341	338		19 subdivision.
342	339		20 (B) A newspaper that:
343	340		21 (i) is published in any counties into which the political
344	341		22 subdivision extends; and
345	342		23 (ii) has a general circulation in the political subdivision.
346	343		24 (4) If only one (1) newspaper is published in any of the counties
347	344		25 into which the political subdivision extends, by publication of the
348	345		26 notice in one (1) of the following:
349	346		27 (A) A locality newspaper that circulates within the political
350	347		28 subdivision.
351	348		29 (B) The newspaper published in the county if the newspaper
352	349		30 circulates within the political subdivision.
353	350		31 (f) (b) A political subdivision may, in its discretion, publish public
354	351		32 notices in a qualified publication or additional newspapers or locality
355	352		33 newspapers to provide supplementary notification to the public. The
356	353		34 cost of publishing supplementary notification is a proper expenditure
357	354		35 of the political subdivision.
358	355		36 SECTION 7. IC 5-3-1.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
359	356		37 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
360	357		38 1, 2025]:
361	358		39 Chapter 1.6. State Public Notice Website
362	359		40 Sec. 1. The definitions in IC 5-3-1 apply throughout this chapter.
363	360		41 Sec. 2. Not later than July 1, 2026, the office of technology
364	361		42 established by IC 4-13.1-2-1 shall establish and operate a state
365	362		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 9
366	363		1 public notice website as a repository for public notices.
367		-	2 Sec. 3. ~~(a)~~ The state public notice website shall:
	364	+	2 Sec. 3. The state public notice website shall:
368	365		3 (1) receive, publish, and store public notices; and
369	366		4 (2) be searchable by:
370	367		5 (A) county, city, town, township, school corporation;
371	368		6 (B) date of publication or event; and
372	369		7 (C) subject, which may include:
373	370		8 (i) public hearing notices;
374	371		9 (ii) build operate transfer notices under IC 5-23;
375	372		10 (iii) notices regarding the receiving of bids;
376	373		11 (iv) election notices;
377	374		12 (v) notices regarding the sales of bonds, notes, or
378	375		13 warrants;
379	376		14 (vi) notices regarding the cumulative or sinking funds;
380	377		15 and
381	378		16 (vii) notices regarding the adoption of ordinances.
382		-	17 (b) ~~The office of technology shall implement~~ a ~~feature that~~
383		-	18 ~~allows users of~~ the state public notice website ~~to request alerts sent~~
384		-	19 ~~automatically to~~ the ~~user by electronic mail when a new notice is~~
385		-	20 ~~posted on the state~~ public notice ~~website that matches the search~~
386		-	21 ~~terms selected by~~ the ~~user.~~
387		-	22 ~~Sec. 4.~~ ~~(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a~~ public notice
388		-	23 ~~shall be maintained on~~ the ~~state public~~ notice ~~website for~~ at least
389		-	24 ~~seven~~ (7) days after the day of ~~publication.~~
390		-	25 ~~(b) If a public notice is required~~ by law ~~to be published on at~~
391		-	~~least two (2) days and~~ for ~~a specified frequency, 26 the notice shall be~~
392		-	27 ~~maintained on~~ the state public notice website ~~from the first day~~
393		-	28 ~~that publication~~ of the ~~notice is required by law until at least seven~~
394		-	29 (7) ~~days after~~ the ~~last day that publication of the~~ notice ~~is required~~
395		-	30 by ~~law.~~
396		-	31 ~~Sec~~. ~~5. A person may submit a notice for publication directly to~~
397		-	32 the ~~state public~~ notice ~~website.~~
398		-	33 ~~Sec. 6.~~ The ~~office of technology shall do the following:~~
399		-	34 ~~(1) Maintain the state public notice website to be accessible~~
400		-	35 ~~and searchable by~~ the public ~~at all times, other than during~~
401		-	36 ~~maintenance or circumstances outside the operator's control~~.
402		-	37 (2) Not ~~charge the~~ person ~~placing the notice a fee for:~~
403		-	38 ~~(A) publishing a~~ public ~~notice~~ on the ~~state public notice~~
404		-	39 ~~website; or~~
405		-	40 ~~(B) viewing or searching~~ the ~~state public notice website for~~
406		-	41 ~~public notices~~.
407		-	42 ~~(3) Not require~~ a ~~person~~ to ~~register in order to view or search~~
	379	+	17 Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a public notice
	380	+	18 shall be maintained on the state public notice website for at least
	381	+	19 seven (7) days after the day of publication.
	382	+	20 (b) If a public notice is required by law to be published on at
	383	+	least two (2) days and for a specified frequency, 21 the notice shall be
	384	+	22 maintained on the state public notice website from the first day
	385	+	23 that publication of the notice is required by law until at least seven
	386	+	24 (7) days after the last day that publication of the notice is required
	387	+	25 by law.
	388	+	26 Sec. 5. A person may submit a notice for publication directly to
	389	+	27 the state public notice website.
	390	+	28 Sec. 6. The office of technology shall do the following:
	391	+	29 (1) Maintain the state public notice website to be accessible
	392	+	30 and searchable by the public at all times, other than during
	393	+	31 maintenance or circumstances outside the operator's control.
	394	+	32 (2) Not charge the person placing the notice a fee for:
	395	+	33 (A) publishing a public notice on the state public notice
	396	+	34 website; or
	397	+	35 (B) viewing or searching the state public notice website for
	398	+	36 public notices.
	399	+	37 (3) Not require a person to register in order to view or search
	400	+	38 for public notices on the website.
	401	+	39 Sec. 7. Proof of publication of notice shall be provided in
	402	+	40 accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court.
