Indiana
Small Business Association

Governor Eric Holcomb (R) has issued executive orders that do the following:

• Declares a state of public health disaster emergency. It orders all state and local health officials, law enforcement and emergency response agencies, health care providers, and hospitals, in our State to cooperate with the ISDH in its response.
• Waives hours of service regulations related to motor carriers and drivers of commercial vehicles transporting goods.
• Announces that non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 50 people. This includes any event or gathering of people who are in one room or a single space at the same time, such as cafeterias, churches, stadiums, meeting and conference rooms, auditoriums and the like. This guidance applies to professional, social, community and similar other gatherings.
• Expands unemployment insurance benefits for those impacted by job loss.
• Suspends the one-week waiting period that is required before paying unemployment benefits to allow claimants to receive their checks more quickly. The suspension is retroactive to March 8, 2020. The order allows those with chronic health issues will be able to receive a 90-day supply of their non-controlled prescription medication; Medicaid recipients can use their benefits to cover costs of using alternate forms of transportation; and the order has The Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) extend deadlines related to local government finances.
• Prohibits gas and electric utilities, broadband, telecommunication, water, and wastewater from disconnecting services.
• Orders a temporary prohibition on evictions and foreclosures.
• Requires businesses remaining open to limit the number of customers in the facility, to limit hours of operation, mark floors 6 feet apart for employees and customers, have hand sanitizer readily available, cleaning high-touch areas, and more.
• Allows the carry-out consumption of alcohol.
• Waives penalties on special assessments and fees on property tax bills
• Adjusts some requirements for business tax filings, annual meetings, alcohol permitting and calls for the streamlining of unemployment claims.
• Announces the Back On Track Indiana plan to safely open the economy and remain vigilant about protecting Hoosiers’ health and wellbeing. The state will move to reopen while continuing to monitor and respond to these four guiding principles: The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide has decreased for 14 days; The state retains its surge capacity for critical care beds and ventilators; The state retains its ability to test all Hoosiers who are COVID-19 symptomatic as well as health care workers, first responders, and frontline employees; and Health officials have systems in place to contact all individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and expand contact tracing. Indiana Back On Track has five stages. Beginning May 4, nearly all of Indiana will move to stage 2. For three counties – Cass, Lake and Marion counties – stage 2 will begin at a later date. Phase 2 may begin on May 11 for Lake and Marion counties. Phase 2 may begin on May 18 for Cass County. Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.
• Prohibits any stipend paid to poll workers from being considered deductible income under the state’s unemployment laws.
• Extends deadlines for drivers’ license renewals, titles, salvage titles, and more through June 4.
• Extends any state agency-issued license, certification or permit which is set to expire during this emergency to June 4.

Regulatory actions are being compiled. Please check back shortly.