Indiana 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 39 — Referendum property tax levy for parks.

Last action — Authored by Senator Ford J.D.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Allows a municipal legislative body to adopt a resolution to place a referendum on the ballot to impose a capital projects referendum tax levy (capital projects referendum levy) to pay for capital expenditures incurred by the municipal park district. Requires a municipal legislative body to certify a copy of: (1) the resolution to place a referendum for a capital projects referendum levy on the ballot; and (2) the language for the question; to the department of local government finance for review and approval. Specifies that if the voters approve the capital projects referendum levy, the maximum term of the capital projects referendum levy is eight years. Allows a capital projects referendum levy to be reimposed or extended. Provides that during the period beginning with the adoption of a resolution by a municipal legislative body to place a capital projects referendum levy question on the ballot and continuing through the day on which the referendum is submitted to the voters, neither the municipal legislative body nor the municipal park district may promote a position on the referendum by taking certain actions. Provides that specified elected or appointed municipal officials may discuss and personally advocate a position on a capital projects referendum levy outside a park's or park facility's regular operating hours as long as public funds are not used. Sets forth when a referendum is to be held and specifies various duties for the: (1) clerk of the circuit court with respect to the referendum; and (2) county auditor, including: (A) determining the estimated average percentage of property tax increase on property owners in the municipal park district that must be included on the question; and (B) distribution of proceeds attributable to property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum to the municipal park district. Places limitations on: (1) holding successive capital projects referendum levies if a referendum is approved by the voters in a calendar year; and (2) the simultaneous imposition of more than one additional capital projects referendum levy approved in a subsequent referendum when a municipal park district is already imposing a referendum. Requires the municipal park board to establish a capital projects referendum tax levy fund (fund) if the voters approve the capital projects referendum levy. Specifies that money in the fund may be used only for capital expenditures, including the acquisition of land, incurred by the municipal park district.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read SB 39 on the official Indiana source →

Action History

  1. Authored by Senator Ford J.D.

  2. First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 39 do?
Allows a municipal legislative body to adopt a resolution to place a referendum on the ballot to impose a capital projects referendum tax levy (capital projects referendum levy) to pay for capital expenditures incurred by the municipal park district. Requires a municipal legislative body to certify a copy of: (1) the resolution to place a referendum for a capital projects referendum levy on the ballot; and (2) the language for the question; to the department of local government finance for review and approval. Specifies that if the voters approve the capital projects referendum levy, the maximum term of the capital projects referendum levy is eight years. Allows a capital projects referendum levy to be reimposed or extended. Provides that during the period beginning with the adoption of a resolution by a municipal legislative body to place a capital projects referendum levy question on the ballot and continuing through the day on which the referendum is submitted to the voters, neither the municipal legislative body nor the municipal park district may promote a position on the referendum by taking certain actions. Provides that specified elected or appointed municipal officials may discuss and personally advocate a position on a capital projects referendum levy outside a park's or park facility's regular operating hours as long as public funds are not used. Sets forth when a referendum is to be held and specifies various duties for the: (1) clerk of the circuit court with respect to the referendum; and (2) county auditor, including: (A) determining the estimated average percentage of property tax increase on property owners in the municipal park district that must be included on the question; and (B) distribution of proceeds attributable to property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum to the municipal park district. Places limitations on: (1) holding successive capital projects referendum levies if a referendum is approved by the voters in a calendar year; and (2) the simultaneous imposition of more than one additional capital projects referendum levy approved in a subsequent referendum when a municipal park district is already imposing a referendum. Requires the municipal park board to establish a capital projects referendum tax levy fund (fund) if the voters approve the capital projects referendum levy. Specifies that money in the fund may be used only for capital expenditures, including the acquisition of land, incurred by the municipal park district.
Who sponsors SB 39?
SB 39 is sponsored by J.D. Ford (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 39?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 39?
Track SB 39 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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