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.
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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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Carrasco wins caucus to finish Sandlin’s term in Indiana Senate
Former Indiana Inspector General Cyndi Carrasco was selected overwhelmingly by a caucus of Republican precinct committee members Wednesday to fill the remainder of the late Jack Sandlin’s term in the Indiana Senate.
New senator chosen in caucus
Greg Goode will replace outgoing state Sen. Jon Ford in Senate District 38 after winning a Saturday morning caucus vote.
Cyndi Carrasco files to fill state Senate seat
Cyndi Carrasco, a Republican who lost to Democrat Ryan Mears in the 2022 election for Marion County prosecutor, has filed as a candidate for Indiana State Senate District 36.
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.
Sen. Jack Sandlin dies at 72
State Sen. Jack Sandlin of Indianapolis has died, GOP officials said Wednesday evening. He was 72.
Indiana state senator says he’ll resign, citing ‘new professional endeavors’
A longtime Indiana state senator announced Friday that he will resign from the chamber in mid-October to “pursue new professional endeavors.”
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.
Indiana state senator to resign in September, cites `business, personal and family obligations’
A long-time Indiana state senator announced Wednesday that he will resign from the chamber in late September, citing the growing pressures of balancing his legislative duties and “business, personal and family obligations.”
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.