‘Fast and furious. In and out.’ Legislature to address firearms, CHINS and more in 2024

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The 2024 legislative session began just nine days ago, but the Indiana Lawyer staff is already keeping an eye on several bills making their way through the Indiana General Assembly.

Proposed legislation includes bills involving children in need of services, the carrying of firearms at the Capitol by certain state officers, and marijuana legalization and regulation, among a myriad of other topics.

Ali Bartlett, a partner at Bose McKinney & Evans LLP and a principal with Bose Public Affairs, said the first week of the legislative session was her busiest one yet.

“Fast and furious. In and out,” Bartlett said. “But that doesn’t mean that things aren’t going to move. It doesn’t mean things aren’t going to get done. I think stuff is going to get done. It’s just going to be fast.”

Bartlett noted that some of the big-ticket items this legislative session are addressing literacy gaps for students, health care and child care.

She added that the fact that this is the last legislative session of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration will have an impact on some of the proposed bills.

“Just encouraging people to keep an eye on everything and become a part of the process, because while it’s fun and important to be engaged at the national level, so much of what happens on a daily basis and how our lives can be improved happens at the state level,” Bartlett said. “My hope is that people will stay engaged, become a part of the process, and even in a short session that is going to be fast and furious.”

The following is an update on each bill IL has been tracking in the 2024 legislative session. More bills may be added to the list as the session progresses. Updates are as of Jan 12.

Senate bills

Sen. Mike Bohacek

Senate Bill 11: Child seduction

Digest: Provides that an elected official, a public appointee or an officer of the court commits child seduction if the elected official, public appointee or officer of the court abuses the person’s professional relationship with a child to engage in sexual activity with the child.

Primary authors: Sen. Mike Bohacek, R- Michiana Shores, Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette

Status: Referred to the Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

Sen. Dan Dernulc

Senate Bill 13: Support; minors who lose a parent to a DWI offense

Digest: Defines “child restitution order.” Requires the court to order a person who is convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and who caused the death of a victim with a minor child to pay child restitution.

Primary author: Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland

Status: Referred to Committee on Judiciary

Sen. Jim Tomes

Senate Bill 14: Right of state officer to carry a handgun in the Capitol

Digest: Defines “state officer” as an individual who holds the elected office of attorney general, secretary of state, state comptroller or treasurer of state. Provides that a state officer who meets certain requirements has the right to carry a handgun within the state Capitol building and on the property of the state Capitol complex.

Primary authors: Sen. James Tomes, R-Wadesville, Sen. Mike Bohacek, R- Michiana Shores

Status: Referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law; scheduled for Jan. 16 hearing

Senate Bill 16: Guardians ad litem in adoption

Digest: Requires a court to appoint a guardian ad litem in an adoption proceeding if a parent of the child has an intellectual disability and is subject to a guardianship.

Primary authors: Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette

Status: Referred to Committee on Judiciary

Sen. Lonnie Randolph

Senate Bill 24: Minimum age to carry a handgun

Digest: Changes the minimum age required to carry a handgun to 21.

Primary author: Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago

Status: Referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

Senate Bill 25: Election of Lake Superior Court judges

Digest: Provides that the superior court judges of Lake County are elected, as are other superior court judges.

Primary author: Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago

Status: Referred to the Committee on Elections

Senate Bill 26: Prohibition of firearms at polling places

Digest: Prohibits a person from carrying a firearm in or near: (1) a chute, (2) polls, (3) certain areas where voters congregate or are likely to congregate, or (4) any room where ballots are being counted.

Primary author: Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago

Status: Referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

Senate Bill 40: Representation of caregiver in CHINS cases

Digest: Provides that an unlicensed caregiver is entitled to representation by counsel in a child in need of services proceeding under certain circumstances.

Primary author: Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores

Status: Reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

Sen. Fady Qaddoura

Senate Bill 95: Local regulation of firearms

Digest: Specifies that certain restrictions on the local regulation of firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories may not be construed to prevent a county, municipality or township from regulating firearms, ammunition or firearm accessories in a manner more restrictive than Indiana law if the regulation is recommended by a law enforcement agency of the unit and a local advocacy group that works to reduce gun violence in the community.

Primary author: Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis

Status: Referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

Sen. Andy Zay

Senate Bill 98: Dependent child exemptions

Digest: Provides that a fetus is considered a dependent child for purposes of the dependent child state adjusted gross income exemptions.

Primary author: Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington

Status: Referred to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy; scheduled for Jan. 16 hearing

Sen. Rodney Pol

Senate Bill 99: Cannabis regulation

Digest: Permits the use of cannabis by: (1) a person at least 21 years of age, and (2) a person with a serious medical condition as determined by the person’s physician.

Primary authors: Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis

Status: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Technology

Senate Bill 102: Therapist immunity from professional discipline

Digest: Provides that the behavioral health and human services licensing board may not impose disciplinary sanctions against a practitioner if the basis of the licensing complaint is retaliatory against the practitioner for testifying in a child in need of services proceeding.

Primary author: Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland

Status: Referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services

Sen. David Niezgodski

Senate Bill 107: Cannabis regulation

Digest: Establishes a procedure for the lawful production and sale of cannabis in Indiana.

Primary author: Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend

Status: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Technology

Sen. Greg Taylor

Senate Bill 126: Medical cannabis

Digest: Establishes a medical marijuana program and permits caregivers and patients who have received a physician recommendation to possess a certain quantity of marijuana for treatment of certain medical conditions. Establishes a regulatory agency to oversee the program, and creates the regulatory agency advisory committee to review the effectiveness of the program and to consider recommendations from the regulatory agency.

Primary author: Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis

Status: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Technology

Sen. Vanetta Becker

Senate Bill 130: Deadline to grant or deny an order for protection

Digest: Requires a court to issue an ex parte order either granting or denying an order for protection not later than one day after a petition for an order for protection is filed. Requires a court to consider certain factors when issuing an order to grant or deny an ex parte order for protection.

Primary author: Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville

Status: Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

House bills

Rep. Matt Pierce

House Bill 1011: End-of-life

Digest: Allows individuals with a terminal illness who meet certain requirements to make a request to an attending provider for medication that the individual may self-administer to bring about death.

Primary author: Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington

Status: Referred to the Committee on Public Health

Rep. Jerry Torr

House Bill 1033: Causes of action

Digest: Prohibits causes of action against a property owner, a business owner or a third-party business operator for a criminal act committed by another person on the property, at the business or on premises owned by another person. Provides limitations on actions related to public nuisances.

Primary author: Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel

Status: Referred to Committee on Judiciary

Rep. Ryan Lauer

House Bill 1101: Courts for children 3 years of age and younger in need of services

Digest: Establishes a safe baby court as a type of problem-solving court. Provides that a child in need of services is an eligible individual for purposes of a problem-solving court program, and that a parent or guardian of a child in need of services may be responsible for paying certain fees.

Primary author: Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus

Status: Referred to Committee on Judiciary

Rep. Dale DeVon

House Bill 1061: Joint custody

Digest: Provides that a biological mother and biological father have joint legal custody unless otherwise provided by law. Requires a court to award joint legal custody unless it is in the child’s best interest that sole legal custody be awarded.

Primary author: Rep. Dale DeVon, R-Granger

Status: Referred to the Committee on Judiciary•

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