INDIANA—As summer kicks off in Indiana, State Reps. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty) and Chris May (R-Bedford) want Hoosiers to be aware of a wide range of new state laws taking effect July 1.
Bartels said most new laws passed during the 2024 legislative session take effect July 1, including supporting veterans and military members. A new public notification like Indiana’s Amber Alert and Silver Alert will soon help first responders locate missing and at-risk veterans and military members. The Indiana State Police could issue a Green Alert for veterans, service members, Indiana National Guard members, and reservists within 48 hours of the individual being reported missing.
“The Green Alert will be a noteworthy safety net for our current and former military members,” said Bartels, who co-authored the new law. “Our veterans have served Hoosiers in tremendous ways, and this new alert system will be an instrumental tool in order to help those individuals.”
May said lawmakers took action on many hot-button issues this year, such as cutting government red tape. Food truck operators raised concerns about the patchwork of regulatory ordinances and costly fees from county to county, making it difficult to operate and expand their mobile businesses. To simplify permitting for food trucks, counties must create a permit that follows universal state standards and is capped at a $200 fee.
“We need to continue making it as simple as possible for businesses of all sizes to grow in our state,” May said. “Capping fees and streamlining the permitting process for food trucks can help these entrepreneurs flourish without jumping through so many hoops.”
Bartels and May also highlighted the following new laws:
More low-income Hoosier parents will be eligible to access safe and affordable child care that best fits their needs. Full-time child care workers and those training to enter the field will be eligible for help to cover the costs of care for their children or enroll their 4-year-old in a high-quality, pre-K program.
To help protect Indiana’s farmland and food supply chain, individuals or entities associated with foreign adversaries like Russia and China will be banned from purchasing or leasing agricultural land, and mineral, water or riparian rights. China, Russia, North Korea and Iran will also be prevented from purchasing or leasing land within a 10-mile radius of military installations.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about these and other new state laws.