	403	+	41 Sec. 8. IC 5-3-1-2.3 and any other provision regarding an error
	404	+	42 or omission in a notice published in a newspaper also apply to a
408	405		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 10
409		-	1 ~~for public notices~~ on the website.
410		-	2 ~~Sec~~. ~~7. Proof of publication of notice shall be provided in~~
411		-	3 ~~accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court.~~
412		-	4 Sec. 8. ~~IC 5-3-~~1-2.~~3 and any other provision regarding an error~~
413		-	5 ~~or omission in a notice published in a newspaper also apply to a~~
414		-	6 ~~publication of a notice on the state public notice website.~~
415		-	7 ~~SECTION 8~~. ~~IC 5-3-5-10 IS ADDED~~ TO THE ~~INDIANA CODE~~
416		-	8 ~~AS A NEW~~ SECTION ~~TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY~~
417		-	9 ~~1, 2025]~~: ~~Sec. 10. This chapter expires July 1, 2026.~~
418		-	10 ~~SECTION 9~~. ~~IC 5-15-5.1-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.222-2023,~~
419		-	11 ~~SECTION 4,~~ ~~IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE~~
420		-	12 ~~JULY 1,~~ ~~2025]: Sec~~. ~~5. (a) Subject to approval by the oversight~~
421		-	13 ~~committee on public~~ records ~~created by section 18 of this chapter~~, ~~the~~
422		-	14 ~~administration shall do~~ the ~~following~~:
423		-	15 (1) ~~Establish a forms management program for state forms.~~
424		-	16 (2) ~~Establish~~ and ~~maintain a central cross index filing system of~~
425		-	17 ~~all state forms~~.
426		-	18 ~~(3) Establish a statewide~~ records ~~management program,~~
427		-	19 ~~prescribing the standards and procedures for:~~
428		-	20 (A) ~~retention~~ and ~~preservation of agency records;~~ ~~and~~
429		-	21 ~~(B) records management training~~ for ~~agencies and local~~
430		-	22 ~~government.~~
431		-	23 ~~However~~, ~~the investigative~~ and ~~criminal history records of the~~
432		-	24 ~~state police department are exempted from this requirement~~.
433		-	25 (4) Establish and operate a statewide ~~archival program to be~~
434		-	26 ~~called the Indiana state archives for the permanent government~~
435		-	27 records ~~of the state and local governments, provide consultant~~
436		-	28 ~~services for archival programs, conduct surveys,~~ and ~~provide~~
437		-	29 ~~training for~~ records ~~coordinators.~~
438		-	30 ~~(5) Establish~~ and ~~operate a statewide records preservation~~
439		-	31 ~~laboratory.~~
440		-	32 ~~(6) Prepare,~~ ~~develop, and implement~~ records ~~retention schedules.~~
441		-	33 ~~(7) Establish and operate a central records center to be called the~~
442		-	34 ~~Indiana state records center~~, ~~which shall accept all records~~
443		-	35 ~~approved for transfer to it,~~ ~~provide secure storage and reference~~
444		-	36 ~~service for the same~~, ~~and submit written notice~~ to the ~~applicable~~
445		-	37 ~~agency of intended destruction of~~ records ~~in accordance with~~
446		-	38 ~~approved retention schedules.~~
447		-	39 ~~(8) Demand from any person,~~ ~~organization, or body who has~~
448		-	40 ~~illegal possession~~ of ~~original state or local government records~~
449		-	41 ~~those records~~, ~~which shall be delivered~~ to the ~~administration.~~
450		-	42 ~~(9) Have the authority to examine all forms~~ and ~~records housed or~~
	406	+	1 publication of a notice on the state public notice website.
	407	+	2 SECTION 8. IC 5-3-5-10 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
	408	+	3 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
	409	+	4 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. This chapter expires July 1, 2026.
	410	+	5 SECTION 9. IC 5-15-5.1-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.222-2023,
	411	+	6 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	412	+	7 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) Subject to approval by the oversight
	413	+	8 committee on public records created by section 18 of this chapter, the
	414	+	9 administration shall do the following:
	415	+	10 (1) Establish a forms management program for state forms.
	416	+	11 (2) Establish and maintain a central cross index filing system of
	417	+	12 all state forms.
	418	+	13 (3) Establish a statewide records management program,
	419	+	14 prescribing the standards and procedures for:
	420	+	15 (A) retention and preservation of agency records; and
	421	+	16 (B) records management training for agencies and local
	422	+	17 government.
	423	+	18 However, the investigative and criminal history records of the
	424	+	19 state police department are exempted from this requirement.
	425	+	20 (4) Establish and operate a statewide archival program to be
	426	+	21 called the Indiana state archives for the permanent government
	427	+	22 records of the state and local governments, provide consultant
	428	+	23 services for archival programs, conduct surveys, and provide
	429	+	24 training for records coordinators.
	430	+	25 (5) Establish and operate a statewide records preservation
	431	+	26 laboratory.
	432	+	27 (6) Prepare, develop, and implement records retention schedules.
	433	+	28 (7) Establish and operate a central records center to be called the
	434	+	29 Indiana state records center, which shall accept all records
	435	+	30 approved for transfer to it, provide secure storage and reference
	436	+	31 service for the same, and submit written notice to the applicable
	437	+	32 agency of intended destruction of records in accordance with
	438	+	33 approved retention schedules.
	439	+	34 (8) Demand from any person, organization, or body who has
	440	+	35 illegal possession of original state or local government records
	441	+	36 those records, which shall be delivered to the administration.
	442	+	37 (9) Have the authority to examine all forms and records housed or
	443	+	38 possessed by state agencies and local governments for the purpose
	444	+	39 of fulfilling the provisions of this chapter.
