Indiana’s fiscal year began on July 1, and with it a slew of bills signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb after months of legislative crafting and debate by state lawmakers. These new laws, ranging from education reform and public safety to immigration, are now in effect. Here are some laws that could significantly impact Gary and its residents.
House Bill 1235 – Gary Gun Lawsuit
Indiana’s Republican-controlled legislature successfully passed a law to retroactively kill a 1999 lawsuit brought by the city of Gary, preventing any government unit in the state from suing firearm companies. The legislation directly counters Gary’s landmark lawsuit against local gun retailers and major manufacturers, such as Smith & Wesson and Glock, accusing them of illegal firearm sales that exacerbate urban violence. However, the city is not giving up its fight and is challenging the law, arguing that the General Assembly “violated core principles of the Indiana Constitution.”
“I believe it is critical that we have the legal ability to hold bad actors accountable and to ensure the ongoing safety of our public. Indiana House Bill 1235 removes the rights of Gary and any Indiana community to represent itself in a court of law,” Mayor Eddie Melton said in a statement shortly after the bill’s passage.
Senate Bill 1 – New Reading Requirements
Starting in the 2024-25 school year, Indiana elementary schools will be required to test kindergarten through second grade students who are not on track for reading proficiency by third grade.
Schools must offer summer courses for second graders identified as at risk of not being reading proficient. If a student does not achieve 90% attendance in these courses, they must participate in an individual reading plan the following school year. Students who do not pass these evaluations will face retention.
This law will likely have a significant impact in Gary, where a large portion of the city’s third graders did not pass the state reading exam. In 2023, only 47% of Gary Community School Corporation students passed the IREAD third grade exam, the lowest pass rate among public school districts in the state, according to the Indiana Department of Education. Meanwhile, 53% of third graders at Lake Ridge New Tech Schools, another public district in Gary, passed the exam, the second-lowest rate in the state.
“Singling students out and separating them from their friends and classmates can have devastating effects on confidence and social development,” said state Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, ranking minority member of the education committee, in a recent op-ed.
“Once those students reach high school they have a higher tendency to drop out of school. Due to the racial disparity in literacy metrics, this measure will have a greater negative impact on members of populations that already face systemic inequity.”
SB 185 – Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices
Cellphones and other wireless communication devices are now prohibited during instruction time. This law applies to all Indiana public and charter schools.
Teachers can authorize their use for educational purposes, and exceptions are allowed for emergencies or health management. Schools must publish this policy on their websites. This will be Gary’s first year enforcing the rule. Meanwhile, nearby Hammond instituted a complete ban on cellphones last school year, following approval by Hammond’s School Board last June.
“There will be pushback, for sure. But like anything else, start this process on day one and stick to it. Later down the line, it may be effective,” said D’Angelo Coles, an 11th grade teacher at Lighthouse College Preparatory Academy in Gary.
“Elementary should be the easiest to implement, but junior high and especially high school will be the hardest.”
SB 181 – Citizenship and Immigration Status
Last month, Capital B Gary reported on the response by state Rep. Ragen Hatcher’s, D-Gary, to Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s threats of legal action against Gary, East Chicago, West Lafayette, and Monroe County over their Sanctuary City ordinances. With the enactment of SB 181 on July 1, Rokita now has the authority to pursue legal actions against each city.
“If the AG finds probable cause that the law is not being followed after July first, he is welcome to prove his case in a court of law…We believe Hoosiers can see right through AG Rokita, and so do the lawmakers elected by the communities he’s threatened,” said a group of Democratic Senators in a joint statement, including state Sens. David Vinzant and Lonnie Randolph, who both represent sections of Gary.
