Recount Commission to release some ballots impounded in contested races
The Indiana Recount Commission is moving forward with two recounts in state legislative races despite large margins of victory.
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Softer federal stance on marijuana could boost legalization efforts in Indiana
With the federal government’s recent announcement that it intends to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug with potential medical benefits, some advocates wonder if that could be the game changer that opens the floodgates for legalization in Indiana’s 2025 legislative session.
Lawmakers to examine AI, Medicaid costs and more over interim
When Indiana lawmakers next converge upon the Statehouse for interim committee meetings, they’ll take on artificial intelligence (AI), Medicaid spending and more — but won’t take another look at marijuana.
State Rep. Rita Fleming announces retirement a week after primary election
The Indiana Democratic Party will hold caucuses to fill the office and ballot vacancies once Fleming leaves.
Delta-8 legal clarification unlikely as Statehouse stalemate persists
In the nearly six years since a federal law appeared to open the doors to delta-8, the marijuana-like drug has grown into a billion-dollar Hoosier industry. But it’s done so on shaky legal ground.
Two Purdue professors sue to challenge new state law regulating tenure
The law mirrors conservative-led efforts in other states to influence higher education viewed as unfriendly or hostile to conservative students and professors.
Democratic lawmaker seeks changes to Marion County judiciary after sentence in IMPD officer’s death
State Rep. Mitch Gore, who is a captain at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, said he would explore “all legislative remedies” to address what he said is a sentence that is too lenient. A Republican committee chair said he’s open to legislative proposals that come out of the case.
Pet stores, breeders brace for new state regulations on dog sales
While House Enrolled Act 1412 will undo local regulations in Indianapolis and several other Hoosier cities that ban the retail sale of dogs at pet stores, it will impose new regulations on an entire range of businesses involved in the selling of dogs.
Few schools take lawmakers up on allowing staff, teachers to carry firearms
The Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism and the Indiana Capital Chronicle found that the vast majority of respondent school districts haven’t authorized staff to carry firearms even as Indiana’s General Assembly offers up funds for training.
Indiana businesses win new protections from lawsuits
Tweaks to tort law were among the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s top legislative priorities this year, but not everyone was happy with all of the tort-related changes that came out of the Indiana General Assembly.
New law makes it a crime to distribute fake nude photos generated by AI
A new provision in House Enrolled Act 1047 makes the distribution of unauthorized and undisclosed “intimate” images generated or altered by AI a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Legislation that would reel in IEDC likely to return in 2025
State Sen. Spencer Deery said he plans to reintroduce similar legislation in 2025. From his viewpoint, the agency has become too focused on big deals.
Gambling regulators largely mum on legislation that targets them
The legislation directs casino fines and penalty money to the state’s coffers, instead of the agency’s.
Indiana Sen. Jean Breaux dies after long illness
Breaux, who died Wednesday, issued a statement Monday saying she wanted to “focus on enjoying the time I have left surrounded by my loved ones.”
Governing bodies tussle over control of Indiana State Fair
Ten words slipped into the 112-page House Enrolled Act 1120, a property tax turned administrative bill, give Indiana’s finance-oriented State Fair Commission the power to set fair dates, and strip that authority from the fair-focused State Fair Board.
State Sen. Jean Breaux issues farewell-like statement amid ongoing health issues
The Democratic senator from Indianapolis said that “after a hard-fought battle with my health, the time has come for me to focus on enjoying the time I have left surrounded by my loved ones.”
Holcomb vetoes antisemitism compromise, signs bill weakening public access counselor
Gov. Eric Holcomb opted to issue his first—and only—veto of the session on House Bill 1002, a proposal to further define antisemitism, particularly in academic settings, citing concerns with a compromise reached in the final hours of session.
Legislature bans sister-city agreements with ‘foreign adversaries’
Indiana lawmakers this year slipped a new prohibition blocking locals from joining cooperative agreements with communities in six “foreign adversary” countries into a bill that originally dealt with property taxes.
Holcomb signs bill killing Gary’s gunmaker lawsuit, but two others hang in the balance
Two pieces of legislation remain unsigned—one defining and banning antisemitism within the Hoosier public education system and another constraining the state’s public access chief.
Indiana law regulating AI usage in elections takes effect
The law requires that candidates include a disclaimer when a political ad includes the use of generative AI, and it creates a path for legal action when candidates believe they are misrepresented.