Many new state laws that aim to make Indiana an even better place to live, work and raise a family go into effect on July 1. Here is a roundup of some of the most important and interesting ones Hoosiers should know about.
Tax Cuts
- The 2024-25 state budget continues Indiana's conservative approach to fiscal responsibility and accelerates income tax rate cuts to 2.9% by 2027 instead of 2029.
Health Care
- SEA 1 expands access to mental health care for Hoosiers by providing ongoing funding to build a system of certified community behavioral health clinics throughout Indiana.
- SEA 4 modernizes Indiana's public health system by increasing the quality of services performed by Indiana's local health departments and promoting collaboration between local health departments and the Indiana Department of Health.
- SEA 7 outlaws noncompete agreements for primary care physicians, which will allow these doctors to practice where they want and give Hoosier patients more freedom to choose their medical provider.
Education
- SEA 35 requires students graduating from a public, charter or state accredited nonpublic school in 2028 to successfully complete a personal financial literacy course before graduation.
- To help students realize what financial aid they may qualify for, SEA 167 requires most students in Indiana to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during their senior year of high school.
Public Safety
- SEA 161 creates penalties for using electronic tracking devices to track another individual without their knowledge in order to commit a crime.
- HEA 1050 requires a driver approaching a disabled vehicle with its hazard lights flashing to move over or slow down.
General Government
- SEA 151 gives Hoosier foster families and foster children free entry to Indiana State Parks.
- HEA 1466 increases the jury pay from $40 per day to $80 per day for the first five days of a trial and $90 per day starting on the sixth day of a trial.
To learn more about these and other laws passed during the 2023 legislative session, click here.
