A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

Township mergers.

Requires the department of local government finance (department) not later than December 31, 2026, to compile data on each township (excluding townships in Marion County) and assign points based upon the township government's performance. Requires a township government that is assigned at least four points (designated township), with certain exceptions, to: (1) merge; or (2) for a township in which (A) at least 80% of the township's boundaries coincide with a municipality's boundaries; and (B) at least 51% of the township's population resides within the corporate boundaries of a municipality, reorganize with the municipality. Requires a merger to satisfy the following requirements: (1) A designated township must merge with at least one township that has less than four points (recipient township). (2) The merger must satisfy contiguity requirements under the township merger law. Provides that if all townships in a county have at least four points, the county executive must designate two townships to act as the recipient townships. Requires the county executive to designate which townships will merge taking into consideration: (1) the wishes of the designated townships and recipient townships; and (2) the contiguity requirements under the township merger law. Provides that all mergers in a county are effective not later than January 1, 2029. Establishes provisions for an interim township government for the new merged township government until a new township trustee and township legislative body are elected during the 2030 general election.
Requires a designated township that is required to reorganize to adopt a resolution not later than October 1, 2027, that designates the municipality (recipient municipality) that will reorganize with the designated township. Requires the appointment of a joint board consisting of representatives of the designated township and the recipient municipality to prepare a plan of reorganization. Requires the county fiscal body to approve the budget, tax rate, and tax levy imposed by the recipient municipality within the boundaries of the rural township services district. Provides that a recipient municipality has all of the powers of the government modernization act in reorganizing the township. Amends the government modernization act to require a political subdivision to respond to a resolution that names the political subdivision as a participant in a proposed reorganization. Provides that a township merger does not affect the office of township assessor of a township participating in the merger. Amends the government modernization act to require a political subdivision to respond to a resolution that names the political subdivision as a participant in a proposed reorganization. Requires townships to annually provide certain information relating to fire protection to the department in a manner prescribed by the department using the department's computer gateway. Requires the department to share the information with the department of homeland security. Allows the county council, before January 2, 2027, to adopt a resolution to transfer the duties of a township assessor to the county assessor if: (1) the office of township assessor has been vacant for at least 90 days; (2) a caucus was held but failed to fill the vacancy; (3) the township board adopts a resolution approving the transfer of duties of the township assessor to the county assessor; and (4) the township trustee has approved, in writing, the transfer of duties of the township assessor to the county assessor. Prohibits the legislative body of a county from unilaterally requiring a unit participating in a reorganization that commenced after November 1, 2025, and before November 30, 2025, from being added to an existing fire protection district: (1) during negotiations regarding the reorganization among the participating units; (2) after the date on which a plan of reorganization is finally adopted by all participating units; or (3) as part of a reorganization in a finally approved plan of reorganization. Establishes requirements for the transfer of duties. Repeals a law that allows township governments to dissolve a merger.