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.
Indiana House of Representatives
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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.
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.
Hatfield won’t seek reelection; running for judge instead
A seventh House member announced he will not seek reelection in the fall, joining the growing list of House members opting to pursue other opportunities.
Expect a tamer legislative session in 2024
Republican leaders in the Indiana General Assembly say not to expect the same level of heated debate in the 2024 legislative session as there was in recent sessions. Instead, look for lawmakers to “tweak” and “fine-tune” existing laws.
Former Colts punter Hunter Smith launches Statehouse bid
Hunter Smith, an Indianapolis Colts punter turned farmer, is running for an open Statehouse seat as a Republican.
Indiana teachers union presses reticent state lawmakers to reopen budget in 2024 session
Indiana’s largest teacher’s union is calling for better collective bargaining, increased pay for support staff and more say over curriculum in the upcoming legislative session.
Rep. Bob Cherry won’t seek reelection, ending 25 years in seat
Rep. Bob Cherry announced Friday he won’t seek reelection in 2024, retiring after serving out his current term.
New performance report cards go live on each Indiana school’s website, replacing A-F grades
To increase transparency around Indiana students’ education performance, new report cards issued by the state education department are now required to be posted on nearly every Hoosier school’s website.
Replacing income tax with sales tax hike would cost poor Hoosiers more, experts say
Axing Indiana’s individual income tax and replacing just half the revenue with a sales tax hike would cost the state’s poorest residents an additional $62 and hand the top 1% of earners a $30,000 tax cut, a think tank told state lawmakers Friday.
State Rep. Schaibley of Carmel to retire after almost decade in office
Rep. Donna Schaibley, a Republican from Carmel, announced Thursday that she will retire after nearly 10 years in office.
Rep. Jerry Torr to retire from politics after 28 years in Indiana House
Rep. Jerry Torr, who has served in the Indiana House of Representatives since 1996, announced Tuesday that he will not run for reelection.
INPRS ‘ahead of schedule’ on China divestment, laying anti-ESG investment framework
Indiana’s Public Retirement System (INPRS) says it’s “ahead of schedule” in pulling out of its Chinese investments after lawmakers approved a ban in May.
From Hawaii to Taiwan, state picks up the tab when legislators hit the road
From 2019 to 2022, Indiana legislators were reimbursed for $335,226 for costs associated with legislative travel, including hotels, flights and conference registration fees.
GOP Rep. Jim Lucas kept off interim committees after DUI crash
Republican State Rep. Jim Lucas is effectively in timeout after he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors in connection with his May arrest for driving under the influence.
In budget year, lawmakers tackle controversial topics
In a budget year that brought in new legislators following last November’s elections, Indiana lawmakers tackled more than one controversial topic in 2023.
Courts see boost in salaries, tech funding: Civil legal aid also sees boost in funds for coming fiscal year
The state’s multibillion-dollar biennial budget enacted during the 2023 legislative session includes increases all around for the sate’s judiciary, including additional funding for including civil legal aid, salaries and court technology.
Marijuana, taxes among interim study committee topics
Legislators will spend their interim break studying various topics of interest, including the impacts of cannabis legalization on the workforce and possible tax reform.
Rep. Lucas enters plea agreement for OWI, leaving scene of accident following May arrest
Indiana state Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, has entered into a plea agreement for Class C operating a vehicle while intoxicated and Class B leaving the scene of an accident charges following his early-morning crash and arrest in Jackson County in May.
Indiana has always had a weak veto power — so why are overrides increasingly common?
Indiana has one of the weakest governor systems in the nation, lacking both a pocket and line-item veto in addition to the low threshold for override.