	445	+	40 (10) In coordination with the office of technology established by
	446	+	41 IC 4-13.1-2-1, establish standards to ensure the preservation of
	447	+	42 adequate and permanent computerized and auxiliary automated
451	448		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 11
452		-	1 ~~possessed by~~ state agencies and local ~~governments for the purpose~~
453		-	2 of ~~fulfilling the provisions of this chapter.~~
454		-	3 ~~(10) In coordination with~~ the ~~office of technology established by~~
455		-	4 ~~IC 4-13.1-2-1, establish standards to ensure~~ the ~~preservation of~~
456		-	5 ~~adequate and permanent computerized and auxiliary automated~~
457		-	6 ~~information records of state agencies and local government~~.
458		-	7 (11) ~~Notwithstanding~~ IC ~~5-14-3-8, establish a schedule of fees for~~
459		-	8 ~~services provided~~ to ~~patrons of the Indiana state archives, patrons~~
460		-	9 of ~~the state imaging~~ and ~~microfilm laboratory, and state agencies.~~
461		-	10 ~~A copying fee established under this subdivision may exceed the~~
462		-	11 ~~copying fee set forth~~ in ~~IC 5-14-3-8(c).~~
463		-	12 ~~(12) Advise the office of technology established~~ by IC 4-13.1-2-1
464		-	13 ~~with respect to records management~~ and ~~archival principles as~~
465		-	14 ~~applicable~~ to the ~~purchase of all electronic content and~~
466		-	15 ~~information management systems~~.
467		-	16 (13) ~~In coordination~~ with ~~the office of technology established~~
468		-	17 ~~by IC 4-13.1-2-1~~, ~~establish standards and guidelines for~~ the
469		-	18 ~~transfer and preservation of~~ public ~~notices from the state~~
470		-	19 ~~public notice website to the Indiana records administration to~~
471		-	20 ~~preserve public notices for historical purposes.~~
472		-	21 ~~(14) Enter into memoranda of understanding with agencies,~~
473		-	22 ~~as necessary, to ensure transfer~~ of ~~public notices from the~~
474		-	23 ~~state public notice website under~~ IC ~~5-3~~-1.~~6 to preserve public~~
475		-	24 ~~notices for historical purposes.~~
476		-	25 ~~(b) Fees collected under subsection (a)(11) shall be deposited in the~~
477		-	26 ~~state archives preservation and reproduction account established by~~
478		-	27 ~~section 5.3~~ of ~~this chapter.~~
479		-	28 SECTION ~~10. IC 6-1.1-28-~~0.~~7, AS AMENDED BY~~ THE
480		-	29 ~~TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL~~ OF THE ~~2025 GENERAL~~
481		-	30 ~~ASSEMBLY, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE~~
482		-	31 ~~JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 0.7.~~ The ~~county assessor~~ of the ~~county responsible~~
483		-	32 ~~for administration of a~~ multiple county property tax assessment board
484		-	33 ~~of appeals under section 0.5 of this chapter shall give notice~~ of the
485		-	34 ~~time, date, place, and purpose of each annual session of~~ the multiple
486		-	35 ~~county property tax assessment board of appeals.~~ The ~~county assessor~~
487		-	36 ~~shall give the notice two~~ (2) ~~weeks before the first meeting of the~~
488		-	37 ~~multiple county property tax assessment board of appeals by:~~
489		-	38 (1) ~~publication~~ of the notice ~~within~~ the ~~geographic area over~~
490		-	39 ~~which the multiple county property tax assessment board of~~
491		-	40 ~~appeals has jurisdiction in the same manner~~ as ~~political~~
492		-	41 ~~subdivisions subject~~ to ~~IC 5-3-1-4(e) IC 5-3-1-4 are required to~~
493		-	42 ~~publish notice;~~ ~~and~~
	449	+	1 information records of state agencies and local government.
	450	+	2 (11) Notwithstanding IC 5-14-3-8, establish a schedule of fees for
	451	+	3 services provided to patrons of the Indiana state archives, patrons
	452	+	4 of the state imaging and microfilm laboratory, and state agencies.
	453	+	5 A copying fee established under this subdivision may exceed the
	454	+	6 copying fee set forth in IC 5-14-3-8(c).
	455	+	7 (12) Advise the office of technology established by IC 4-13.1-2-1
	456	+	8 with respect to records management and archival principles as
	457	+	9 applicable to the purchase of all electronic content and
	458	+	10 information management systems.
	459	+	11 (13) In coordination with the office of technology established
	460	+	12 by IC 4-13.1-2-1, establish standards and guidelines for the
	461	+	13 transfer and preservation of public notices from the state
	462	+	14 public notice website to the Indiana records administration to
	463	+	15 preserve public notices for historical purposes.
	464	+	16 (14) Enter into memoranda of understanding with agencies,
	465	+	17 as necessary, to ensure transfer of public notices from the
	466	+	18 state public notice website under IC 5-3-1.6 to preserve public
	467	+	19 notices for historical purposes.
	468	+	20 (b) Fees collected under subsection (a)(11) shall be deposited in the
	469	+	21 state archives preservation and reproduction account established by
	470	+	22 section 5.3 of this chapter.
