House Speaker opposes Republican marriage platform changes
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma is the latest powerful GOP leader who doesn’t want to change the state Republican Party’s platform that favors “marriage between a man and a woman.”
Indiana General Assembly
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Study: Gun removal law reduces suicides in Indiana
An Indiana law allowing authorities to temporarily remove guns from those considered a risk to others or themselves has helped reduce the state’s firearm-related suicides, according to a University of Indianapolis study.
Changing times: Fewer call for laws on the books
With the Indiana Code accessible and searchable online, fewer and fewer volumes of the printed versions are being produced each year, and DVDs once supplied to county clerks around the state to update their statute records have gone the way of the floppy disc.
State secret: DOC presses lethal injection confidentiality
A law slipped into the 2017 budget bill during the General Assembly’s final hours declared that information about drugs that the state would use to execute someone was confidential. The last-minute law was written into the bill even though a judge had ruled months earlier that the very same information was a matter of public record and had ordered the Department of Correction to provide it.
State, railroad argue over blocked crossings before Supreme Court
The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday heard oral arguments in a case to determine whether state or federal law controls how long trains may block road crossings. Norfolk Southern Railway challenged the state’s blocked crossing statute after receiving 23 citations for blocking a crossing for more than 10 minutes.
Indiana Senate Republicans pick Bray to lead after special session
Indiana Senate Republicans selected a new leader to replace outgoing President Pro Temp David Long. The decision came after lawmakers concluded a one-day special session by sending a handful of bills to Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Indiana lawmakers returning to clean up session’s mess
Indiana lawmakers will be back at the Statehouse on Monday for a special session called to take action on a handful of bills that died in March when the year’s regular legislative session came to a chaotic close.
Marion, Lake, Monroe prosecutors won’t defend abortion law
Three Indiana prosecutors in counties with Planned Parenthood facilities have announced they will not defend the state in a recently filed lawsuit challenging a 2018 abortion law.
ACLU, Planned Parenthood sue over abortion complications reporting law
Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky is once again challenging an Indiana abortion law it says is “a cruel intimidation tactic,” this time taking aim at a 2018 piece of legislation that was signed into law less than a month ago.
Indiana collecting more DNA samples after new law
A new Indiana law is adding thousands of new samples to the state’s DNA database. The Indiana State Police lab has had an average of 4,200 DNA samples tested each month this year through March, up from 1,100 a month last year.
Special session to debate school safety, tax changes
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Friday that he is calling lawmakers back to the Statehouse for a special session that will begin May 14.
7th Circuit strikes Indiana’s abortion law
In a split 2-1 decision, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Indiana’s abortion ban, which prohibited a woman from terminating her pregnancy because of the gender, race or disability of the fetus.
Expansion of DNA database could help catch Delphi teens’ killer
A broader DNA database is helping police find suspects to unsolved crimes. Perhaps soon it might mean finding the man who killed Delphi teens Libby German and Abby Williams.
Indiana House speaker expects May 14 special session start
Indiana lawmakers are expected back at the Statehouse the week of May 14 for a special session to deal with bills the Republican-dominated legislature couldn’t wrap up last month.
Indiana lawmaker hopes to protect state forests from logging
An Indiana lawmaker plans to reintroduce legislation to protect the state’s forests after seeing the outcome of a timber cut that removed more than 1,700 trees.
Patients, doctors concerned about new Indiana opioid limits
Some patients and doctors in Indiana are worried that increased restrictions imposed in response to the national opioid epidemic may reduce access to necessary medication.
Law limiting short-term rental regulations by cities may face test from Carmel, others
As the popularity of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO has increased, local governments across the country have stepped in to regulate when and where their residents can lease their homes to temporary guests. Indiana cities have been no exception, but the 2018 General Assembly limited the extent to which municipalities can regulate the local short-term rental industry.
Indiana woman wins $35 million verdict in pelvic mesh lawsuit
A northern Indiana jury returned a $35 million verdict March 8 for a woman injured by a transvaginal mesh implant in a trial that is believed to the seventh mesh lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon, Inc.
As state allows for professional licenses, long-term national DACA solution remains elusive
With all this uncertainty, one thing DACA recipients won’t have to worry about anymore — in Indiana, at least — is obtaining state professional licenses. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed Senate Enrolled Act 419 on March 21, which allowed “Dreamers” to apply for professional certifications.
IU McKinney profs research opioid effects on law, policy
Officially announced in February, Grand Challenges is a 16-project program aimed at preventing, reducing and treating addictions throughout the Hoosier state.