*SB0254.1* February 5, 2025 SENATE BILL No. 254 _____ DIGEST OF SB 254 (Updated February 4, 2025 12:38 pm - DI 129) Citations Affected: IC 6-3.1; IC 6-6. Synopsis: Biofuel tax credits. Provides tax credits for: (1) the sale of higher ethanol blend; and (2) the: (A) sale of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel; and (B) blending of biodiesel or renewable diesel. Specifies the amount of the tax credit for higher ethanol blend. Limits the total amount of higher ethanol blend tax credits that may be awarded in a state fiscal year to $10,000. Specifies the amount of the tax credit for blended biodiesel or renewable diesel. Limits the total amount of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel tax credits that may be awarded in a state fiscal year to $10,000. Effective: July 1, 2025. Buchanan January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy. February 4, 2025, amended, reported favorably — Do Pass. SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 February 5, 2025 First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025) PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type. Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution. Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. SENATE BILL No. 254 A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning taxation. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: 1 SECTION 1. IC 6-3.1-41.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 3 JULY 1, 2025]: 4 Chapter 41.1. Higher Ethanol Blend Tax Credit 5 Sec. 1. This chapter applies to taxable years beginning after 6 December 31, 2025. 7 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "fueling station" means a retail 8 location within Indiana from which higher ethanol blend is sold to 9 the public and is dispensed directly into the fuel tank of a 10 customer's motor vehicle. 11 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "higher ethanol blend" means an 12 ethanol blend that is at least fifteen percent (15%) but not more 13 than eighty-five percent (85%) ethanol and is dispensed directly 14 into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle. 15 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "metered pump" means a 16 stationary pump that is capable of metering the amount of 17 gasoline, special fuel, or higher ethanol blend dispensed from it and SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 2 1 that is capable of simultaneously calculating and displaying the 2 price of the gasoline, special fuel, or higher ethanol blend 3 dispensed. 4 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "state tax liability" means a 5 taxpayer's total tax liability that is incurred under IC 6-3-1 6 through IC 6-3-7 (the adjusted gross income tax) as computed after 7 the application of the credits that, under IC 6-3.1-1-2, are to be 8 applied before the credit provided by this chapter. 9 Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "taxpayer" means any person, 10 corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity 11 that: 12 (1) owns a fueling station; 13 (2) sells higher ethanol blend at the fueling station; and 14 (3) has state tax liability. 15 Sec. 7. Subject to section 12 of this chapter, a taxpayer may 16 claim a credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability for higher 17 ethanol blend sold at the taxpayer's fueling station during a 18 particular taxable year. The amount of the credit provided by this 19 chapter equals five cents ($0.05) per gallon of higher ethanol blend 20 that the retail dealer sells and dispenses through a metered pump 21 at the taxpayer's fueling station during the taxable year. 22 Sec. 8. (a) A taxpayer is not entitled to a carryback, carryover, 23 or refund of any unused credit. 24 (b) A taxpayer may not sell, assign, convey, or otherwise 25 transfer the credit provided by this chapter. 26 Sec. 9. If a pass through entity that qualifies for the credit does 27 not have state tax liability against which the credit may be applied, 28 a shareholder, partner, or member of the pass through entity may 29 claim a credit under this chapter equal to: 30 (1) the credit determined for the pass through entity under 31 this chapter for the taxable year; multiplied by 32 (2) the percentage of the pass through entity's distributive 33 income to which the shareholder, partner, or member is 34 entitled. 35 Sec. 10. To receive the credit provided by this chapter, a 36 taxpayer must claim the credit on the taxpayer's annual state tax 37 return in the manner prescribed by the department. The taxpayer 38 shall submit to the department all information that the department 39 determines is necessary for the calculation of the credit. 40 Sec. 11. The department, on a website used by the department 41 to provide information to the public, shall provide the following 42 information: SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 3 1 (1) The application for the credit provided by this chapter. 