Lawmakers approved more than 200 bills in 2018 – and most take effect Sunday, July 1.
The 2018 legislative session was historic on a few fronts, but the most significant new laws went into effect immediately, including legalized alcohol sales on Sundays and the sale of cannabidiol, or CBD oil.
But Hoosiers should be aware of the laws that become official on Sunday:
Murder charge for death of a fetus
A new statute allows prosecutors to charge someone with murder if they attack a woman and cause the death of her fetus.
Existing law allows such charges if the fetus is viable. The legislation eliminates the need for viability.
Previously-closed adoption records now open
This law was actually passed two years ago, but it goes into effect this year. Between 1941 and 1993, all adoption records were sealed. Starting July 1, most of those records will open.
Local governments blocked from banning short-term rentals
Local governments cannot ban short-term rentals like Airbnb, but they can still regulate the industry.
The law says local governments can require permits for short-term rentals, with a one-time fee of up to $150. It also limits short-term rentals to no more than 30 consecutive days and 180 days total in a year.
How rental owners collect and pay taxes will be studied this summer for potential legislation next year.
CBD labeling requirements
A new law legalized the sale of cannabidiol, or CBD oil, to all Hoosiers for any reason, effective immediately.
But another provision of the law requires manufacturers to follow a list of testing and labeling requirements, and that part of the law goes into effect on July 1.
Manufacturers must submit their CBD oil to an independent lab for inspection and labels must have QR or bar codes that link to those results and other identifying information.
Changes to human trafficking reporting
Health care providers will no longer have to report to law enforcement if they suspect an adult patient is the victim of human trafficking.
Lawmakers say those mandated reports created a problem – trafficking victims stopped going to health care providers.
The law does add a requirement that health care providers provide information that includes the human trafficking helpline and information on where to get help.
And the law doesn't apply to cases with child victims; those must still be reported.
Harsher penalties for drug dealers after overdose
A new law imposes harsher penalties on drug dealers if a person overdoses and dies on those drugs.
Some lawmakers question its unintended consequences. Under the bill’s explicit language, if you get pain medicine to treat a toothache and give some to a friend who also has a toothache – and that friend accidentally overdoses and dies – you could face up to 40 years in prison.
Gov. Eric Holcomb says he’s not worried about that because local prosecutors have discretion about whether or not to bring charges.
Baby boxes expanded to some fire houses
Lawmakers approved legislation this year to expand the state's Safe Haven law to allow 24 hours fire stations to install baby boxes.
The devices are designed to allow someone to drop off an unwanted infant anonymously.
Under the new law, the Hoosier state's third baby box will be installed in a Decatur Township fire station.
Taxes & Fees
Software now exempted from state sales tax
Under the law, if you go to the store and buy, say, tax preparation software, you’ll be charged sales tax. But if you access that program online, you won’t. Before now, the state wasn’t clear on that difference
Holcomb says Indiana becomes the 31st state to exempt sales tax for what’s known as “software as a service.”
The bill is expected to cost the state between $7 million and $15 million a year. Holcomb says he thinks new investment will more than offset that loss.
Gax tax going up one cent
Indiana’s gas tax is set to increase again this year – the one cent hike is small compared to last year’s 10 cent surge.
Lawmakers said the 2017 road funding bill’s 10 cent gas tax hike was to catch up after the state went nearly two decades without an increase.
To avoid falling behind again, lawmakers also created automatic yearly increases, tied roughly to inflation. They’re capped at one penny a year – and halted after 2024 without new legislative action.
Hierarchy for family making health care decisions
A new state law establishes a hierarchy for family members in health care decision-making. It deals with situations where the patient can’t make decisions for themselves – and hasn’t designated a representative.
The new law creates a hierarchy: spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling, grandparent, and adult grandchild. And if there are no relatives, an adult friend who has "maintained regular contact" with the patient and is familiar with their "activities, health and ... beliefs" can make those health care decisions.
Mandated dyslexia screening
A new law requires dyslexia screening in all Indiana schools and mandates that each district must have a specialist trained to recognize and teach students with the reading challenge.
Other education measures
Read More: What education bills passed and failed in the 2018 session?
One measure requires schools to seek parents’ permission before students are taught about sex. The controversial sex ed bill says schools must send two notices – and if they receive no response, the student is taught about human reproduction.
A new law says students can carry and apply their own sunscreen at school. The measure came up after some Indiana schools required a doctor’s note for sunscreen or required students to keep it in a central location like a nurse’s office.
And a group of Lafayette schoolchildren helped deliver – after years of trying – a bill to name the Say’s Firefly the state insect. Indiana had been one of only three states without an official insect – that changes July 1.
Reporting requirement for quickly-burning materials
A law aimed at saving firefighters' lives requires home builders to report the use of certain materials to fire departments.
That information would be reported on the building permit for new construction, then passed on the dispatch center. So when a fire is called in, a note in the system will alert the dispatcher to the materials used. Then firefighters will know which part of a building is likely to burn and fail more quickly.
Colored headlights now banned
The law stipulates Indiana drivers can only have white and amber lights on the front of their vehicles. The law also requires taillights to be only red or amber.
The change does not restrict other aftermarket lighting such as neon underglow.
Eyeball tattoos banned
Eyeball, or scleral tattoos are now illegal in Indiana.
The scleral is the white, protective outer layer of the eye. A tattoo to this body part involves injecting dye into the thin layer.
Indiana’s new statue does exempt licensed health professional that may use a similar procedure for cornea damage, but an Indiana University Health optimologist says that's not a current practice.