	471	+	23 SECTION 10. IC 6-1.1-28-0.7, AS AMENDED BY THE
	472	+	24 TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL OF THE 2025 GENERAL
	473	+	25 ASSEMBLY, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	474	+	26 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 0.7. The county assessor of the county responsible
	475	+	27 for administration of a multiple county property tax assessment board
	476	+	28 of appeals under section 0.5 of this chapter shall give notice of the
	477	+	29 time, date, place, and purpose of each annual session of the multiple
	478	+	30 county property tax assessment board of appeals. The county assessor
	479	+	31 shall give the notice two (2) weeks before the first meeting of the
	480	+	32 multiple county property tax assessment board of appeals by:
	481	+	33 (1) publication of the notice within the geographic area over
	482	+	34 which the multiple county property tax assessment board of
	483	+	35 appeals has jurisdiction in the same manner as political
	484	+	36 subdivisions subject to IC 5-3-1-4(e) IC 5-3-1-4 are required to
	485	+	37 publish notice; and
	486	+	38 (2) posting of the notice on the county assessor's Internet web site.
	487	+	39 website.
	488	+	40 SECTION 11. IC 36-8-12-16, AS AMENDED BY P.L.236-2023,
	489	+	41 SECTION 201, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	490	+	42 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 16. (a) A volunteer fire department
494	491		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 12
495		-	1 ~~(2) posting of~~ the ~~notice on the county assessor's Internet web site.~~
496		-	2 ~~website.~~
497		-	3 ~~SECTION 11.~~ ~~IC 36-8-12-16, AS AMENDED BY P.L.236-2023,~~
498		-	4 ~~SECTION 201,~~ ~~IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS~~
499		-	5 ~~[EFFECTIVE JULY 1,~~ ~~2025]: Sec.~~ ~~16. (a) A volunteer fire department~~
500		-	6 that ~~provides~~ service ~~within a jurisdiction served by~~ the ~~department~~
501		-	7 ~~may establish a schedule of charges for~~ the ~~services that~~ the department
502		-	8 ~~provides not to exceed the state fire marshal's recommended schedule~~
503		-	9 for ~~services. The volunteer fire department or its agent may collect a~~
504		-	10 service ~~charge according to this schedule from~~ the ~~owner of property~~
505		-	11 ~~that receives~~ service ~~if the following conditions are met:~~
506		-	12 (1) At the ~~following times,~~ ~~the department gives notice under~~
507		-	13 ~~IC 5-3-1-4~~(d) ~~IC 5-3-1-4 in each political subdivision served by~~
508		-	14 the department of the ~~amount of the service charge for each~~
509		-	15 ~~service that the department provides:~~
510		-	16 (A) ~~Before~~ the ~~schedule~~ of service ~~charges is initiated.~~
511		-	17 (B) ~~When there~~ is ~~a change~~ in ~~the amount of a service charge.~~
512		-	18 (2) The ~~property owner has not sent written notice to the~~
513		-	19 ~~department to refuse service by~~ the ~~department to the owner's~~
514		-	20 ~~property.~~
515		-	21 ~~(3) The bill~~ for ~~payment of the service charge:~~
516		-	22 (A) ~~is submitted to~~ the ~~property owner in writing within thirty~~
517		-	23 ~~(30) days after~~ the ~~services are provided~~;
518		-	24 (B) ~~includes a copy of a fire incident report in the form~~
519		-	25 ~~prescribed by~~ the ~~state fire marshal,~~ if the ~~service was~~
520		-	26 ~~provided for an event that requires a fire incident report;~~
521		-	27 (C) ~~must contain verification that~~ the ~~bill has been approved~~
522		-	28 by the ~~chief of the volunteer fire department; and~~
523		-	29 (D) ~~must contain language indicating that correspondence~~
524		-	30 ~~from~~ the ~~property owner and any question from the property~~
525		-	31 ~~owner regarding~~ the ~~bill should be directed to the department.~~
526		-	32 ~~(4) Payment is remitted directly to the governmental unit~~
527		-	33 ~~providing~~ the ~~service.~~
528		-	34 (b) ~~A volunteer fire department shall use~~ the ~~revenue collected from~~
529		-	35 ~~the fire service charges~~ under ~~this section:~~
530		-	36 (1) ~~for the purchase of equipment, buildings, and property for~~
531		-	37 ~~firefighting, fire protection,~~ ~~or other emergency services;~~
532		-	38 (2~~) for deposit in the township firefighting and emergency~~
533		-	39 ~~services fund established under IC 36-8-13-4(a)(1)~~ or ~~the~~
534		-	40 ~~township firefighting fund established under~~
535		-	41 ~~IC 36-8-13-4(~~a~~)(2)(A); or~~
536		-	42 ~~(3) to pay principal~~ and ~~interest on a loan made~~ by ~~the department~~
	492	+	1 that provides service within a jurisdiction served by the department
	493	+	2 may establish a schedule of charges for the services that the department
	494	+	3 provides not to exceed the state fire marshal's recommended schedule
	495	+	4 for services. The volunteer fire department or its agent may collect a
	496	+	5 service charge according to this schedule from the owner of property
	497	+	6 that receives service if the following conditions are met:
	498	+	7 (1) At the following times, the department gives notice under
	499	+	8 IC 5-3-1-4(d) IC 5-3-1-4 in each political subdivision served by
	500	+	9 the department of the amount of the service charge for each
	501	+	10 service that the department provides:
	502	+	11 (A) Before the schedule of service charges is initiated.
	503	+	12 (B) When there is a change in the amount of a service charge.
	504	+	13 (2) The property owner has not sent written notice to the
	505	+	14 department to refuse service by the department to the owner's
	506	+	15 property.
