Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 454
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 5-20-5.5.
Synopsis: Whole home repairs program. Establishes the whole home
repairs program to provide funding to eligible entities to: (1) award
grants to local homeowners; and (2) make loans available for small
landlords offering affordable units for rent; for certain home repairs.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Taylor G
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Appropriations.
2025 IN 454—LS 7455/DI 137 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 454
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
and local administration.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 5-20-5.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]:
4 Chapter 5.5. Whole Home Repairs Program
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "affordable unit" means a rental
6 unit in which the rent is affordable to a tenant at or below sixty
7 percent (60%) of the median income for the county, adjusted for
8 household size.
9 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "authority" means the Indiana
10 housing and community development authority created by
11 IC 5-20-1-3.
12 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "eligible entity" means either:
13 (1) a department, division, or office of an executive or
14 legislative body of a county, including a public housing
15 authority; or
16 (2) a nonprofit corporation that serves a county.
17 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "habitability concern" means
2025 IN 454—LS 7455/DI 137 2
1 that repairs are necessary to make sure a residential unit is:
2 (1) fit for human habitation;
3 (2) free from defective conditions or health and safety
4 hazards, including asbestos, mold, pests, and lead; or
5 (3) free of conditions preventing the installation of measures
6 to improve energy or water efficiency and lower utility costs.
7 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the whole
8 home repairs program established by section 7 of this chapter.
9 Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "small landlord" means a person
10 who:
11 (1) is a landlord;
12 (2) has an ownership stake in no more than:
13 (A) five (5) properties; or
14 (B) fifteen (15) rental units; and
15 (3) rents the properties or rental units under subdivision (2)
16 for use as primary residences for a fee, regardless of the
17 length or form of a rental agreement.
18 Sec. 7. (a) The whole home repairs program is established to
19 provide funding to eligible entities to award grants to local
20 homeowners and loans to small landlords for certain home repairs.
21 (b) The program shall be administered by the authority.
22 Sec. 8. (a) The authority shall provide funds to eligible entities
23 that participate in the program.
24 (b) A county may have no more than one (1) eligible entity
25 representing the county in the program at any time. The legislative
26 body of a county must approve an eligible entity's participation in
27 the program before the authority provides funds to the eligible
28 entity.
29 Sec. 9. An eligible entity that receives funds under section 8 of
30 this chapter shall award grants to homeowners in the county,
31 subject to the following:
32 (1) A homeowner is eligible to receive a grant if the
33 homeowner's household income is not more than eighty
34 percent (80%) of the median income for the county, adjusted
35 for household size.
36 (2) A single grant to a homeowner may not exceed fifty
37 thousand dollars ($50,000).
38 Sec. 10. An eligible entity that receives funds under section 8 of
39 this chapter shall make loans to small landlords offering affordable
40 units for rent in the county, subject to the following:
41 (1) A single loan made to a small landlord may not exceed
42 fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
2025 IN 454—LS 7455/DI 137 3
1 (2) A loan made to a small landlord must be secured by a
2 recorded mortgage against a residential property owned by
3 the small landlord.
4 Sec. 11. (a) An eligible entity may forgive a loan made to a small
5 landlord under section 10 of this chapter if all of the following
6 apply:
7 (1) The small landlord offered a three (3) year extension of a
8 lease to a tenant occupying a unit when the funds were
9 accepted by the small landlord.
10 (2) Annual increases in monthly rent have not exceeded three
11 percent (3%) of the base rent or the unit has been occupied by
12 a tenant participating in the housing choice voucher program
13 for not less than fifteen (15) years.
14 (3) In the previous fifteen (15) years, the small landlord has
15 not committed a serious violation with respect to the small
16 landlord's rental property for which the small landlord has
17 taken no substantial steps to correct the violation.
18 (4) The small landlord has maintained ownership of the unit
19 for not less than fifteen (15) years.
20 (b) The eligible entity must recapture the amount of a loan not
21 forgiven under subsection (a) on the terms agreed to in the
22 mortgage recorded by the eligible entity.
23 Sec. 12. A homeowner who receives a grant under section 9 of
24 this chapter and a small landlord who receives a loan under section
25 10 of this chapter may use the funds received for the following
26 purposes:
27 (1) Repairs to address habitability concerns.
28 (2) Repairs to improve energy or water efficiency.
29 (3) Repairs to make a unit accessible for individuals with
30 disabilities.
31 Sec. 13. In addition to awarding grants under section 9 of this
32 chapter and making loans under section 10 of this chapter, an
33 eligible entity must use funds provided by the authority to do the
34 following:
35 (1) Implement systems and data management tools designed
36 to maximize enrollment in all existing home repair programs
37 administered by nonprofit organizations, governmental
38 entities, and public utilities.
39 (2) Invest in workforce development programs that will
40 connect trainees to jobs related to improving the habitability
41 and performance of homes, including cash stipends for
42 trainees and costs related to the design and implementation of
2025 IN 454—LS 7455/DI 137 4
1 apprenticeship programs.
2 Sec. 14. The authority shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to
3 implement this chapter.
2025 IN 454—LS 7455/DI 137