186 new laws take effect today in Indiana. Most laws the legislature passes go on the books officially on July 1, the first day of the state fiscal year.
This year, those laws include authorization for a pilot preschool program and local-option property tax breaks for businesses. You now have to be at least 16 to go to a tanning salon. And the much-debated bill allowing you to bring a gun onto school property as long as it‘s locked out of sight in your car goes into effect today.
Several less publicized measures take effect along with the session‘s major legislation. Lawmakers repealed a ban on boats honking horns, and got rid of a requirement that counties reimburse farmers for livestock killed by dogs.
Home inspectors are now required to check out the attic, basement and crawlspace. And it‘s now a misdemeanor to falsely claim you‘re a licensed anesthesiology assistant. Violators could face up to six months in jail.
A law banning police from downloading information from your cell phone without a warrant also takes effect today, but the U.S. Supreme Court beat the state to the punch, requiring warrants nationwide in a ruling issued last week.