	507	+	16 (3) The bill for payment of the service charge:
	508	+	17 (A) is submitted to the property owner in writing within thirty
	509	+	18 (30) days after the services are provided;
	510	+	19 (B) includes a copy of a fire incident report in the form
	511	+	20 prescribed by the state fire marshal, if the service was
	512	+	21 provided for an event that requires a fire incident report;
	513	+	22 (C) must contain verification that the bill has been approved
	514	+	23 by the chief of the volunteer fire department; and
	515	+	24 (D) must contain language indicating that correspondence
	516	+	25 from the property owner and any question from the property
	517	+	26 owner regarding the bill should be directed to the department.
	518	+	27 (4) Payment is remitted directly to the governmental unit
	519	+	28 providing the service.
	520	+	29 (b) A volunteer fire department shall use the revenue collected from
	521	+	30 the fire service charges under this section:
	522	+	31 (1) for the purchase of equipment, buildings, and property for
	523	+	32 firefighting, fire protection, or other emergency services;
	524	+	33 (2) for deposit in the township firefighting and emergency
	525	+	34 services fund established under IC 36-8-13-4(a)(1) or the
	526	+	35 township firefighting fund established under
	527	+	36 IC 36-8-13-4(a)(2)(A); or
	528	+	37 (3) to pay principal and interest on a loan made by the department
	529	+	38 of homeland security established by IC 10-19-2-1 or a division of
	530	+	39 the department for the purchase of new or used firefighting and
	531	+	40 other emergency equipment or apparatus.
	532	+	41 (c) Any administrative fees charged by a fire department's agent
	533	+	42 must be paid only from fees that are collected and allowed by Indiana
537	534		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 13
538		-	1 of ~~homeland security established by IC 10-19-2-1 or a division of~~
539		-	2 ~~the~~ department ~~for the purchase of new or used firefighting and~~
540		-	3 other ~~emergency equipment or apparatus.~~
541		-	4 ~~(c) Any administrative fees charged by a fire department's agent~~
542		-	5 ~~must be paid only from~~ fees ~~that are collected and~~ allowed by Indiana
543		-	6 ~~law and the fire marshal's~~ schedule ~~of fees~~.
544		-	7 (d) ~~An agent who processes fees on behalf~~ of a ~~fire department shall~~
545		-	8 ~~send all bills, notices, and other related materials to both the~~ fire
546		-	9 ~~department and the person being billed for services.~~
547		-	10 (e) ~~All fees allowed by Indiana law and~~ the ~~fire marshal's fee~~
548		-	11 ~~schedule~~ must ~~be itemized separately from any other charges.~~
549		-	12 ~~(f) If at least twenty-five percent (25%)~~ of the ~~money received by a~~
550		-	13 ~~volunteer fire department for providing fire protection or emergency~~
551		-	14 ~~services is received under one~~ (1) ~~or more contracts with one (1) or~~
552		-	15 ~~more~~ political ~~subdivisions (as~~ ~~defined in IC 34-6-2-110), the~~
553		-	16 ~~legislative body of a contracting political subdivision must approve the~~
554		-	17 ~~schedule of service~~ charges ~~established~~ under ~~subsection (a) before the~~
555		-	18 ~~schedule~~ of ~~service charges is initiated in that~~ political subdivision.
556		-	19 ~~(g) A volunteer fire department that:~~
557		-	20 ~~(1) has contracted with a political subdivision to provide fire~~
558		-	21 ~~protection or emergency services; and~~
559		-	22 (2) ~~charges for services under this section;~~
560		-	23 ~~must submit a report to the legislative body~~ of ~~the political subdivision~~
561		-	24 ~~before April 1 of each year indicating~~ the ~~amount of service charges~~
562		-	25 ~~collected during the previous calendar year~~ and ~~how those funds have~~
563		-	26 ~~been expended.~~
564		-	27 ~~(h) The state fire marshal shall annually prepare and publish a~~
565		-	28 ~~recommended schedule of service charges for fire protection services~~.
566		-	29 ~~(i) The volunteer fire department or its agent may maintain a civil~~
567		-	30 ~~action to recover an unpaid service charge under this section and may,~~
568		-	31 ~~if it prevails~~, ~~recover all costs of the action, including reasonable~~
569		-	32 ~~attorney's fees.~~
570		-	33 ~~SECTION 12~~. ~~IC 36-8-12-17, AS AMENDED BY P.L.236-2023,~~
571		-	34 ~~SECTION 202,~~ ~~IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS~~
572		-	35 ~~[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 17. (a)~~ If ~~a political subdivision has~~
573		-	36 ~~not imposed its own false alarm fee~~ or ~~service charge,~~ a ~~volunteer fire~~
574		-	37 ~~department that provides service within the jurisdiction may establish~~
575		-	38 ~~a service charge for responding to false alarms.~~ ~~The volunteer fire~~
576		-	39 ~~department may collect the false alarm service charge from the owner~~
577		-	40 ~~of the property~~ if the ~~volunteer~~ fire department ~~dispatches firefighting~~
578		-	41 ~~apparatus~~ or ~~personnel to a building or premises in the township in~~
579		-	42 ~~response to:~~
	535	+	1 law and the fire marshal's schedule of fees.
	536	+	2 (d) An agent who processes fees on behalf of a fire department shall
	537	+	3 send all bills, notices, and other related materials to both the fire
	538	+	4 department and the person being billed for services.
	539	+	5 (e) All fees allowed by Indiana law and the fire marshal's fee
	540	+	6 schedule must be itemized separately from any other charges.
	541	+	7 (f) If at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the money received by a
	542	+	8 volunteer fire department for providing fire protection or emergency
	543	+	9 services is received under one (1) or more contracts with one (1) or
	544	+	10 more political subdivisions (as defined in IC 34-6-2-110), the
	545	+	11 legislative body of a contracting political subdivision must approve the
	546	+	12 schedule of service charges established under subsection (a) before the
	547	+	13 schedule of service charges is initiated in that political subdivision.
