in the mid-term elections, republican took the control of the indiana house of representatives, 51 to 49. the republicans blocked townsend's proposed new social programs, and attempted to roll back many of his predecessor's programs. the senate blocked the bills from passage, and the session ended in deadlock. only a few pieces of legislation were passed: the driver's license examination became required by law, pensions for the state's firemen were approved, free textbooks were authorized for public schools and the state ordered school buses to be painted yellow for safety's sake—this last starting a nationwide trend.