Indiana SB 270 — Township mergers.

Indiana, 2026. SB 270: Township mergers.

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

March 5, 2026 — Public Law 134

Summary

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.

Sponsors

• Rick Niemeyer — primary sponsor
• James Buck — primary sponsor
• Greg Walker — primary sponsor
• Harold Slager — primary sponsor
• Alaina Shonkwiler
• Timothy Wesco

Bill text

Enrolled Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Engrossed Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Senate Bill (H) Read version ↗ Read version ↗ Read version ↗

Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Introduced Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. March 5, 2026Public Law 134
2. February 27, 2026Signed by the President Pro Tempore
3. February 27, 2026Signed by the President of the Senate
4. February 27, 2026Signed by the Speaker
5. March 5, 2026Signed by the Governor
6. February 26, 2026Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 301: yeas 34, nays 15
7. February 25, 2026Returned to the Senate with amendments
8. February 25, 2026Motion to concur filed
9. February 24, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 353: yeas 62, nays 35
10. February 24, 2026Representative Wesco added as cosponsor
11. February 23, 2026Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
12. February 23, 2026Amendment #1 (Slager) prevailed; voice vote
13. February 18, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
14. February 18, 2026Representative Shonkwiler added as cosponsor
15. February 17, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
16. February 17, 2026Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
17. February 2, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government
18. January 29, 2026Referred to the House
19. January 28, 2026House sponsor: Representative Slager
20. January 28, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 128: yeas 39, nays 9
21. January 26, 2026Senator Walker G added as third author
22. January 26, 2026Senator Buck added as second author
23. January 26, 2026Senator Walker G removed as second author
24. January 22, 2026Second reading: ordered engrossed
25. January 20, 2026Committee report: do pass, adopted
26. January 15, 2026Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy
27. January 14, 2026Senator Walker G added as second author
28. January 8, 2026Authored by Senator Niemeyer
29. January 8, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

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