	548	+	14 (g) A volunteer fire department that:
	549	+	15 (1) has contracted with a political subdivision to provide fire
	550	+	16 protection or emergency services; and
	551	+	17 (2) charges for services under this section;
	552	+	18 must submit a report to the legislative body of the political subdivision
	553	+	19 before April 1 of each year indicating the amount of service charges
	554	+	20 collected during the previous calendar year and how those funds have
	555	+	21 been expended.
	556	+	22 (h) The state fire marshal shall annually prepare and publish a
	557	+	23 recommended schedule of service charges for fire protection services.
	558	+	24 (i) The volunteer fire department or its agent may maintain a civil
	559	+	25 action to recover an unpaid service charge under this section and may,
	560	+	26 if it prevails, recover all costs of the action, including reasonable
	561	+	27 attorney's fees.
	562	+	28 SECTION 12. IC 36-8-12-17, AS AMENDED BY P.L.236-2023,
	563	+	29 SECTION 202, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	564	+	30 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 17. (a) If a political subdivision has
	565	+	31 not imposed its own false alarm fee or service charge, a volunteer fire
	566	+	32 department that provides service within the jurisdiction may establish
	567	+	33 a service charge for responding to false alarms. The volunteer fire
	568	+	34 department may collect the false alarm service charge from the owner
	569	+	35 of the property if the volunteer fire department dispatches firefighting
	570	+	36 apparatus or personnel to a building or premises in the township in
	571	+	37 response to:
	572	+	38 (1) an alarm caused by improper installation or improper
	573	+	39 maintenance; or
	574	+	40 (2) a drill or test, if the fire department is not previously notified
	575	+	41 that the alarm is a drill or test.
	576	+	42 However, if the owner of property that constitutes the owner's residence
580	577		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 14
581		-	1 ~~(1) an~~ alarm ~~caused by improper installation or improper~~
582		-	2 ~~maintenance; or~~
583		-	3 ~~(2) a drill~~ or ~~test, if~~ the ~~fire department is not previously notified~~
584		-	4 ~~that~~ the ~~alarm is a drill~~ or ~~test~~.
585		-	5 ~~However~~, if the ~~owner of property that constitutes the owner's residence~~
586		-	6 ~~establishes that the alarm is~~ under ~~a maintenance contract with an~~
587		-	7 ~~alarm company and that~~ the ~~alarm company has been notified~~ of the
588		-	8 ~~improper installation or maintenance of~~ the alarm, the ~~alarm company~~
589		-	9 ~~is liable for the payment of the fee or service charge.~~
590		-	10 (b) Before ~~establishing a~~ false alarm service charge~~, the volunteer~~
591		-	11 ~~fire department must provide notice under IC 5-3-1-4~~(d) ~~IC 5-3-1-4~~ in
592		-	12 ~~each political subdivision served by the department of the amount of~~
593		-	13 ~~the~~ false alarm service ~~charge. The notice required by this subsection~~
594		-	14 ~~must be given:~~
595		-	15 ~~(1) before~~ the ~~false alarm~~ service charge ~~is initiated; and~~
596		-	16 (2) ~~before a change~~ in ~~the amount of the false alarm service~~
597		-	17 ~~charge.~~
598		-	18 (c) A ~~volunteer~~ fire ~~department may not collect a false alarm service~~
599		-	19 ~~charge from a property owner or alarm company unless~~ the
600		-	20 department~~'s bill for payment of~~ the ~~service charge:~~
601		-	21 ~~(1) is submitted to~~ the ~~property owner in writing within thirty (30)~~
602		-	22 ~~days after~~ the ~~false alarm;~~ and
603		-	23 ~~(2) includes a copy of a~~ fire ~~incident report in the form prescribed~~
604		-	24 by the ~~state fire marshal.~~
605		-	25 (d) ~~A volunteer fire department shall use~~ the ~~money collected from~~
606		-	26 ~~the false alarm service charge imposed~~ under ~~this section:~~
607		-	27 (1) ~~for the purchase of equipment, buildings, and property for fire~~
608		-	28 ~~fighting, fire protection,~~ ~~or other emergency services;~~
609		-	29 (2~~) for deposit in the township firefighting and emergency~~
610		-	30 ~~services fund established under IC 36-8-13-4(a)(1)~~ or ~~the~~
611		-	31 ~~township firefighting fund established under~~
612		-	32 ~~IC 36-8-13-4~~(a~~)(2)(A); or~~
613		-	33 ~~(3) to pay principal and interest on a loan made by the~~ department
614		-	34 ~~of homeland security established by IC 10-19-2-~~1 or ~~a division of~~
615		-	35 ~~the department for~~ the ~~purchase of new or used firefighting and~~
616		-	36 ~~other emergency equipment or apparatus.~~
617		-	37 (e) ~~If at least twenty-five percent (25%) of~~ the ~~money received by a~~
618		-	38 ~~volunteer fire department for providing fire protection or emergency~~
619		-	39 ~~services is received under one~~ (1) ~~or more contracts with one (1) or~~
620		-	40 ~~more~~ political ~~subdivisions (as~~ ~~defined in IC 34-6-2-110), the~~
621		-	41 ~~legislative body of a contracting political subdivision must approve the~~
622		-	42 false alarm service charge ~~established~~ under ~~subsection (a) before the~~
	578	+	1 establishes that the alarm is under a maintenance contract with an
	579	+	2 alarm company and that the alarm company has been notified of the
	580	+	3 improper installation or maintenance of the alarm, the alarm company
	581	+	4 is liable for the payment of the fee or service charge.
