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INDIANAPOLIS – From the color of your headlights to holding schools accountable for reporting bullying data to the state – dozens of bills were signed into law by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb this year.
Let’s take a look at some of those laws and what they mean for you.
Property Lines
The law allows landowners to mark their property with purple paint to prevent trespassing and minimize liability if someone illegally enters their property and gets hurt.
Colored Headlights
The new law bans popular headlight colors such as red, blue, green and yellow on the front of vehicles. Stop lamps or taillights must all be red and license plate lights can only be white. The backup lights are also being restricted to only amber or white. Emergency vehicles will be exempt from this law.
Airbnb Regulations
City governments will not be allowed to ban short-term rentals like Airbnb but they can regulate it and require a permit and fee up to $150. The law also limits short-term rentals to no more than 30 consecutive days and 180 days in a year.
Sex Education
This bill requires schools to ask parents for consent to teach their child sex education and give them 31 days to respond.
Gas Tax
Starting July 1, you’ll be paying 1 cent more in tax per gallon of gas across Indiana as part of the yearly increase approved along with the 10 cent fuel tax increase the state’s legislature enacted last year.
Feticide
The bill allows prosecutors to seek a charge of murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter and feticide if a fetus is killed in -any- stage of development. The bill allows charges to be sought only if the person commits a felony that causes the death of a fetus and will not apply to lawfully performed abortions.
Opioid Abuse
Four bills signed this year are meant to help combat Indiana’s opioid abuse problem. The bills will increase the number of opioid treatment locations, jack up criminal penalties for drug dealers and expand the system that monitors opioid prescriptions. Another measure will improve data collected from local coroners on overdose deaths.
Adoption Records
The law will open state records for people adopted between 1941 and 1993.
Baby Boxes
The law expands Indiana’s Safe Haven Law, which allows people to surrender their newborn without fear of criminal prosecution. Central Indiana’s first Safe Haven Baby Box will also be installed on July 1.
Eyeball Tattoos
The measure prohibits tattooists from coloring the whites of an individual’s eye and carries a fine up to $10,000 per violation. Exceptions would be made for procedures done by licensed health care professionals.
CBD Oil
CBD oil will be legal in Indiana as long as it has a THC level that is .3 percent or lower. Cannabidiol, commonly referred to as CBD oil, is derived from marijuana and hemp but lacks the stuff that will get you high.
Abortions
The anti-abortion bill requires medical providers to report more patient information to the state and includes a detailed list of complications like infections, blood clots, hemorrhaging and mental health issues that must be reported.
Sunscreen in Schools
The law will allow students to carry and apply their own sunscreen without having to have a doctor’s note.
Lawmaker Sexual Harassment
Requires lawmakers to complete at least one hour of training intended to prevent sexual harassment. It also requires Statehouse leaders to develop a clear anti-harassment policy that applies to legislators.
School Bullying
The law will better hold schools accountable for bullying data by requiring them to submit their reports by July 1. It will also allow the Indiana Department of Education to audit schools to ensure they’re reporting bullying correctly.
State Insect
It’s been debated for years but a group of Cumberland Elementary School students finally pulled it off. Starting July 1 the Says Firefly will become Indiana’s official state bug.
Dyslexia
This new state law will help students with dyslexia get the help they need to overcome it and succeed by requiring early screening for dyslexia in every school in the state.
Click here for the full list of bills going into effect this year
