From beach safety regulations to tightening rules on college tenure, July 1 marks the date a host of new state laws go into effect in the Hoosier state.

Senate Enrolled Act 202, authored by Sen. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette, increases the legislature’s oversight of public colleges and universities, which garnered substantial feedback.

The new law requires university boards of trustees to create policies addressing disciplinary actions for certain professors that “materially and substantially disrupt protected expressive activity” and limiting the granting of tenure or “disciplinary actions that will be taken it, after a review, a determination has been made that a tenured faculty member has failed to meet certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity.”

The law does not define the criteria and requires the board of trustees to review its tenured professors every five years to ensure they are meeting the requirements.

Indiana University President Pamela Whitten said Feb. 7, when the bill was being considered, she was “deeply concerned about language regarding faculty tenure that would put academic freedom at risk, weaken the intellectual rigor essential to preparing students with critical thinking skills, and damage our ability to compete for the world-class faculty who are at the core of what makes IU an extraordinary research institution.”

“We all share the common goal to maximize the university’s capacity to make scientific breakthroughs, attract talented students and faculty, drive economic development, and create better outcomes for all Hoosiers. As crafted, my concern is that SB 202 risks unintended consequences that threaten not just the stature of Indiana University, but the economic and cultural vitality of the state,” Whitten said.

SEA 1, authored by Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, will require schools to hold back third graders who fail the state reading proficiency exam, IREAD. Students who are English language learners, who have individualized education plans, or excel in the math portion of the state exam are exempted under the law.

Under Senate Enrolled Act 1, second-grade students will begin taking proficiency testing and receive additional tutoring, resources and summer courses if they are found at risk of failing the state exam.

Sen. Ronnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, said after his initial read-through of SEA 1, he supported it. But, after talking with teachers, parents and other education experts, he realized the negative impacts of the bill and voted against it.

“(Being held back) has a psychological effect on the child’s learning development,” Randolph said.

Beyond third grade, SEA 6 will require the Indiana Department of Education to identify students in fourth through eighth grade who are not meeting reading proficiency requirements. The law also requires the department to develop guidelines for schools to support the students.

SEA 185 prohibits K-12 students from using cell phones, tablets, computers and gaming devices during class. Most Lake and Porter county school districts already have policies governing the use of phones in class. Under the new law, teachers can give students permission to use their phones for educational reasons, in the event of an emergency or if the device is required in the students individualized education program.

Beginning July 1, under Senate Bill 181, Attorney General Todd Rokita will be able to bring lawsuits aimed at forcing governmental entities and educational institutions to comply with federal immigration authorities.

In May, Rokita sent East Chicago, Gary, West Lafayette and Monroe County officials a letter to rescind welcoming ordinances pertaining to immigration or the cities and county will face legal action.

“Unless the ordinance has been repealed on or before July 1, 2024, probable cause will exist to bring an action against the City of East Chicago to compel its compliance with Indiana law — and I will do so,” Rokita wrote in the letter to East Chicago officials.

Randolph said he and other legislators sent Rokita a letter opposing the bill, but it was signed into law March 12. The new law proves that Rokita has “a strong view, a negative view, of minorities,” Randolph said.

“I just think he’s going overboard,” Randolph said. “I think he stepped out of line and he’s out of place.”

The first bill Gov. Eric Holcomb signed during the 2024 legislative session was HEA 1383, authored by Rep. Alan Morrison, R-Brazil, reclassifies Class III wetlands, the most protected group, as Class II, decreasing protections for those wetlands.

Randolph said he voted against HEA 1383 when the Senate considered it because the law rolls back wetland protections.

“I support maintaining the wetlands,” Randolph said. “(The law) takes away from the environment.”

HEA 1086, authored by Rep. Jake Teshka, R-South Bend, will bring back happy hour by allowing permitted bars and restaurants to sell “unlimited or indefinite amount of alcoholic beverages for a fixed price” during a part of the day. This law reversed the state’s 1985 ban on happy hours.

Under the law, bars and restaurants can sell reduced priced drinks up to 4 hours in one day not exceeding 15 hours in one week. Happy hour cannot be scheduled from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. the following day.

SEA 253, authored by Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, requires the owner of a pier or public access site on Lake Michigan to install public rescue equipment, including at least one ring life buoy.

The law also requires the owner of piers of public access sites on Lake Michigan to publish twice a year on their website a report on lakefront drownings that occurred within 50 feet of the pier. If more than one fatal drowning occurs within 50 feet of the pier, a water safety plan must be created.

Some waterfronts, such as Marquette Park Beach in Gary, have already started implementing the law, Pol said. On June 23, two children were saved from the water at Porter Beach using a recently installed ring life buoy.

“The newly installed life ring on the beach prevented what could have been the heartbreaking loss of two young lives,” Pol said, “My bill was successfully passed, ensuring the installation of life-saving equipment on beaches across Northwest Indiana along Lake Michigan.”

akukulka@chicagotribune.com