	582	+	5 (b) Before establishing a false alarm service charge, the volunteer
	583	+	6 fire department must provide notice under IC 5-3-1-4(d) IC 5-3-1-4 in
	584	+	7 each political subdivision served by the department of the amount of
	585	+	8 the false alarm service charge. The notice required by this subsection
	586	+	9 must be given:
	587	+	10 (1) before the false alarm service charge is initiated; and
	588	+	11 (2) before a change in the amount of the false alarm service
	589	+	12 charge.
	590	+	13 (c) A volunteer fire department may not collect a false alarm service
	591	+	14 charge from a property owner or alarm company unless the
	592	+	15 department's bill for payment of the service charge:
	593	+	16 (1) is submitted to the property owner in writing within thirty (30)
	594	+	17 days after the false alarm; and
	595	+	18 (2) includes a copy of a fire incident report in the form prescribed
	596	+	19 by the state fire marshal.
	597	+	20 (d) A volunteer fire department shall use the money collected from
	598	+	21 the false alarm service charge imposed under this section:
	599	+	22 (1) for the purchase of equipment, buildings, and property for fire
	600	+	23 fighting, fire protection, or other emergency services;
	601	+	24 (2) for deposit in the township firefighting and emergency
	602	+	25 services fund established under IC 36-8-13-4(a)(1) or the
	603	+	26 township firefighting fund established under
	604	+	27 IC 36-8-13-4(a)(2)(A); or
	605	+	28 (3) to pay principal and interest on a loan made by the department
	606	+	29 of homeland security established by IC 10-19-2-1 or a division of
	607	+	30 the department for the purchase of new or used firefighting and
	608	+	31 other emergency equipment or apparatus.
	609	+	32 (e) If at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the money received by a
	610	+	33 volunteer fire department for providing fire protection or emergency
	611	+	34 services is received under one (1) or more contracts with one (1) or
	612	+	35 more political subdivisions (as defined in IC 34-6-2-110), the
	613	+	36 legislative body of a contracting political subdivision must approve the
	614	+	37 false alarm service charge established under subsection (a) before the
	615	+	38 service charge is initiated in that political subdivision.
	616	+	39 (f) A volunteer fire department that:
	617	+	40 (1) has contracted with a political subdivision to provide fire
	618	+	41 protection or emergency services; and
	619	+	42 (2) imposes a false alarm service charge under this section;
623	620		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 15
624		-	1 service charge is initiated in that political subdivision.
625		-	2 (f) A volunteer fire department that:
626		-	3 (1) has contracted with a political subdivision to provide fire
627		-	4 protection or emergency services; and
628		-	5 (2) imposes a false alarm service charge under this section;
629		-	6 must submit a report to the legislative body of the political subdivision
630		-	7 before April 1 of each year indicating the amount of false alarm
631		-	8 charges collected during the previous calendar year and how those
632		-	9 funds have been expended.
633		-	10 (g) The volunteer fire department may maintain a civil action to
634		-	11 recover unpaid false alarm service charges imposed under this section
635		-	12 and may, if it prevails, recover all costs of the action, including
636		-	13 reasonable attorney's fees.
637		-	14 SECTION 13. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025] (a) The legislative
638		-	15 services agency shall prepare legislation for introduction in the
639		-	16 2026 regular session of the general assembly to make any necessary
640		-	17 amendments to the Indiana Code to conform to the amendments
641		-	18 made by this act.
642		-	19 (b) This SECTION expires July 1, 2027.
	621	+	1 must submit a report to the legislative body of the political subdivision
	622	+	2 before April 1 of each year indicating the amount of false alarm
	623	+	3 charges collected during the previous calendar year and how those
	624	+	4 funds have been expended.
	625	+	5 (g) The volunteer fire department may maintain a civil action to
	626	+	6 recover unpaid false alarm service charges imposed under this section
	627	+	7 and may, if it prevails, recover all costs of the action, including
	628	+	8 reasonable attorney's fees.
	629	+	9 SECTION 13. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025] (a) The legislative
	630	+	10 services agency shall prepare legislation for introduction in the
	631	+	11 2026 regular session of the general assembly to make any necessary
	632	+	12 amendments to the Indiana Code to conform to the amendments
	633	+	13 made by this act.
	634	+	14 (b) This SECTION expires July 1, 2027.
643	635		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 16
644	636		COMMITTEE REPORT
645	637		Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Government and Regulatory
646	638		Reform, to which was referred House Bill 1312, has had the same
647	639		under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
648	640		House with the recommendation that said bill be amended as follows:
649	641		Page 4, line 23, delete "Indiana archives and records" and insert
650	642		"office of technology established by IC 4-13.1-2-1".
651	643		Page 4, line 24, delete "administration".
652	644		Page 4, delete lines 26 through 42, begin a new paragraph and
653	645		insert:
654	646		"SECTION 4. IC 5-3-1-1.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.146-2024,
655	647		SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
656	648		JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. (a) This section applies to a notice that must
657	649		be published in accordance with this chapter.
658	650		(b) As used in this section, "political subdivision" has the
659	651		meaning set forth in IC 5-3-5-3.
660	652		(c) As used in this chapter, "state agency" has the meaning set
661	653		forth in IC 1-1-15-3.
662	654		(b) If a newspaper or locality newspaper maintains a website, a
663	655		notice that is published in the newspaper or locality newspaper must
664	656		also be posted on the website of the newspaper or locality newspaper.
665	657		The notice must appear on the website on the same day the notice
666	658		appears in the newspaper or locality newspaper.
667	659		(c) The state board of accounts shall develop a standard form for
668	660		notices posted on a newspaper's or locality newspaper's website.
