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HB 1327INDIANASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Indiana Bill HB 1327 Authorizes Noncontiguous Town Annexations for Large Residential Developments

Original title: Annexation.

Last action · January 6, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Local GovernmentSponsor: David Abbott

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Indiana House Bill 1327 allows a town to annex a residential development and its connecting state highway right-of-way if it meets specific lot-count and distance requirements, effective July 1, 2026. The annexation process requires a landowner petition, town resolution approval within 60 days, and the adoption of a written and annexation ordinance.

Why it matters

Expands municipal boundary-setting powers to incorporate remote residential and commercial subdivisions, altering tax jurisdictions and municipal service obligations for landowners in designated development zones.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Owners of residential development parcels

Property owners can petition towns for noncontiguous annexation, altering their municipal tax and service jurisdiction.

Directly affected

Towns

Towns gain the authority to annex noncontiguous residential developments meeting specific criteria and are required to adopt fiscal plans and provide services.

Directly affected

State of Indiana

Considered the landowner of the public highway right-of-way part of the state highway system included in the annexation.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions must a residential development satisfy to be eligible for this noncontiguous annexation?
It must contain at least 50 proposed single-family lots and 60 proposed multi-family lots, be located between 1.6 and 2.6 miles outside the town's corporate boundaries, connect to town water and sewer services, include a commercial area, and be connected to town limits via an adjacent state highway right-of-way.
Can property owners file a remonstrance against an annexation under this new section?
No, if the annexation is initiated by property owners under the new section and all property owners within the area petition to be annexed, a cannot be filed under IC 36-4-3-11.
What is the timeline for a town to approve a landowner's annexation petition?
The town legislative body must adopt a resolution approving the initiation of the annexation process not more than 60 days after the petition is filed, otherwise the petition becomes void.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

2 actions
  1. Jan 6, 2026HouseIntroduced
    First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government
  2. Jan 6, 2026House
    Authored by Representative Abbott

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

David AbbottHouse · District 18RepublicanAuthor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift98% confidence

Expansion of Noncontiguous Annexation Authority

The bill introduces a new statutory section (IC 36-4-3-5.3) permitting towns to annex noncontiguous residential developments under strict boundary, lot-count, and utility connection requirements.

Local Government

Connected Entities

General Assembly, Committee on Local Government, David Abbott
OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Indiana General Assembly passing the legislation”Map →
OrganizationCommittee on Local Government“House committee to which the bill was referred”Map →
PersonDavid Abbott“Representative who introduced House Bill 1327”Map →

Sources

Open source document

iga.in.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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