2 (2) A timeline for receiving the credit provided by this 3 chapter. 4 (3) The total amount of credits awarded under this chapter 5 during the current state fiscal year. 6 Sec. 12. (a) The total amount of tax credits that may be awarded 7 under this chapter for each state fiscal year may not exceed ten 8 thousand dollars ($10,000). 9 (b) The department shall record the time of filing of each 10 application for the department's approval of a credit and shall 11 approve granting the credit to the taxpayer, if the taxpayer 12 otherwise qualifies for a credit under this chapter, in the 13 chronological order in which the application for the department's 14 approval is filed in the year. 15 (c) When the total credits approved under this section equal the 16 maximum amount allowable under this section, the department 17 may not thereafter approve an application for the credit. 18 Sec. 13. This chapter expires December 31, 2027. 19 SECTION 2. IC 6-3.1-41.3 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 20 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 21 JULY 1, 2025]: 22 Chapter 41.3. Biodiesel Tax Credit 23 Sec. 1. This chapter applies to taxable years beginning after 24 December 31, 2025. 25 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "biodiesel" has the meaning set 26 forth in IC 6-6-2.5-1.5(a). 27 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "blended biodiesel" has the 28 meaning set forth in IC 6-6-2.5-1.5(b). 29 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "blender" means a person, 30 corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity 31 that: 32 (1) produces, refines, compounds, or manufactures motor 33 fuel; or 34 (2) blends biodiesel or renewable diesel; 35 at a terminal located in Indiana. 36 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "distributor" means a person, 37 corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity 38 in Indiana that: 39 (1) imports motor fuel; or 40 (2) is engaged in distribution of motor fuel. 41 Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "fueling station" means a retail 42 location within Indiana from which blended biodiesel or renewable SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 4 1 diesel is sold to the public and is dispensed directly into the fuel 2 tank of a customer's motor vehicle. 3 Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "metered pump" means a 4 stationary pump that is capable of: 5 (1) metering the amount of gasoline, special fuel, blended 6 biodiesel, or renewable diesel dispensed from it; and 7 (2) simultaneously calculating and displaying the price of the 8 gasoline, special fuel, blended biodiesel, or renewable diesel 9 dispensed. 10 Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "renewable diesel" means 11 hydrocarbon fuel derived from biomass meeting the requirements 12 of the most recent version of the American Society for Testing and 13 Materials standard D975 or D396. A fuel that has been coprocessed 14 or blended is not considered renewable diesel unless the biomass 15 derived portion of the coprocessed renewable diesel can be verified 16 using the most recent version of the American Society for Testing 17 and Materials standard D6866. 18 Sec. 9. As used in this chapter, "retail dealer" means a person, 19 corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity 20 that owns or operates a fueling station. 21 Sec. 10. As used in this chapter, "state tax liability" means a 22 taxpayer's total tax liability that is incurred under IC 6-3-1 23 through IC 6-3-7 (the adjusted gross income tax) as computed after 24 the application of the credits that, under IC 6-3.1-1-2, are to be 25 applied before the credit provided by this chapter. 26 Sec. 11. As used in this chapter, "taxpayer" means a: 27 (1) retail dealer; 28 (2) distributor; or 29 (3) blender; 30 that has state tax liability. 31 Sec. 12. As used in this chapter, "terminal" has the meaning set 32 forth in IC 6-6-2.5-24. 33 Sec. 13. (a) Subject to section 18 of this chapter, a taxpayer may 34 claim a credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability for a taxable 35 year if any of the following apply: 36 (1) The taxpayer is a retail dealer that sells blended biodiesel 37 or renewable diesel at a fueling station. 38 (2) The taxpayer is a distributor that sells blended biodiesel or 39 renewable diesel directly to the final user located in Indiana. 40 (3) The taxpayer is a blender that blends biodiesel or 41 renewable diesel at a terminal located in Indiana. 