669	661		(d) A newspaper or locality newspaper may not charge a fee for
670	662		posting a notice on the newspaper's or locality newspaper's website
671	663		under this section.
672	664		(d) Notwithstanding any express statutory requirement of
673	665		publishing a notice in a specific form of media, a person satisfies
674	666		the statutory requirement by publishing the notice in any of the
675	667		following media:
676	668		(1) Publication in any of the following forms of a newspaper:
677	669		(A) A print edition newspaper that is published in or
678	670		circulates within the political subdivision specified in the
679	671		statute.
680	672		(B) An electronic edition published by the newspaper
681	673		described in clause (A).
682	674		(2) Publication in any of the following forms of a locality
683	675		newspaper:
684	676		(A) A print edition locality newspaper that circulates
685	677		within the political subdivision specified in the statute.
686	678		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 17
687	679		(B) An electronic edition published by the locality
688	680		newspaper described in clause (A).
689	681		(3) Publication on the state public notice website under
690	682		IC 5-3-1.6 in accordance with the following:
691	683		(A) Beginning July 1, 2026:
692	684		(i) a state agency; or
693	685		(ii) a political subdivision primarily located within a
694	686		county having a population of not more than fifty
695	687		thousand (50,000);
696	688		may make the first publication of a notice and any
697	689		subsequent publications of the notice that are required by
698	690		law on the state public notice website.
699	691		(B) Beginning January 1, 2027, a political subdivision
700	692		primarily located within a county having a population of
701	693		not more than one hundred thousand (100,000) may make
702	694		the first publication of a notice and any subsequent
703	695		publications of the notice that are required by law on the
704	696		state public notice website.
705	697		(C) Beginning July 1, 2027, any body corporate and politic
706	698		or other instrumentality of state or local government not
707	699		described in subdivision (1) or (2) may make the first
708	700		publication of a notice and any subsequent publications of
709	701		the notice that are required by law on the state public
710	702		notice website.
711	703		(4) Publication on a political subdivision website under
712	704		IC 5-3-5 until the date that the person is authorized under
713	705		subdivision (3) to publish notice on the state public notice
714	706		website.
715	707		(e) This section does not exempt a person from complying with
716	708		any other statutory requirement, including deadlines for
717	709		publication of notice and frequency of publication. However,
718	710		notwithstanding any law that requires a public notice to be
719	711		published on at least two (2) days and for a specified frequency, a
720	712		notice published on the state public notice website shall be
721	713		maintained on the state public notice website for the period as set
722	714		forth in IC 5-3-1.6-4.
723	715		(f) A newspaper or locality newspaper may not:
724	716		(1) charge a person a fee for viewing or searching the
725	717		newspaper's or locality newspaper's electronic edition for
726	718		public notices; or
727	719		(2) require a person to register on the newspaper's or locality
728	720		newspaper's website in order to view or search for public
729	721		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 18
730	722		notices in the electronic edition.
731	723		(g) The basic charge for publication of a notice in an electronic
732	724		edition of a newspaper or locality newspaper shall be the same as
733	725		the basic charge for publication of the notice in the print edition in
734	726		accordance with section 1 of this chapter.".
735	727		Page 5, delete lines 1 through 35.
736	728		Page 6, line 27, delete "1.5(b)" and insert "1.5(d)".
737	729		Page 6, line 31, delete "1.5(b)" and insert "1.5(d)".
738	730		Page 8, delete lines 14 through 17, begin a new paragraph and
739	731		insert:
740	732		"Sec. 2. Not later than July 1, 2026, the office of technology
741	733		established by IC 4-13.1-2-1 shall establish and operate a state
742	734		public notice website as a repository for public notices.".
743	735		Page 9, line 2, delete "Indiana archives and records administration"
744	736		and insert "office of technology".
745	737		Page 10, between lines 27 and 28, begin a new line block indented
746	738		and insert:
747	739		"(13) In coordination with the office of technology established
748	740		by IC 4-13.1-2-1, establish standards and guidelines for the
749	741		transfer and preservation of public notices from the state
750	742		public notice website to the Indiana records administration to
751	743		preserve public notices for historical purposes.
752	744		(14) Enter into memoranda of understanding with agencies,
753	745		as necessary, to ensure transfer of public notices from the
754	746		state public notice website under IC 5-3-1.6 to preserve public
755	747		notices for historical purposes.".
756	748		Page 10, delete lines 31 and 32.
757	749		Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
758	750		and when so amended that said bill do pass.
759	751		(Reference is to HB 1312 as introduced.)
760	752		MILLER D
761	753		Committee Vote: yeas 11, nays 0.
762	754		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87 19
763	755		COMMITTEE REPORT
764	756		Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was
765	757		referred House Bill 1312, has had the same under consideration and
766	758		begs leave to report the same back to the House with the
767	759		recommendation that said bill do pass.
768	760		(Reference is to HB 1312 as printed February 3, 2025.)
769	761		THOMPSON
770	762		Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 7
771		-	_____
772		-	HOUSE MOTION
773		-	Mr. Speaker: I move that House Bill 1312 be amended to read as
774		-	follows:
775		-	Page 9, line 2, after "3." insert "(a)".
776		-	Page 9, between lines 16 and 17, begin a new paragraph and insert:
777		-	"(b) The office of technology shall implement a feature that
778		-	allows users of the state public notice website to request alerts sent
779		-	automatically to the user by electronic mail when a new notice is
780		-	posted on the state public notice website that matches the search
781		-	terms selected by the user.".
782		-	(Reference is to HB 1312 as printed February 13, 2025.)
783		-	MAYFIELD
784	763		HB 1312—LS 7336/DI 87