Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 352
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 2-5-55.1.
Synopsis: Local government efficiency task force. Establishes the
local government efficiency task force (task force) to study creating a
more streamlined and cost effective local government structure. Sets
forth the membership, and requires the task force to issue a report to
the general assembly and the governor not later than November 1,
2026.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Gaskill, Holdman
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government.
2025 IN 352—LS 7467/DI 87 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 352
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning the
general assembly.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 2-5-55.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]:
4 Chapter 55.1. Local Government Efficiency Task Force
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "task force" refers to the local
6 government efficiency task force established by section 2 of this
7 chapter.
8 Sec. 2. The local government efficiency task force is established
9 as a temporary task force serving the general assembly.
10 Sec. 3. (a) The task force consists of the following seventeen (17)
11 voting members:
12 (1) Six (6) members of the senate, appointed as follows:
13 (A) Four (4) members appointed by the president pro
14 tempore.
15 (B) Two (2) members appointed by the minority leader of
16 the senate.
17 (2) Six (6) members of the house of representatives, appointed
2025 IN 352—LS 7467/DI 87 2
1 as follows:
2 (A) Four (4) members appointed by the speaker.
3 (B) Two (2) members appointed by the minority leader of
4 the house of representatives.
5 (3) The state fire marshal.
6 (4) The following four (4) members appointed by the
7 governor:
8 (A) One (1) member representing counties after
9 considering the recommendation of the Association of
10 Indiana Counties.
11 (B) One (1) member representing municipalities after
12 considering the recommendation of Accelerate Indiana
13 Municipalities.
14 (C) One (1) member representing townships.
15 (D) One (1) member representing school corporations.
16 (b) Not later than July 30, 2025, the:
17 (1) chairperson of the legislative council shall select a member
18 of the task force to serve as the chairperson of the task force;
19 and
20 (2) vice chairperson of the legislative council shall select a
21 member of the task force to serve as the vice chairperson of
22 the task force.
23 The members selected under subdivisions (1) and (2) shall serve as
24 chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively, until April 30,
25 2026. Beginning May 1, 2026, the member initially appointed under
26 subdivision (2) shall instead serve as the chairperson of the task
27 force, and the member initially appointed under subdivision (1)
28 shall instead serve as the vice chairperson of the task force.
29 (c) A member of the task force serves for the duration of the
30 task force.
31 (d) If a vacancy occurs on the task force, the appointing
32 authority that appointed the member whose position is vacant shall
33 appoint an individual to fill the vacancy. An individual appointed
34 to fill a vacancy must have the qualifications that the vacating
35 member must have. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy
36 serves for the remainder of the task force's duration.
37 (e) Appointments to the task force under this section must be
38 made not later than July 30, 2025.
39 Sec. 4. (a) Nine (9) members of the task force constitute a
40 quorum.
41 (b) The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the members at
42 a meeting at which a quorum is present is necessary for the task
2025 IN 352—LS 7467/DI 87 3
1 force to take action on any measure, including final reports, other
2 than to meet and take testimony.
3 (c) The task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
4 Sec. 5. All meetings of the task force shall be open to the public
5 in accordance with and subject to IC 5-14-1.5. All records of the
6 task force shall be subject to the requirements of IC 5-14-3.
7 Sec. 6. The task force shall study ways of creating a more
8 streamlined and cost effective local government structure,
9 including the following:
10 (1) Eliminating townships, including township assessors and
11 transferring township responsibilities to the county.
12 (2) Administering the provision of fire protection and
13 emergency services countywide by the county executive or by
14 a board established to perform these duties, where services
15 would be provided in accordance with countywide standards
16 established in each county.
17 (3) Eliminating municipal health departments and
18 transferring all responsibilities to county health departments.
19 (4) Reorganizing library districts into county library districts
20 or multi-county library districts covering all areas of a
21 county.
22 (5) Reorganizing school districts to attain a minimum student
23 population in each district.
24 (6) Requiring county budget approval of taxing districts and
25 political subdivisions.
26 (7) Reviewing reorganizations accomplished under IC 36-1.5
27 (government modernization) for efficiencies and streamlining.
28 Sec. 7. The task force shall make recommendations based upon
29 the study conducted under section 6 of this chapter.
30 Sec. 8. The task force shall:
31 (1) issue a report setting forth the determinations and
32 recommendations made under this chapter; and
33 (2) not later than November 1, 2026, submit the report:
34 (A) in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 to the
35 executive director of the legislative services agency for
36 distribution to the members of the general assembly; and
37 (B) to the governor.
38 Sec. 9. The legislative services agency shall provide staff support
39 to the task force.
40 Sec. 10. (a) Each legislative member and each lay member of the
41 task force is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and
42 travel allowances paid to individuals serving as legislative and lay
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1 members, respectively, on an interim study committee established
2 by the legislative council.
3 (b) A member of the task force who is a state employee is not
4 entitled to a per diem. However, the member is entitled to receive
5 the same travel allowances paid to members of the task force
6 described in subsection (a).
7 Sec. 11. The task force's expenses, including the payment of per
8 diem, mileage, and travel allowances under section 10 of this
9 chapter, are payable from amounts appropriated to the legislative
10 council.
11 Sec. 12. This chapter expires December 31, 2026.
2025 IN 352—LS 7467/DI 87