Indiana legislation would add extra verification steps to prove voters are eligible
Republican lawmakers in Indiana want first-time voters to prove they live in the state and additional verification of all voters’ addresses.
Indiana General Assembly
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There’s a wave of new bills to define antisemitism. In these 3 states, they could become law
Lawmakers in more than a half-dozen U.S. states are pushing laws to define antisemitism, triggering debates about free speech and bringing complicated world politics into statehouses.
House committee endorses bill that would dismiss low-level charges for ‘incompetent’ defendants
The Indiana House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code has given its support to a bill that would dismiss low-level charges if the defendant is found incompetent to stand trial.
Republican lawmakers advance new attempt to limit Indiana governor’s executive powers
Still reeling over a slew of executive orders issued by Gov. Eric Holcomb during the pandemic, Senate Republicans advanced a bill Tuesday that seeks to limit the governor’s emergency powers.
House passes 13th check, Senate approves sanctuary city ban enforcement
Indiana’s House of Representatives on Monday unanimously voted to offer former public employees a retirement benefit boost known as a 13th check.
GAL pilot program for parents with mental disabilities passes Indiana Senate
The Indiana Senate has given its approval to a bill that would provide guardians ad litem to parents in adoption cases who have mental disabilities.
Protestors disrupt antisemitism bill, critique lack of recognition for Islamophobia
House lawmakers unanimously passed a bill defining antisemitism in educational settings with little discussion, even as protestors interrupted proceedings and chanted outside.
Misdemeanor reimbursement bill gets thumbs up from IN Senate Judiciary Committee
A proposed bill that would establish a seven-county pilot program for misdemeanor reimbursement of public defender offices passed its first legislative test Wednesday.
Pilot program giving GALs to parents with intellectual disabilities scheduled for full Senate vote
The Indiana Senate is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a bill that would create a guardian ad litem pilot program for parents in adoption cases who have intellectual disabilities.
Bill allowing statewide elected officials to carry handgun at Capitol passes after fervent committee debate
A bill that would allow elected statewide officeholders, including the Indiana attorney general, to carry a handgun on the state Capitol complex has passed through an Indiana Senate committee, though not without a passionate debate.
Senate panel moves bill letting attorney general enforce sanctuary city ban
A Senate homeland security committee on Tuesday voted to advance legislation empowering the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to enforce a 13-year-old law banning sanctuary city ordinances.
Bill seeks to help local governments define decorum for public meetings
The city of Winchester in eastern Indiana has fewer than 5,000 residents but one glaring problem in the eyes of local elected officials: people purposefully disrupting government meetings and deliberately disregarding decorum.
Misdemeanor reimbursement pilot program included in new Senate bill: 7 counties could take part in new program under SB 179
A piece of proposed legislation introduced in this year’s short, nonbudget session is taking a different approach to misdemeanor reimbursement and includes a new pilot program for select counties.
‘Fast and furious. In and out.’ Legislature to address firearms, CHINS and more in 2024
The 2024 legislative session began just nine days ago, but the Indiana Lawyer staff is already keeping an eye on several bills making their way through the Indiana General Assembly.
Return on investment: 2024 State of the Judiciary focuses on outcomes of legislative funding
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush recognized some of the state’s judges and their community efforts in trying to assist people with behavioral and mental health needs, as well as efforts by judicial officers to help the state’s veterans and families.
IN Supreme Court holding ‘Night Court’ for legislators in February
The Indiana Supreme Court is set to host its first “Night Court for Legislators” next month for members of the Indiana General Assembly.
Bill providing fetus tax exemptions draws committee testimony
A proposed bill that would provide tax exemptions for fetuses drew testimony from pro-abortion-rights and anti-abortion advocates Tuesday — even though the bill admittedly will not become law this year.
Indiana lawmakers seem unlikely to tackle school consolidation in 2024 session
A new statewide report is fueling discussions about consolidating Indiana’s smallest school districts, but state lawmakers continue to lack an appetite for action — at least for now.
House panel moves retiree 13th check, hears concerns on school referenda levy cap
The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday unanimously advanced a Republican leadership priority bill offering public retirees a bump in benefits.
Indiana lawmakers move forward with bills to ban antisemitism, expand workforce training funds
Indiana lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill they say will ban antisemitism in public educational institutions — although critics of the proposal maintain it limits free speech and conflates anti-Jewish rhetoric with criticism of a foreign government.