Bill to ease limits on handgun permits draws concerns
An advocate for domestic violence victims says a legislative proposal to lift Indiana's restrictions on alcohol offenders obtaining handgun licenses would remove one means of protecting victims.
Indiana General Assembly
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Bill to open adoption records passes Senate committee
A proposal to expand access to sealed adoption records for adoptees is headed to the Indiana Senate floor after winning unanimous approval from a Senate committee.
Pence says he won’t support LGBT bill that ‘diminishes’ religious freedom
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence in his State of the State speech Tuesday night finally addressed the most contentious issue at the Statehouse this year – how to balance religious freedom with civil rights for LGBT people – but his statements left unclear whether he would sign any of the bills proposed so far during this General Assembly.
Coalition pushes for hate crime legislation
Indiana is one of five states without a hate crime law on the books.
Marion County judicial selection now in lawmakers’ lap
A federal appeals court rocked the Marion County court system last fall when it quashed its unusual judicial election process, saying it burdened the right to cast a meaningful vote. Now the court’s fate is in the hands of lawmakers, who will get a crack at replacing the election system the federal judges ruled unconstitutional.
Adoption records, gun licensing reform bills to be heard this week
Hoosier adoptees will make a new push for access to their birth records, beginning with a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.
Senate bill would protect sexual orientation, punt on gender identity
A Republican state senator’s answer to the debate over gay rights and religious freedom would protect gay, lesbian and bisexual Hoosiers from employment, housing and public accommodations discrimination but would exclude transgender people and punt the debate on their issues until next year.
Indiana BMV fees overhaul proposed after overcharging woes
Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles would see its fee structure simplified under a bill presented Wednesday to legislators following an audit last year that found the agency had overcharged motorists more than $60 million since 2013.
New bid planned to end Indiana’s Sunday alcohol sales ban
A new attempt could be coming to end Indiana's eight decades-old ban on Sunday carryout alcohol sales.
Bill proposes increasing med-mal cap by $400,000
The maximum award for medical malpractice would increase by $400,000 under legislation proposed after a study committee last year examined Indiana’s caps. Caps on damages were last raised 17 years ago and have been increased just twice in 40 years.
Coalition advocating for hate crime legislation
A coalition of religious and civic organizations has already started pushing the Indiana General Assembly to pass hate crime legislation that includes language covering sexual orientation and gender identity.
Pence agenda addresses ISTEP impact, not LGBT rights
Gov. Mike Pence called for lawmakers to pass legislation decreasing Indiana's reliance on 2015 ISTEP standardized test scores but made no mention of adding LGBT civil rights protections into state law when he released his agenda for the coming legislative session.
Bill eases law on alcohol offenders obtaining gun permits
Indiana lawmakers will consider a plan to lift state restrictions on alcohol offenders obtaining handgun licenses.
Vaping industry sues state over new regulations
The advocacy group that represents Indiana’s vaping and electronic cigarette industry is suing the state, claiming new safety regulations are unconstitutional.
A look at bills proposed in the 2016 General Assembly
Proposals addressing everything from civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to requiring a prescription for a common cold medicine used to make methamphetamine will be debated when lawmakers gather for the 2016 session, which begins Tuesday.
Bill pushes to replace administrative law judges
The chairman of the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee has introduced Senate Bill 1, a 119-page proposal that would replace administrative law judges with an administrative court made up of nine judges appointed by the governor.
Indiana adoption advocates to push again to open up records
The leader of an advocacy group for Indiana adoptees says she's optimistic state lawmakers will endorse a bill to expand adoptees' access to sealed records.
Some police, prosecutors back tougher cold-medicine law
Some Indiana police agencies say their fight against methamphetamine production would be helped by a proposed state law change to require a doctor’s prescription for a common cold medicine that is used to make the illegal drug.
Indiana law drives down moped thefts, sales
Evansville Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jason Cullum said scooter theft reports fell from 269 in 2014 to just 79 as of Dec. 17. He said that’s because scooters are now easier to track if stolen because they now must be registered and licensed.
Bill would allow recovery of attorney fees in all wrongful death actions
A northern Indiana senator has introduced legislation to amend Indiana’s wrongful death statute to allow for surviving families to collect attorney fees.