Breakdown: What laws go into effect in Indiana on Friday

Several new laws will take effect throughout the state of Indiana on Friday.

Below is a breakdown of those laws.

  • Permitless carry: House Bill 1296 repeals the law that requires a person to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in Indiana. This excludes persons that have been previously prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun in the state.
  • Vaping tax: All vaping products within the state will be subject to a new 15% retail tax.
  • Charitable bail changes: This law prevents charitable organizations from bailing out more than three people in a 180-day span. It does allow for organizations to pay for an incarcerated individual’s bail as long as they’re not charged with a violent crime or they have no prior convictions for violent crime.
  • Transgender athletes in sports: This measure bans transgender females from competing in IHSAA girl’s athletics. This law was passed despite Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s veto, which was overturned in May.
  • Loophole in rape law is closed: The state’s official definition of rape has been amended for the first time since the 1800’s. The law now protects the victim in cases where “the person disregarded the other person’s attempts to physically, verbally or by other visible conduct refuse the person’s acts,” as the law states.
  • Overpopulation of jails: In 2014, a measure was enacted that sent low-level felons to county jails to serve their sentences in an effort to lower the overcrowding of state facilities. House Bill 1004 is an official reversal of the 2014 law, as the state saw overcrowding in county jails.
  • School Board Comments: School Boards within the state are now required to accept public comment, according to house bill 1130. The board will be allowed to set the time limits for comments as a way of maintaining order and removing intentionally disruptive speakers.
  • Filmmaker tax credits: In an attempt to advance the film industry in Indiana, Senate Bill 361 includes tax credits for movie and TV productions within the state. These credits would be approved and regulated by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
  • Hoosier tax cuts: This bill reduces state income tax and dispenses with the tax for utility receipts. Income tax rates will drop from 3.29% to 2.9%.
  • Nursing shortage: As medical facilities see a shortage of nurses throughout the state, lawmakers are acting to combat the shortage by pulling back on licensing qualifications. New licensing standards are granted to retired or out-of-state EMT’s, health care professionals, recently graduated students and nurses.
  • E-learning standards: House bill 1093 will change the standards and requirements for E-learning or virtual learning days. The bill states that public schools cannot conduct more than three e-learning days that do not meet state requirements.
  • Election security: Counties in Indiana are now required to provide proof of verifiable electronic data in voting systems by July 1, 2024, in preparation for the next presidential election. This pushes ahead the deadline for this requirement, which was originally December 31, 2029.
  • Coerced abortion: When getting an abortion, a woman is now required to be asked whether or not she was coerced into having the procedure by medical personnel. Healthcare workers are also required to inform the patient that abortion coercion is illegal, and is now classified as a level six felony. These personnel are also now required to contact law enforcement so that an investigation can begin.
  • Expanded charging access for electric vehicles: Businesses can now make electric vehicle charging equipment available for public use, and are allowed to set charge rates based on kilowatts per hour and or the amount of time that the vehicle is charging.
  • Data breach notifications: House Bill 1351 requires data breaches to be disclosed to the affected individual or group within 45 days of the breach’s occurrence. The 45-day measure was set in order to allow for officials to understand the full-range of how drastic the data breach is before informing those affected.
Share this article: