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State Rep. Baird highlights new Indiana laws effective July 1

Monday, July 5, 2021
Beau Baird

State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) wants Hoosiers to be aware of several new state laws effective July 1, including the new state budget and those supporting law enforcement and K-12 education.

“Indiana, like the rest of the country, faced a great deal of uncertainty because of the pandemic,” Baird said. “Hoosiers and our economy proved resilient in the last year, and we worked hard to pass legislation this session to keep Indiana moving forward.”

Baird highlighted several new and notable laws:

Funding Hoosier Priorities

Indiana’s next two-year, $37 billion state budget reduces taxpayer-funded debt by more than $1 billion and provides opportunities for future tax cuts and reforms. House Enrolled Act 1001 funds critical government services and proven programs while making historic investments in K-12 education, broadband and economic development.

Helping Small Businesses

Senate Enrolled Act 1 and House Enrolled Act 1002 support employers and jobs by extending civil liability protections related to COVID-19 to employers, schools and health care entities. House Enrolled Act 1004 allows local employers impacted by the pandemic to apply for a Small Business Restart Grant to pay for a portion of business and payroll-related expenses. Hoosier employers can learn more and apply at backontrack.in.gov.

Supporting Law Enforcement

Indiana directed $70 million to improve law enforcement training facilities and programs thanks to House Enrolled Act 1006, which Baird co-authored. Departments can apply for grants to purchase body-worn cameras. The new law received unanimous support and total backing from law enforcement to give police more tools to vet candidates and hire the best officers.

Prioritizing Students, Teachers

K-12 education will receive a historic, $1.9 billion increase in funding over the next two years to support students and teacher pay raises. House Enrolled Act 1008 establishes a new $150 million grant program that supports students who are at risk of falling behind or scored below academic standards because of disruptions caused by COVID-19.

While many new laws are effective July 1, some become effective upon passage of the bill by both the Indiana House of Representatives and Senate.

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  • Thank you for your leadership and service to the citizenry

    -- Posted by beg on Tue, Jul 6, 2021, at 6:52 PM

  • Agreed!

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Tue, Jul 6, 2021, at 7:07 PM
  • *

    Ah...spoken like a Baird.

    Apparently the State has lots of money to spend.

    Wonder where they got it from? Taxpayers.

    Notice how he blows his own horn and accepts your appreciation when he is literally paying you with your own money... For instance, his helping small businesses.

    They tax your business, install draconian "health measures" that kill your business (or nearly so), then give you SOME of your own money back - b/c they have spent a portion of it on other things, including themselves - and they come out as heroes soaking up the adoration of the grateful plebes.

    If you didn't know any better, you would probably surmise it was the Democrats. (smirk)

    Then there is the "Education" money...which will be about as accountable as Joe Biden's "Infrastructure" money.

    Sure, schools will be updated and made super fancy, the Teachers Union will shut up for a few months, and everyone will cheer about how much we care about childrens education.

    Its just too bad that the kids wont be getting educated to any greater degree.

    Test scores have proven it. Study after study after study has proven it... and yet all these supposedly educated "leaders" ain't figured it out yet that simply throwing dollars at "education" doesn't work.

    The US spends more money than most places money per capita on k-12 education and yet we are behind in actual "education" (learnedness) when compared to places that spend less.

    But hey, at least the kids are getting properly indoctrinated, right?

    Go Republicans.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Tue, Jul 6, 2021, at 9:55 PM

  • Just what we needed, more laws.

    -- Posted by techphcy on Wed, Jul 7, 2021, at 5:34 AM

  • How is "historical increase" for more education spending good for anybody except the ISTA and their twin spenders the Association of School Administrators et al?

    Administrators are from the union ranks, thinly veiled distinctions on policy. They help each other with a wink and a nod to spend the budget that is extracted from the taxpayer.

    Does anyone care to know what is being taught in our local schools that this funding (all our money) is promoting?

    Board meetings are covered by repeating what is the standard administration line.

    No curiosity from the local papers about classroom instruction?

    Oh, I forgot, the sports section sells paper.

    What really is the priority of the public schools?

    Follow the money.

    Right Beau?

    -- Posted by direstraits on Wed, Jul 7, 2021, at 9:30 PM
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