Indiana General Assembly - The Indiana Lawyer

Fight over Indiana abortion law still waiting at U.S. Supreme Court

December 12, 2018

While the Supreme Court of the United States has yet to agree to hear an abortion rights case this term, a petition from Indiana regarding its law regulating the disposal of fetal remains and prohibiting women from terminating their pregnancies based on race, sex or disability remains under consideration. Indiana filed a writ of certiorari after the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction against 2016's House Enrolled Act 1337.

DCS budget could grow significantly next year

December 12, 2018

The Indiana Department of Child Services is requesting a 42 percent increase in its budget next year compared to the funding it was designated to receive this year in the previous budget cycle. The proposed budget from DCS would include $965 million from the state’s general fund per year for the next two fiscal years.

ACLU urges high court to let Indiana abortion rulings stand

December 7, 2018

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and Planned Parenthood are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to let stand two decisions that stopped portions of an Indiana abortion law signed when Vice President Mike Pence was governor.

Appellate courts seek extra $1M for legal aid, technology

December 5, 2018

Citing a need to further invest in Indiana’s civil legal aid infrastructure, the Indiana Supreme Court is asking the General Assembly to allocate an additional $1 million to the court in the next biennial budget to fund civil legal aid efforts.

AG Hill, through deputies, asks for $5 million budget increase

December 4, 2018

Embattled Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill wants lawmakers to increase his budget by about $5 million, despite previously drawing their ire for spending $300,000 on office renovations and a van with his name emblazoned on the side.

Judge strikes lethal injection secrecy law, says lawmakers ‘overstepped’

November 30, 2018

The Indiana Department of Correction has again lost a suit in which it argues to keep secret the drugs it would use in a lethal injection. The judge in the case extraordinarily outlined how the DOC, the governor’s office, and the Indiana General Assembly appeared to directly undermine her order that the department disclose the drugs it might use in a potential execution.

Critics say General Assembly harassment proposal sidesteps key concerns

November 27, 2018

A new proposed policy is being sent to the Indiana General Assembly House and Senate ethics committees for further review before it lands in both chambers for a full vote. Even so, questions linger over whether the recommendations will change behavior and protect potential victims.

Indiana lawmakers look to update ‘Do Not Call’ law

November 26, 2018

Indiana lawmakers are looking for new ways to address illegal and unwanted telephone calls as telemarketers use technological advances to skirt the state’s telemarketing law.

Legislative Council recommends adoption of sexual harassment policy

November 21, 2018

Top Republican and Democratic lawmakers voted Tuesday afternoon to recommend that the General Assembly adopt a new sexual harassment policy when it convenes next year. The Legislative Council unanimously approved the guidelines to combat sexual harassment at the Indiana Statehouse, but the policy will still undergo review by the ethics committees in the House and Senate and require approval from both chambers.

Indiana lawmakers return to Statehouse ahead of 2019 session

November 20, 2018

Indiana lawmakers returned to the Statehouse on Tuesday for the ceremonial start to the new legislative session.

Top legislators say no forcing out AG Hill

November 20, 2018

Top Republican legislative leaders don’t expect lawmakers will take any action toward removing state Attorney General Curtis Hill from office even though the governor and other state officials have called on him to resign over allegations that he drunkenly groped four women during a party.

Indiana lawmakers move forward with hate crime bill

November 19, 2018

Two Republican state lawmakers have released draft legislation that would address Indiana’s lack of a hate crimes law by giving judges the ability to consider bias as an aggravating factor when considering prison sentences.

Subcommittee silently makes sexual harassment recommendations; Legislative Council must act

November 14, 2018

Legislature should respond to complaints of sexual harassment by legislative employees, but it’s still unclear whether the Legislative Council will meet next week’s statutorily-mandated deadline to officially adopt the recommendations.

High chance for medical marijuana debate at statehouse

November 12, 2018

For proponents of medical marijuana, optimism was sparked when Indiana legalized CBD oil earlier this year. With that door opened, legislators in both parties are hopeful that success will boost their chances of getting a hearing on medical marijuana bills they will file in the 2019 legislative session.

Attorney couple seeking changes for Indiana foster parents

November 12, 2018

Indianapolis attorneys Joe Delamater, a criminal defense lawyer at Razumich & Delamater PC, and Kiamesha Colom, a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, encountered confusion, frustration and ultimately heartbreak during the course of a few months when they became foster parents to a baby boy. Now they are pushing for changes to state laws they say will balance the system so the right results happen for kids.

Porter County begins counting votes after delay

November 8, 2018

The commissioners in a northwestern Indiana county plagued by a mix of Election Day problems asked the FBI on Wednesday to investigate what they called “scores of alleged violations of Indiana Election Law” reported following Tuesday’s election. Porter County officials did not begin counting votes until Wednesday morning, more than 15 hours after the first polling places closed.

Appellate court says preferred venue statute is void

November 7, 2018

The Indiana Court of Appeals has held that a statute concerning preferred venue in corporate lawsuits is void because it conflicts with an Indiana Supreme Court-adopted trial rule. The appellate court’s ruling upheld the denial of a change of venue motion in a medical malpractice case based on the statute being a nullity.

Election recap: Braun win, Delph loss among top Indiana stories

November 7, 2018

On an election night in which Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Republicans appeared to tighten their hold on the Senate, Indiana stayed reliably red, with Republicans winning seven of nine House seats and challenger Mike Braun defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly. But in one of the biggest Election Day upsets, longtime Republican state Sen. Mike Delph lost the Statehouse seat he has held since 2005.

Indiana Supreme Court asked to review rent-to-buy agreements

October 30, 2018

Asserting the Court of Appeals’ ruling in a rent-to-own dispute will adversely impact tenants across the state, Indiana Legal Services filed a petition Monday to transfer its litigation against Rainbow Realty Group for the company’s rent-to-own practices. In its transfer petition,Indiana Legal Services argued Rainbow's rent-to-buy contract is a lease governed by the state’s Landlord-Tenant Act.

Special prosecutor believes women but won’t charge AG Hill

October 30, 2018

Special prosecutor Daniel Sigler said he believes the four women who accused Attorney General Curtis Hill of groping them, but he said he chose not to file criminal charges against Hill because believing the women would not be enough in a court of law.

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