INDIANA — During the 2023 legislative session that wrapped up in March, Governor Eric Holcomb approved and signed several bills into law that will go into effect on Saturday, July 1.
One of the most talked about Senate Bill 480 was the banning of gender-affirming care for minors.
Last week, a federal judge issued an order stopping the law from taking effect as scheduled on July 1.
To see the full list of the bills signed into law, click here.
The bill provides that a habitual offender is not entitled to good time credit. The bill permits a person placed on pretrial home detention to earn accrued time and good time credit in the same manner as other persons on home detention but provides that specified misconduct will result in the deprivation of all accrued time earned on pretrial.
The bill was amended by consent to remove certain provisions regarding habitual offenders and good time credit and amends the sentencing guidelines for habitual offenders.
Senate Bill 369, known by many as “Jake’s Law” will require anyone overseeing or supervising an activity at an athletic facility to be informed of the location of the AED and would ensure every venue has a specific emergency action plan when sudden cardiac arrest occurs.
Senate Bill 1also referred to as the Behavioral Health Matters bill establishes a statewide crisis response system to support Hoosiers going through a mental health or substance abuse crisis. This would include a helpline.
The bill provides a list of offenses that qualify as crimes of domestic violence. The bill increases the period of time that a person arrested for a crime of domestic violence may not be released on bail from 8 to 24 hours.
The bill provides that a charge of invasion of privacy is elevated to a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated criminal stalking conviction.
The bill also provides that attempted murder, strangulation, and human trafficking are now considered serious violent felonies for the purposes of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
HB 1608 will prohibit teachers from instructing on sexuality and gender for K-3 students in schools. The bill also requires teachers to notify parents if a child comes out as transgender.
The bill originally stated that teachers would not be required to call children by a preferred pronoun or gender if it went against their religious beliefs, regardless of a parent’s request.
This bill has drawn comparisons to the Florida bill that was notoriously called “Don’t Say Gay”.
Under this new law, police can enforce a 25-foot buffer zone around investigating officers. If a person “knowingly or intentionally” approaches an officer and ignores an order to stop, they can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor.
Senate Bill 35 is a financial literacy bill. It requires students who are expected to graduate in 2028 to successfully complete a personal financial responsibility course to graduate.
HB 1365 will outlaw ‘switch’ devices that turn handguns into machine guns. Guns modified with an auto-sear are outlawed just like other machine guns.
Possessing a firearm with a switch is a Level 5 felony, and will carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison if convicted.
