Legislature - The Indiana Lawyer

Senate Bill 180 reignites conversation about direct representation for CHINS, TPR proceedings

March 2, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

Indiana is one of just six states that does not require counsel for children in child welfare cases in any situation, according to the National Association of Counsel for Children. Although Indiana Code § 31-32-4-2 does give state court judges the discretion to appoint counsel for children in child welfare cases, stakeholders say the Hoosier State could be forced to implement a direct representation program either through lawsuits filed by national children’s rights organization or federal legislation that Congress is considering.

Bill would require de novo judicial review of environmental agency decisions

March 2, 2022 | Katie Stancombe

A bill proposed in the 2022 Indiana legislative session would have required trial courts to try disputed issues of fact de novo in a judicial review of certain agency actions. Republican Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, said he authored House Bill 1063 in an attempt to even the playing field between decision-making agencies and Hoosiers, and in response to an Indiana Supreme Court decision.

Legal battle brewing over trans athlete bill

March 2, 2022 | Jordan Morey

In Indiana, a legal battle is already brewing over legislation that would ban transgender female athletes from competing on K-12 girls’ sports teams. Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana have promised to file a lawsuit while Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has said his office will defend the bill’s constitutionality.

Watered-down vaccine mandate limits clear Senate, return to House for consideration

March 1, 2022 | Emily Ketterer and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

The Indiana Senate passed a watered-down version of the House Republicans’ bill to limit employer vaccine mandates, sending it back to the House where its future is cloudy.

Indiana classroom transparency bill stalls in GOP-run Senate

March 1, 2022 | Associated Press

An Indiana education proposal that drew criticism for originally aiming to place broad restrictions on teaching about racism and political topics took a major blow Monday when Republican state senators did not advance the bill.

Indiana legislators looking to decide about online lottery

February 28, 2022 | Associated Press

Indiana’s governor is supporting the Hoosier Lottery’s consideration of starting online games or ticket sales while state legislators are looking to have their say on whether those will be allowed.

Holcomb decries ‘political’ motivations in HEA 1123 litigation

February 24, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

Contending the Legislature is injecting politics into the litigation over House Enrolled Act 1123, Gov. Eric Holcomb is reiterating his argument to the Indiana Supreme Court that the dispute is not about public policy but rather about whether the state’s constitution allows the General Assembly to call itself into a special session.

Indiana governor signals support for trans girls sports ban

February 24, 2022 | Associated Press

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signaled support Wednesday for contentious proposals moving through the Legislature that would ban transgender girls from participating in K-12 girls school sports and place restrictions on teaching about racism and political issues.

Indiana Senate endorses bill allowing Level 6 offenders to go to DOC

February 23, 2022 | Olivia Covington

A bill allowing Level 6 felony offenders to serve their sentences in the Indiana Department of Correction for addiction and mental health treatment has passed the full Indiana Senate, setting the bill up for final consideration.

Indiana transgender athlete ban headed for final Senate vote

February 23, 2022 | Associated Press

The Indiana Senate on Tuesday refused to amend a Republican-backed bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity, putting it on the fast track to passing.

Indiana Senate panel backs bill without big tax-cut proposal

February 23, 2022 | Associated Press

An Indiana Senate committee endorsed a tax proposal on Tuesday without the business and individual tax cut package potentially totaling more than $1 billion that the House approved last month.

After failed amendments, IN Senate set to vote on bill allowing Level 6 offenders in DOC

February 22, 2022 | Olivia Covington

Efforts to amend a bill that would undo a key tenet of criminal justice reform legislation has failed in the Indiana Senate, setting the bill up for a final vote in the upper chamber.

Senate Republicans strip down key Indiana House bills in second half of session

February 21, 2022 | Emily Ketterer and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

Republican leaders in the House and Senate said from the outset of the 2022 legislative session that they didn’t see eye to eye on some of the highest-profile issues — and the Senate proved that last week when it stripped key provisions from several House bills.

City, partners push forward with renter support despite setbacks

February 21, 2022 | Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indianapolis Business Journal

Indianapolis has long struggled to rein in dilapidated housing complexes owned by absentee, typically out-of-state, landlords. It’s slogging through lengthy lawsuits with the owners of multiple troubled properties, and officials say there’s another filing ready to go unless a new owner takes over an infamously rundown complex. A pair of state-level moves in landlord-friendly Indiana also are hampering attempts to protect renters, city officials say.

Indiana Senate could change stance on handgun carry permits

February 21, 2022 | Associated Press

A top Indiana legislator says a proposal to repeal the state’s handgun permit requirement might win approval despite ongoing opposition from major law enforcement organizations and the state police superintendent.

CRT discussion brings multiple views, little consensus

February 18, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

A panel discussion about critical race theory at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law veered into a debate about House Bill 1134, the controversial curriculum legislation in the Indiana Statehouse, and included pleas to work together to find common ground.

Indiana lawmakers approve expanding tax refund eligibility

February 18, 2022 | Associated Press

Indiana lawmakers on Thursday approved expanding the number of people eligible for anticipated $125 payments this spring under the state’s automatic taxpayer refund law.

Indiana House committee strikes Senate’s attempt to ban ‘marijuana light’

February 17, 2022 | Emily Ketterer and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

Lawmakers in the Indiana House nixed an effort by some Senate Republicans to ban the sale of a popular derivative of hemp at levels that can give users a high.

House committee removes ‘persuasion’ language, unanimously passes obstruction of justice bill

February 17, 2022 | Katie Stancombe

Language described by some lawmakers as being too broad and vague was unanimously removed from an obstruction of justice bill during an Indiana House committee meeting on Wednesday.

Bill allowing Level 6 offenders to go to DOC heads to full Indiana Senate

February 17, 2022 | Olivia Covington

A bill that would roll back a major provision of Indiana criminal justice reform legislation is headed for the full Indiana Senate, but concerns still linger over whether the state is doing its part to provide treatment to criminal offenders with mental illnesses and addictions.

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