Indiana Laws Taking Effect January 1st

With a new year comes new legislation. On January 1, 2025, three changes in Indiana law
will take effect. Here’s what to know about these changes and how they could affect you.
House Bill 1093 relaxes the restrictions on employed teens age 16-17. The Bill will remove
certain restrictions on the number of hours that these teens can work, allowing teens between 16
and 17 to work the same shifts as adults with or without adult supervision, so long as the work
does not fall under prohibited categories such as hazardous conditions. Though, in Indiana, the
prohibition on a 16- or 17-year-old working in hazardous conditions does not apply to agricultural
work.

Regulations on minors age 14-15 remain largely unchanged. These teens are still limited to
working a maximum of 3 hours per day on school days and 8 hours per day on non-school days,
for a total maximum of 18 hours per week in a school week or 40 hours per week in a non-school
week. For most of the year, these teens may not work before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. However,
from June 1 through Labor Day, the law allows 14- and 15-year-old teens to extend their working
hours to 9:00 p.m. Employers will not be fined by the State for violations of these working hours
if the violation is 10 minutes or less.

The first of the year may bring bigger paychecks, not because everyone gets raises, but
because the Indiana state income tax will decrease from 3.05% to a flat 3.00%.
Finally, those of us planning any home improvement projects should be aware of the
changes to Indiana’s excavation laws. House Bill 1122 requires individuals or excavators to request
underground lines to be marked at least two full business days prior to the dig but not more than
10 business days after the request. If the project has not been completed by the 20th day after
requesting marking, another request must be submitted.

Excavators must acknowledge the receipt of the utilities’ positive response prior to
beginning the dig and must stay at least two feet away in every direction from any location marked
by utilities. Amendments to Indiana’s excavation laws also introduced usage of the term
“prevailing time.” This term refers to the time observed in Indianapolis. Hoosiers living in different
time zones should be aware of this time difference to remain compliant. If you have any questions
regarding the impact of these new laws on you, reach out to one of our experienced attorneys at
McNeelyLaw LLP by calling (317) 825-5110.

This McNeelyLaw LLP publication should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion
of any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational
purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own lawyer on any specific legal questions you
may have concerning your situation.