INDIANAPOLIS — Legislation aimed at prohibiting local communities from controlling short-term rentals like Airbnb checked out of the Indiana General Assembly with little fanfare.
"It was one of the closest bills I've seen here in many years," House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said after his chamber adjourned Friday for the session.
Rep. Matthew Lehman, R-Berne, had proposed legislation that would not let cities and towns prohibit or regulate short-term rentals of residential property.
But the 50-46 vote on Wednesday fell one House vote short of a constitutional majority. Bosma did not vote on the bill.
Communities, including Carmel, wanted to be able to control the short-term rentals through local zoning ordinances and variances. Short-term rental was initially presented as being 30 days or less.
Following the narrow vote, the bill was discussed by the Republican caucus but there was a mood that it "was taking away from critical issues like the budget, like roads, like student testing," Bosma said.
The bill could resurface next session.