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.
Indiana House of Representatives
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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.
Kinsey Institute experts study sex, gender as misconceptions block state dollars
Unfounded claims about Indiana University’s sex research institute, its founder and child sex abuse have been so persistent over the years that when the Legislature prohibited the institute from using state funds, a lawmaker hailed the move as “long overdue.”
Child care, early learning advocates highlight legislative successes
There was no comprehensive effort to address Indiana’s child care and early learning shortages this legislative session, but a series of smaller changes will have big impacts on Hoosier families.
Indiana gas tax hike set following GOP extending annual jump
An Indiana agency confirmed Tuesday that the state’s gasoline tax will go up by one cent this summer under an annual increase that Republican legislators voted recently to extend by three years.
Budget earmarks top $500 million
Spending on specific local projects climbed to $536 million in Indiana’s newest two-year budget, which Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law Thursday. Such earmarks, routed through the State Budget Agency, have risen steeply in recent budget cycles — up from just $18 million in 2015.
Holcomb signs 91 more bills, finishes session without veto
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 91 bills on Thursday, finishing this year’s legislative session without vetoing any of the 252 bills sent to his desk by state lawmakers.
House, Senate strike compromise in final budget proposal
Republicans in both chambers appear to have reached a compromise on the state’s two-year budget, earmarking more than $1 billion for school vouchers while maintaining a commitment to pay down the state’s outstanding debt obligations.
Indiana sends state-funded teacher gun training to governor
Indiana state lawmakers have sent the state’s Republican governor a bill that would create a state-funded handgun training program available for teachers, something critics have said could wrongly increase the number of guns in schools.
Teacher discussions could be limited under Indiana bill
Indiana Republican state senators signaled their final approval Tuesday of a bill that would remove the requirement for administrators to discuss some topics with a teachers union representative
Indiana lawmakers give approval to anti-ESG investing bill
Indiana Republicans pushed through a proposal Monday taking a stand against socially and environmentally conscious investing although disagreements within their legislative majorities narrowed it from what conservatives first sought.
Physician noncompetes, unlawful tracking heading for governor’s desk
Lawmakers sent several bills to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk on Monday following chamber actions on concurrence votes and conference committees.
Time running out for state lawmakers to deliver on health, education and tax promises
Indiana’s lawmakers are nearing the end of a grueling nearly four-month legislative session, but three of their biggest priorities — aside from the budget — remain unresolved.
More money means more funding decisions for Indiana lawmakers as session nears end
Indiana lawmakers have an extra $1.5 billion in cash to work with as they finalize a two-year state budget, but with more money comes the added responsibility of deciding who gets a share of the windfall.
Committee deadline fatal for many bills
Indiana’s House and Senate both face committee deadlines this week, so any bill that doesn’t advance to the respective chamber is dead for the year.
Indiana lawmakers approve tighter mail-in voting rules
Indiana lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a Republican-backed proposal that would require voters to submit more identification information to obtain mail-in ballots.
Doctor non-competes, anti-union bills failed to clear committee; back on calendars
A supermajority doesn’t automatically ensure success. Case in point, two GOP bills — one a Senate priority — failed to get through committee this week.
Conservative groups push for ‘compassionate release’ of elderly, terminally ill inmates
A House bill that would ease Indiana’s process for the “compassionate release” of inmates with health issues won’t get a hearing in the Senate, according to a crucial committee chair – but advocates say they’re not done pushing the measure.
Bill further restricting right to bail headed for final House vote
The Indiana House is preparing for a final vote on a resolution that would extend the limit on the constitutional right to bail.