Indiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Indiana HB1205: Annexation.
Status: In committee, January 5, 2026
Requires a municipality that initiates an annexation to file an annexation petition (petition) with a court signed by: (1) at least 51% of the owners of non-tax exempt land in the annexation territory; or (2) the owners of at least 75% in assessed valuation of non-tax exempt land in the annexation territory. Eliminates: (1) remonstrances and waivers; (2) reimbursement of remonstrator's attorney's fees and costs; (3) settlement agreements in lieu of annexation; (4) contiguity of a public highway provisions; and (5) a required fiscal plan for certain super voluntary annexations. Reduces the number of outreach meetings from six to three. For super voluntary annexations, requires a municipality to: (1) hold a hearing on the petition within 90 (instead of 30) days; (2) adopt an annexation ordinance within 120 (instead of 60) days. Allows a super voluntary annexation of noncontiguous land for business, industrial, or residential development, if: (1) the landowner and municipal utility agree on the provision of gas, electric, water, or sewer service to the property; and (2) the county executive timely approves the petition. Allows noncontiguous land annexed in a super voluntary annexation to be used for additional voluntary or super voluntary annexations of contiguous land. After December 31, 2026, allows signatures on petitions to be gathered by mail. Provides that annexation territory that is divided by railroad tracks satisfies contiguity requirements, if the territory on at least one side of the railroad tracks is contiguous to the municipality. Grandfathers in annexations that adopt: (1) a fiscal plan before March 30, 2026; or (2) an annexation ordinance before March 30, 2026 (if a fiscal plan is not required by current law). Removes obsolete provisions.
What the bill says
A bill FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
From the introduced text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government. SECTION 1. IC 13-18-15-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.257-2019, SECTION 83, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 2. (a) The persons involved shall negotiate the terms for connection and service under this chapter. (b) If service is ordered under this chapter, a receiver of that service that is located in an unincorporated area may grant a waiver to a municipality providing the service. A waiver under this section: (1) must waive the receiver's right of remonstrance against annexation of the areas in which the service is to be provided; and (2) may be one (1) of the terms for connection and service described in subsection (a). (c) The waiver, if granted: (1) shall be noted on the deed of each property affected and recorded as provided by law; and (2) is considered a covenant running with the land. (d) This subsection applies to any deed recorded after June 30, 2015. This subsection applies only to property that is subject to a 2026 IN 1205--LS 6651/DI remonstrance waiver. A municipality shall, within a reasonable time after the recording of a deed to property located within the municipality, provide written notice to the property owner that a waiver of the right of remonstrance exists with respect …
Sponsors
- Hall, Dave (R) · primary sponsor
- Jennifer Meltzer (R, HD-073)
Latest actions
- : First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government
- : Authored by Representative Hall
- : Coauthored by Representative Meltzer
Subjects: PROPERTY; Generally, UTILITIES; Electric, ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY, UTILITIES; Gas, UTILITIES; Water
Common questions
- What is HB1205?
- HB1205 is a bill in the Indiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Annexation.
- What does HB1205 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
- What is the status of HB1205?
- In committee as of January 5, 2026. Latest action: First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government (January 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1205?
- Hall, Dave (R), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB1205?
- On the Indiana Legislature website: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1205
Source: official Indiana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.