INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels signed 26 bills into law this week, bringing his total to 57 bills signed this year without a veto.
With still one week left to go in the 2011 legislative session, most of the measures that have advanced to the governor's desk are non-controversial or were easily agreed to by both chambers of the Republican-controlled General Assembly.
The new laws signed this week include:
Senate Enrolled Act 154 permitting Hoosiers to carry a loaded firearm while operating a snowmobile or off-road vehicle on private property. The old law allowed guns to be carried on those vehicles only if the weapon was unloaded.
House Enrolled Act 1124 dumping a dozen pages of old railroad regulations that have been superseded by federal law. This was the first work product of the House Select Committee on Government Reduction, chaired by state Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, to become law.
Senate Enrolled Act 481, sponsored by state Rep. Don Lehe, R-Brookston, clarifying that electric companies are not eligible for a property tax credit for the increase in value to a property if a power-generating windmill is erected. The credit is intended for homeowners only.
Senate Enrolled Act 267, sponsored by state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, establishing a statewide three-level travel alert system and giving local authorities the power to shut down roads if a "travel warning" is declared due to weather or other emergency.
House Enrolled Act 1451 requiring a study of the environmental impact of mint distilling. This law was sponsored by state Rep. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte, state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and state Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, who each have mint distilling operations in their districts.