Senate adopts conference committee report approving noncontiguous annexation tied to large Plainfield development

The Indiana Senate on April 23 adopted the conference committee report for Senate Bill 525, clearing language that supporters said is intended to govern a noncontiguous annexation tied to a planned mixed-use village west of Plainfield.

Senator Sarah DeBuck, presenting the conference committee report, described the project as “truly a noncontiguous annexation” and said the development will include a hospital, a national championship golf course and “500 plus homes” with a total value she described as “over a billion dollars.” She asked senators for support of the report.

The nut graf: Supporters said the change is narrowly tailored to allow a large, outlying development to annex to Plainfield in a way they described as beneficial to the community; opponents did not present extended floor debate on policy details during the report’s presentation.

On the floor senators thanked staff and conferees who negotiated the final language and emphasized collaboration across chambers. Senator DeBuck enumerated conferees who worked on the measure and urged colleagues to approve the conference committee report so the local annexation could move forward.

Formal action: The machine was opened for passage of the report; the clerk tallied the roll and recorded 45 ayes and 2 noes. The secretary was instructed to inform the House of the passage of the report.

Background and next steps: The conference committee report represents the final floor step for the reconciled version of SB525; the Senate’s secretary will notify the House. Supporters said the annexation is for a large, mixed-use village west of Plainfield that they expect will include significant private investment and civic amenities.

Ending: The Senate recorded the vote and moved on to other conference committee reports on the calendar.