Rep. Chris Judy

Provides that an employee of a child caring institution is not personally liable, except to the state, for an official act done or omitted in connection with performance of the employee's duties. Requires a child caring institution to be in compliance with certain reporting requirements in order to be issued a license. Requires certain individuals to complete an electronic report not later than one hour after submitting a verbal report of abuse or neglect to the department of child services. Requires the department of child services to create the form for the electronic report.

Requires the board of trustees of each state educational institution (institution) to adopt a policy that prohibits certain foreign students from enrolling in or receiving instruction in a qualifying STEM program offered by the institution. Requires that the policy be established and enforced not later than August 15, 2025. Provides that the policy must apply to certain foreign students who enroll in an institution after August 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1494 removes the requirement for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to issue paper registration renewal stickers for motor vehicles. This change directly affects vehicle owners who currently receive these stickers when renewing registration. The bill makes technical updates to align state procedures with the removal of this physical sticker requirement. It does not alter registration fees, deadlines, or other core vehicle registration processes.

Prohibits a county, municipality, or township (unit) from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that would have the effect of prohibiting, restricting, or impairing an individual's or a business's ability to: (1) use digital assets to purchase legal goods and services; (2) accept digital assets as a method of payment for legal goods and services; (3) use a hardware wallet or self-hosted wallet to store the individual's or business's digital assets; (4) take custody of digital assets by using a hardware wallet or self-hosted wallet; or (5) operate a node for the purpose of connecting to a blockchain protocol and participating in the blockchain protocol's operations. Provides that use of a property for a digital asset mining business is a permitted industrial use under any applicable zoning ordinance of a unit and may not be disallowed by a zoning ordinance in a zoning district that permits industrial use. Prohibits a unit from applying the unit's zoning ordinances in specified ways to regulate digital asset mining.

Repeals the law concerning the imposition and execution of death sentences and makes conforming amendments. Specifies that if a person was sentenced to death and is awaiting execution of the death sentence, the person's death sentence is commuted to a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Provides that when a defendant is charged with a murder for which the state seeks a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, the defendant may file a petition alleging that the defendant is an individual with an intellectual disability. Provides that if a defendant who is determined to be an individual with an intellectual disability is convicted of murder, the court may sentence the defendant only to a fixed term of imprisonment.

Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to include a question regarding the requirements for yielding the right-of-way for: (1) an authorized emergency vehicle; (2) a stationary recovery vehicle; or (3) a disabled stationary vehicle with active flashing signals; in the knowledge test for a learner's permit or a driver's license. Provides that an applicant who incorrectly answers the question automatically fails the test.

Establishes the Indiana civilian cyber corps program (program). Provides that the adjutant general of the military department shall administer the program. Provides that the program includes civilian volunteers who have expertise in addressing cybersecurity incidents and who volunteer at the invitation of the adjutant general to provide rapid response assistance to a cybersecurity client in need of expert assistance after recognition of a cybersecurity incident or potential cybersecurity incident. Provides that the work product of a civilian cyber corps volunteer or advisor, including any information voluntarily submitted to the volunteer or advisor, is exempt from disclosure. Provides that a civilian cyber corps volunteer or advisor is immune from tort liability for an injury to a person or damage to property that occurs while the volunteer or advisor is deployed and acting on behalf of the adjutant general if certain conditions are met. Repeals the Indiana cyber civilian corps program advisory board. Makes an appropriation.

Provides that knowingly or intentionally taking a motor vehicle from another person is robbery, a Level 4 felony. Provides enhancements. Makes a confirming change.

Defines "antisemitism", specifies that the public policy of the state is to provide educational opportunities free of religious discrimination, and provides that antisemitism is discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, or national origin.

Requires specified types of residential child care facilities to: (1) implement specified personnel policies, including with regard to: (A) minimum qualifications for specified employee classifications; and (B) maintenance of personnel records; (2) comply with specified restrictions on caseloads; (3) obtain specified health records, immunizations, and examinations for each child under the facility's care; and (4) follow specified processes in providing medical care for children in the facility's care, including with regard to administering psychotropic medications. Provides that certain individuals at least 18 years of age but less than 21 years of age are included in the definitions for "child", "child abuse or neglect", and "victim of child abuse or neglect". Makes conforming and technical changes.