Indiana lawmakers have 400 bills at session’s halfway mark
Indiana lawmakers are entering the second half of the legislative session with more than 400 bills still alive, covering issues including teacher pay, gambling and hate crimes.
Government
Articles
Judiciary faces ‘political’ task in border wall emergency declaration
The question for courts hearing challenges to President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration is not as simple as deciding whetherthe action is legal; they also must determine the extent of congressional and presidential powers, the meaning of relevant statutes and how much deference to give a president asserting executive authority.
Ruling in smart meter case highlights privacy concerns
A ruling from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals about smart meters inspired contradictory reactions as the appellate panel held that data collected through the devices by a public utility is protected by the Fourth Amendment, but then, in the next breath, found the search by the Naperville, Illinois, power company was reasonable.
Legislation aims to tame ‘Wild West’ nature of land contracts
A bill that passed through the Indiana House 82-14 and is now in the Senate would protect families from predatory land contracts. Provisions would require buyers be told the value of the property and how much they will ultimately pay for it if they complete the terms of the agreement, among other protections.
Critics say Indiana redistricting bill doesn’t do enough
An Indiana bill that would change the state’s redistricting rules doesn’t do enough to end gerrymandering, critics say. The bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Greg Walker of Columbus would allow lawmakers to continue drawing the state’s legislative and congressional district maps for the foreseeable future.
Justices halt removal of Yorktown clerk-treasurer from office
Efforts to forcibly remove a Yorktown clerk-treasurer from her elected office faced a setback Wednesday when the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed a trial court’s decision finding the officer’s failure to keep track of town finances did not result in a general failure to perform her official duties.
Holcomb plans public appeal on Indiana hate crimes law
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday he will try to build public support for a hate crimes law, a week after the Republican-dominated state Senate stripped out a list of specific protected traits he had supported to get Indiana off a list of five states without such a law.
Holcomb says he tried pot in college, opposes legalization
Gov. Eric Holcomb says he tried marijuana as a college student, but he doesn’t support efforts to allow medical or recreational marijuana use in Indiana.
Indiana Senate approves sports betting, casino moves
Hoosiers are one step closer to being able to place legal bets on sporting events.
IU McKinney students conduct research in Russian hacker’s extradition case
While the United States struggled to gain the upper hand in an extradition battle over a Russian cybercriminal accused of stealing more than $28 million in a bank fraud ring, a group of Indiana law students were busy working on research for his case.
Hemp bill’s chances growing with Senate passage
Farmers hoping to add a new crop to their rotation next planting season just moved closer to that dream, now that the Indiana Senate voted nearly unanimously to pass an agricultural hemp bill.
Indiana House passes $34.6B budget along party lines
The Indiana House on Monday passed a $34.6 billion two-year budget along party lines. The budget includes an increase of more than $550 million over two years for the Indiana Department of Child Services.
Senate committee splits over homeless youth bill
A bill that would assist homeless youths in getting access to various documents that could help them find employment passed through a committee Thursday, but not without concerns.
Senate backs study of juvenile justice system
Concerns surrounding the way Indiana adjudicates and rehabilitates its juvenile offenders has resulted in the proposal of a summer interim committee to address how adequately the juvenile justice system is governed.
Lake Michigan shoreline bills advance in Indiana Senate
Two pieces of legislation that would define public and recreational use of Lake Michigan’s shores and give jurisdiction of seawalls, beach grooming and land walls to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources have made advances in the Indiana Senate this week.
Mueller report looming, new attorney general in hot seat
William Barr has been attorney general for just one week but is on the cusp of staring down what will almost certainly be the most consequential decision of his long career: How much of the special counsel’s findings to make public.
Indiana seeks injunction against assisted living center where woman died
State officials are seeking an injunction against a western Indiana assisted living center where a woman died after wandering outside on a cold night. The request filed on behalf of the State Department of Health seeks to stop Bethesda Gardens in Terre Haute from providing nursing care outside the scope of an unlicensed assisted living facility.
Indiana Senate approves stripped-down hate crimes bill
The Republican-dominated Indiana Senate passed a stripped-down hate crimes bill Thursday and sent the measure to the House, where Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb and others hope the legislation can still be strengthened. The Senate voted 39-10 in favor of the legislation that was changed two days earlier to remove a list of specifically protected characteristics, including sexual orientation, gender identity and race.
State, IBM spar over damages during Supreme Court oral arguments
It’s been roughly nine years since a hard-fought legal battle over the creation of a new Hoosier welfare system ensued between the state of Indiana and IBM Corp. And on Thursday, the long-lasting litigation returned to the Indiana Supreme Court, which this time must answer a multi-million-dollar damages question.
COA rejects developer’s private pond argument
An Evansville developer’s argument that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management does not have jurisdiction over private ponds did not hold water with the Indiana Court of Appeals.