New laws for 2019
The following enrolled acts, followed in parentheses by their corresponding public law numbers, take effect July 1 unless otherwise noted below.
Indiana Senate
Articles
Introduced, debated but not passed in the General Assembly
Not every bill introduced gains the traction needed to get to the governor’s desk. Many times, a proposed new law fails to get a committee hearing, or it stalls once it reaches the floor. Other times, as a measure progresses through the Statehouse, it ignites disagreements that are ultimately too much to overcome.
What lawmakers did — and didn’t do — in the 2019 session
The 2019 legislative session ended April 24 — five days ahead of the statutory deadline — with hundreds of bills sent to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his consideration. Here’s a look at some of the top issues.
Local car dealers hit with flurry of lawsuits over document-prep fees
Indiana auto dealership owners are being hit with a slew of lawsuits from customers who say they have been charged exorbitant document-preparation fees in the car-buying process just as the rules for charging such fees are poised to loosen under a change in state law.
Report: Bosma has deal arranged by casino investor
The leader of the Indiana House is skipping votes on a major gambling-related bill after a casino owner helped arrange a local government contract with his law firm.
Indiana Senate approves $34.6B budget with slightly more education funding
The Indiana Senate approved its two-year, $34.6 billion state budget proposal Tuesday morning, setting up final budget negotiations between both chambers as lawmakers close out the last two weeks of this year’s General Assembly.
Public defenders: ‘Pay now or pay later’
In the 2½ years since the Sixth Amendment Center released a report strongly condemning indigent criminal defense in Indiana, public defenders have pressed for reforms. Now, those efforts slowly are beginning to bear fruit as the Indiana General Assembly takes action on reform legislation.
Indiana House defeats proposed moratorium on new power plants
An effort by Indiana Republicans to put a two-year moratorium on large new power plants has failed, following strenuous objections from utilities, environmentalists and consumer groups.
Scooter bill zips through Statehouse, but not yet to Holcomb
Hoosiers statewide may be able to scoot alongside other modes of transportation now that a bill aimed at regulating electronic scooter use has zipped through both Houses of the the Indiana General Assembly.
House Ways and Means panel to hear Gary casino move bill
An Indiana House panel is set to take up a bill that would allow one of Gary’s casinos to move to Terre Haute.
Indiana Republicans push for moratorium on new power plants
In a sudden legislative move that is raising alarms for utilities and environmentalists alike, Indiana Republicans want to put a moratorium on new, large power plants just as several large electrical providers are gearing up to retire aging coal-fired generating units and replace them with renewable energy and natural gas.
Gun bill to close gap in ‘red flag law’ passes Senate committee
A bill that would allow Indiana law enforcement to prevent people who are deemed dangerous from purchasing a firearm pursuant to the state’s “red flag law” passed after an hours-long committee hearing Wednesday.
Indiana Senate OKs expanded religious objection to abortion
The Indiana Senate has approved legislation allowing nurses, physician assistants and pharmacists to object on religious or other grounds to having any role in an abortion.
Indiana Senate OKs second-trimester abortion procedure ban
The Indiana Senate has approved legislation that would largely ban a common second-trimester abortion procedure — a proposal that if signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb faces a certain challenge in federal court.
Indiana Senate votes to send controversial hate crimes bill to governor
The Indiana Senate adopted the House’s version of a bias crimes bill Tuesday afternoon, sending the legislation to Gov. Eric Holcomb despite complaints from opponents who say the bill isn’t specific enough.
Request for study of court costs receives initial Senate approval
Questions regarding certain Indiana court costs might be addressed this summer if a study committee is approved to look into the issue in the coming months. Senate Resolution 52 requests that the Legislative Council assign the topics of court costs for indigent individuals and the look-back period for prior unrelated convictions in Indiana's criminal code to a summer study committee.
Civil remedy revenge porn bill passes House
Hoosiers hurting from the aftermath of a revenge porn incident are closer to gaining some relief from their perpetrators now that a bill that would offer them civil remedies has passed both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly. Measures that would make committing revenge porn a crime, however, look less likely to succeed.
Juvenile waiver bill stirs controversy at Statehouse
A proposal that would send children as young as 12 to adult court on attempted murder charges sailed through one house of the Indiana General Assembly before meeting resistance — including from a bill sponsor.
Indiana lawmakers back away from mandating citizenship test
State lawmakers have put the brakes on a measure that would have required Indiana students to pass the U.S. citizenship test to earn a high school diploma.
Indiana Senate panel votes down sheriff’s sale notification bill
State lawmakers have killed a bill that would have eliminated the requirement for sheriff’s sales of foreclosed properties to be published in newspapers — a victory for the media industry.