INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels on Tuesday signed 80 bills into law, including the state's 2012-13 budget, a measure imposing new abortion restrictions and defunding Planned Parenthood, legislation limiting state aid for illegal immigrants, a ban on texting while driving and maps of the state's new legislative districts.
Here are the details of these new laws:
- House Enrolled Act 1001 is Indiana's two-year, $28 billion budget funding state government and education that is projected to leave the state with a $1.1 billion surplus by June 2013. Changes to the school funding formula mean most Northwest Indiana schools will see their funding remain flat or decrease compared to 2011 levels.
The budget law also requires a taxpayer refund if state reserves exceed 10 percent of revenue, creates the Mitch Daniels scholarship for high school students who graduate early, freezes legislator salaries, imposes automatic fines for a legislative walkout and prohibits collective bargaining for state employees.
- House Enrolled Act 1210 requires most abortions take place before a woman reaches 20 weeks of pregnancy and prohibits the state from awarding funds, including federal funds, to non-hospital health facilities that also provide abortions. Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit Tuesday to halt implementation of this law.
- Senate Enrolled Act 590 compels most Indiana businesses to verify the immigration status of employees using the federal E-Verify system. It also prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving state welfare and college tuition benefits.
- House Enrolled Act 1129 prohibits drivers from typing, reading or sending a text message or email while their vehicle is in motion, starting July 1. Violators are subject to a fine of up to $500.
- House Enrolled Act 1601 and House Enrolled Act 1602 establish new boundaries for Congressional and state legislative districts. The new maps create two region Indiana House districts without an incumbent representative.
Daniels also issued a rare veto on Tuesday, striking down House Enrolled Act 1177 requiring all trustees at Indiana and Ball State universities be U.S. citizens and a majority of trustees be Indiana residents.
This is the Republican governor's first veto since the 2009 legislative session.