Indiana would group counties into 15 economic development regions

Indiana's economic development corporation would set 15 regions, and each region would have a commission. Each region would contain one or more whole Indiana counties. Where a region matches an existing development authority, that authority's governing members would serve on the commission. Elsewhere, county leaders and leaders of cities with at least 5,000 residents would appoint members. If enacted, the chapter would take effect July 1, 2026, and the corporation would set the regions by September 1, 2026.

Each commission would prepare a regional growth plan and choose or form a group to carry it out. Plans would cover each region's assets, workers, infrastructure needs, and growth goals. Indiana's economic development corporation would have to approve each plan. Commissions would update their plans at least every five years, and the chosen groups would report progress twice a year.

Commissions would post plans, progress data, and meeting minutes online. The state could audit commissions and their chosen groups. The posting duty would apply to each commission; audits could also cover its chosen group. Chosen groups would provide financial reports when the state asks. Commissions would pay for any audits. Commissions would post their plans after state approval.

The state corporation would set a method for dividing available incentives, and regional groups would disclose local project incentives. The disclosure duty would cover local incentives offered for a particular project. The method would cover certain tax credits and available state incentives and grants. The corporation would decide what share to reserve for each region and for state priorities.

Commission members would not be entitled to the cited daily pay or repayment of duty-related expenses. This would apply to every regional commission member. If enacted, this rule would take effect July 1, 2026.