IN HB1205

Summary of Indiana House Bill 1205 (Annexation Reform)

• Requires municipalities initiating annexations after March 29, 2026, to file a court petition signed by either 51% of non-tax-exempt landowners OR owners of 75% of assessed land value in the annexation territory, replacing the current remonstrance-based system

• Eliminates for future annexations: remonstrance petitions, remonstrator attorney fee reimbursement, settlement agreements in lieu of annexation, and certain contiguity provisions for public highways

• Reduces required public outreach meetings from six to three for voluntary annexations, extends municipal hearing deadlines from 30 to 90 days, and extends ordinance adoption deadlines from 60 to 120 days

• Allows "super voluntary" annexation of noncontiguous land (within 2 miles of municipal boundary) for business, industrial, or residential development of 50+ dwellings if the landowner and municipal utility agree on gas, electric, water, or sewer service and the county executive approves

• Grandfathers existing annexation proceedings that adopt a fiscal plan or annexation ordinance before March 30, 2026, under current law; allows petition signatures to be gathered by mail after December 31, 2026