Indy Standard

As summer begins in Indiana, State Representatives Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty) and Chris May (R-Bedford) are informing residents about a variety of new state laws set to take effect on July 1.

Bartels emphasized that most laws passed during the 2024 legislative session will become effective on this date, including measures supporting veterans and military members. A significant addition is the Green Alert system, modeled after Indiana's Amber Alert and Silver Alert, designed to help first responders locate missing and at-risk veterans and military personnel. This alert can be issued by the Indiana State Police within 48 hours of a report of a missing veteran, service member, National Guard member, or reservist.

"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 to help those individuals."

May noted that lawmakers addressed various issues this year, including reducing government red tape. Food truck operators had expressed concerns about inconsistent regulatory ordinances and fees across counties. To address this, counties will now be required to create a permit adhering to universal state standards with a fee capped at $200.

"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 having to jump through so many hoops."

Other notable new laws highlighted by Bartels and May include:

**Increasing Child Care Access**

More low-income Hoosier parents will gain access to safe and affordable child care that fits their needs. Full-time child care workers and those training for the field will receive assistance covering the costs of care for their children or enrolling their 4-year-olds in high-quality pre-K programs.

**Protecting Hoosier Farmland**

To safeguard Indiana's farmland and food supply chain, individuals or entities associated with foreign adversaries like Russia and China are banned from purchasing or leasing agricultural land, as well as mineral, water, or riparian rights. Additionally, China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran are prohibited from purchasing or leasing land within a 10-mile radius of military installations.

For more information on these and other new state laws, visit iga.in.gov.

State Rep. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty) represents House District 74 which includes all of Crawford, Perry and Spencer counties as well as portions of Dubois and Orange counties.

State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) represents House District 65 which includes all of Lawrence County along with portions of Jackson, Orange and Washington counties.

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