42 (b) This subsection applies to the calculation of the amount of SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 5 1 the credit for a retail dealer or distributor. The amount of the 2 credit is equal to the following: 3 (1) Five cents ($0.05) per gallon of blended biodiesel or 4 renewable diesel of at least five percent (5%) but not more 5 than ten percent (10%) sold by a: 6 (A) retail dealer through a metered pump at the retail 7 dealer's fueling station; or 8 (B) distributor directly to the final user located in Indiana; 9 during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed. 10 (2) Ten cents ($0.10) per gallon of blended biodiesel or 11 renewable diesel that is more than ten percent (10%) but not 12 more than twenty percent (20%) sold by a: 13 (A) retail dealer through a metered pump at the retail 14 dealer's fueling station; or 15 (B) distributor directly to the final user located in Indiana; 16 during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed. 17 (3) Eighteen cents ($0.18) per gallon of blended biodiesel or 18 renewable diesel that is more than twenty percent (20%) sold 19 by a: 20 (A) retail dealer through a metered pump at the retail 21 dealer's fueling station; or 22 (B) distributor directly to the final user located in Indiana; 23 during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed. 24 (c) This subsection applies to the calculation of the amount of 25 the credit for a blender. The amount of the credit is equal to the 26 product of: 27 (1) three and one-half cents ($0.035); multiplied by 28 (2) the number of gallons of blended biodiesel or renewable 29 diesel that is: 30 (A) more than five percent (5%); and 31 (B) produced by blending biodiesel or renewable diesel at 32 a terminal located in Indiana; 33 during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed. 34 (d) The credit must be used for the taxable year in which the 35 credit accrued. 36 Sec. 14. A taxpayer is not entitled to a carryback, carryover, or 37 refund of any unused credit. 38 Sec. 15. A taxpayer may not sell, assign, convey, or otherwise 39 transfer the credit provided by this chapter. 40 Sec. 16. If a pass through entity that qualifies for the credit does 41 not have state tax liability against which the credit may be applied, 42 a shareholder, partner, or member of the pass through entity may SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 6 1 claim a credit under this chapter equal to: 2 (1) the credit determined for the pass through entity under 3 this chapter for the taxable year; multiplied by 4 (2) the percentage of the pass through entity's distributive 5 income to which the shareholder, partner, or member is 6 entitled. 7 Sec. 17. The department, on a website used by the department 8 to provide information to the public, shall provide the following 9 information: 10 (1) The application for the credit provided by this chapter. 11 (2) A timeline for receiving the credit provided by this 12 chapter. 13 (3) The total amount of credits awarded under this chapter 14 during the current state fiscal year. 15 Sec. 18. (a) The total amount of tax credits that may be awarded 16 under this chapter for each state fiscal year may not exceed ten 17 thousand dollars ($10,000). 18 (b) The department shall record the time of filing of each 19 application for the department's approval of a credit and shall 20 approve granting the credit to the taxpayer, if the taxpayer 21 otherwise qualifies for a credit under this chapter, in the 22 chronological order in which the application for the department's 23 approval is filed in the year. 24 (c) When the total credits approved under this section equal the 25 maximum amount allowable under this section, the department 26 may not thereafter approve an application for the credit. 27 Sec. 19. (a) To receive the credit provided by this chapter, a 28 taxpayer must claim the credit on the taxpayer's annual state tax 29 return in the manner prescribed by the department. The taxpayer 30 shall submit to the department all information that the department 31 determines is necessary for the calculation of the credit. 32 (b) The department may consult with the Indiana department 33 of health to validate that any blended biodiesel or renewable diesel 34 for which a taxpayer claims a credit under this chapter contains a 35 sufficient percentage of biodiesel or renewable diesel fuel. 36 Sec. 20. This chapter expires December 31, 2027. 37 SECTION 3. IC 6-6-2.5-1.5, AS ADDED BY P.L.122-2006, 38 SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 39 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. (a) As used in this chapter, "biodiesel" means 40 a renewable, biodegradable, mono alkyl ester combustible liquid fuel 41 derived from agricultural plant oils or animal fats that meets the most 42 recent American Society for Testing and Materials specifications SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 7 1 D6751-03a D6751 Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) 2 Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels, as well as other fuels of the same 3 derivation capable of use in the generation of power for the propulsion 4 of a motor vehicle, airplane, or motorboat. 