The Senate Local Government Committee heard SB 73 on annexation authored by Sen. Boots. This bill provides, with certain exceptions, that the following apply to annexations for which an annexation ordinance is adopted after March 31, 2022:
- To proceed with an annexation initiated by the municipality, the municipality must file a petition with the court signed by: (A) at least 51% of the owners of non-tax-exempt land; or (B) the owners of at least 75% in assessed valuation of non-tax-exempt land; in the annexation territory.
- If the petition has enough signatures, the court must hold a hearing to review the annexation.
- Adds provisions regarding the validity of signatures.
- Eliminates remonstrances and reimbursement of remonstrator’s attorney’s fees and costs.
- Voids remonstrance waivers and settlement agreements in lieu of annexation executed after March 31, 2022
- Eliminates provisions regarding contiguity of a public highway and that prohibit an
- annexation from taking effect in the year before a federal decennial census is conducted.
- Eliminates the requirement that a municipality adopt a fiscal plan if the annexation is petitioned for by 100% of the owners of land within the annexation territory.
At the January 6, 2022 Committee meeting, the Committee heard testimony against the bill from Accelerate Indiana Municipalities and Association of Indiana Counties. A representative from Indiana Farm Bureau testified in favor of the bill.
The bill passed 6-3.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2022/bills/senate/73