5 (b) As used in this chapter, "blended biodiesel" means a blend of 6 biodiesel with petroleum diesel fuel so that the volume percentage of 7 biodiesel in the blend is at least two percent (2%). A biodiesel blend 8 may be described as "Bxx" where "xx" represents the volume 9 percentage of biodiesel fuel. "B2" is the type of biodiesel blend with 10 the least volume percentage of biodiesel fuel, and "B99" is the type of 11 biodiesel fuel with the most volume percentage of biodiesel fuel. The 12 term does not include biodiesel (B100). 13 (c) As used in this chapter, "B99" means a blend of ninety-nine 14 percent (99%) biodiesel fuel that meets the most recent version of 15 the American Society for Testing and Materials International 16 D6751 Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock with 17 a minimum of one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) and maximum of 18 one percent (1%) diesel fuel that meets the most recent version of 19 the American Society for Testing and Materials International D975 20 or D7467 Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel. SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 8 COMMITTEE REPORT Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 254, has had the same under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with the recommendation that said bill be AMENDED as follows: Page 2, line 15, delete "A taxpayer is entitled to" and insert "Subject to section 12 of this chapter, a taxpayer may claim". Page 2, delete lines 22 through 36, begin a new paragraph and insert: "Sec. 8. (a) A taxpayer is not entitled to a carryback, carryover, or refund of any unused credit. (b) A taxpayer may not sell, assign, convey, or otherwise transfer the credit provided by this chapter.". Page 3, delete lines 4 through 7, begin a new paragraph and insert: "Sec. 10. To receive the credit provided by this chapter, a taxpayer must claim the credit on the taxpayer's annual state tax return in the manner prescribed by the department. The taxpayer shall submit to the department all information that the department determines is necessary for the calculation of the credit. Sec. 11. The department, on a website used by the department to provide information to the public, shall provide the following information: (1) The application for the credit provided by this chapter. (2) A timeline for receiving the credit provided by this chapter. (3) The total amount of credits awarded under this chapter during the current state fiscal year. Sec. 12. (a) The total amount of tax credits that may be awarded under this chapter for each state fiscal year may not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000). (b) The department shall record the time of filing of each application for the department's approval of a credit and shall approve granting the credit to the taxpayer, if the taxpayer otherwise qualifies for a credit under this chapter, in the chronological order in which the application for the department's approval is filed in the year. (c) When the total credits approved under this section equal the maximum amount allowable under this section, the department may not thereafter approve an application for the credit. Sec. 13. This chapter expires December 31, 2027.". Page 4, delete lines 22 through 24, begin a new paragraph and insert: SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129 9 "Sec. 13. (a) Subject to section 18 of this chapter, a taxpayer may claim a credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability for a taxable year if any of the following apply:". Page 5, line 25, delete "to carryback" and insert "to a carryback, carryover, or refund of". Page 5, delete lines 38 through 42, begin a new paragraph and insert: "Sec. 17. The department, on a website used by the department to provide information to the public, shall provide the following information: (1) The application for the credit provided by this chapter. (2) A timeline for receiving the credit provided by this chapter. (3) The total amount of credits awarded under this chapter during the current state fiscal year. Sec. 18. (a) The total amount of tax credits that may be awarded under this chapter for each state fiscal year may not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000). (b) The department shall record the time of filing of each application for the department's approval of a credit and shall approve granting the credit to the taxpayer, if the taxpayer otherwise qualifies for a credit under this chapter, in the chronological order in which the application for the department's approval is filed in the year. (c) When the total credits approved under this section equal the maximum amount allowable under this section, the department may not thereafter approve an application for the credit.". Page 6, delete lines 1 through 5. Page 6, line 15, delete "January 1, 2032." and insert "December 31, 2027.". and when so amended that said bill do pass. (Reference is to SB 254 as introduced.) HOLDMAN, Chairperson Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 1. SB 254—LS 6746/DI 129