State Ethics Commission rules against former IEDC official, grants waiver to governor’s aide
Matthew Wade requested a formal advisory opinion on whether his offer would trigger the statute.
Local government
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Lawsuits accuse fire truck makers of price fixing
The city is not involved in any of the ongoing litigation surrounding the issue.
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Incoming police chief Tanya Terry enjoyed years of ‘street cop’ work
She’ll make history in becoming IMPD’s first permanent female police chief, but Tanya Terry said she “doesn’t necessarily seek the spotlight.”
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Web Exclusive: Governments, politicians face 1st Amendment suits over social media use
Kingsford Heights, Indiana, has something in common with a growing number of smaller communities: Its town council is facing a lawsuit for allegedly violating the First Amendment rights of its residents — not at the ballot box or in a church, but on Facebook.
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New law establishes process for removing no-show elected officials from office
Motivated by a Lake County recorder who did not show up for work for more than a year, the Indiana General Assembly took an unusual step during the 2021 session and created a narrow pathway for local governments to remove one of their own instead of waiting for the voters to take action.
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Articles
Indiana governor could replace local bar associations in selecting Marion County judges
Proposed legislation would remove representatives from local bar associations and legal groups from the judicial selection process — a change opponents worry could politicize the judiciary.
Stakeholders weren’t happy with Indianapolis decisions, so they took fights to the Statehouse
At least three bills this state legislative session stem from conversations previously had at the city level that didn’t work out the way stakeholders and the council’s super-minority GOP caucus wanted.
Lawmakers back away from a youth social media ban
Bills on township government, hemp and utility costs also pass General Assembly.
Indiana National Guard ‘military police’ bill passes House
Opponents fear the provisions could be abused, pointing to President Donald Trump’s ongoing, lethal deployment of federal immigration officers to Minnesota.
Mayor Joe Hogsett appoints 27-year veteran as Indy’s first female police chief
She replaces outgoing Chief Chris Bailey, who announced earlier this month that he would leave the role to become Hogsett’s chief deputy mayor.
Streamlined process or steamrolling local control? Housing permit bill advances to House floor.
Indiana lawmakers are considering legislation to lower housing costs by removing restrictions from the permitting process. Local governments worry the measure takes decision-making power away.
Livestreaming local meetings brings new accessibility
Nearly all 567 localities, 88 counties and 354 school districts are now in compliance with a new law that requires local government meetings to be livestreamed.
Property tax case argued before the Indiana Supreme Court has major implications
Local governments could lose significant property tax revenue under a case heard by the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday about how much land falls under the state’s 1% tax cap for homesteads.
New prize named for former Indy mayor challenges local leaders to innovate
The Sagamore Institute’s new Goldsmith Prize aims to recognize sustainable solutions that leverage technology and data, foster collaboration, empower public employees and innovate creatively.
Report says townships fail to disburse emergency help taxpayers are funding
The January report by poverty- and homelessness-focused service providers, titled “Marion County Township Trustees: Opportunities Seized; Opportunities Missed,” is the result of a yearlong investigation.
Gov. Mike Braun threatens to veto property tax bill, call special session if more cuts aren’t added
Senate Bill 1, which previously carried Gov. Mike Braun’s ambitious property tax relief plan, was pared down significantly in committee following outcry from local government leaders.
Some local governments are slowing spending as lawmakers debate property tax cuts
The bill would reduce property taxes—and therefore reduce local government revenue—by about $1.4 billion over three years, according to the bill’s fiscal plan.
Opposition brings likely end to Indiana utility siting bill, but the issue isn’t going away
A key lawmaker called the bill a response to ongoing resistance of local governments to greenlight solar, wind and other renewables projects that are necessary to support the state’s growing energy demands.
Indiana Office of Technology to offer free website hosting for local governments
For the last four years, the office has supported website hosting for a “low cost,” but announced it would be eliminating the attached price tag this week.
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.
COA rules zoning exception for treatment center must be granted, agreeing that denial was based on ‘irrational animus’
The denial of a zoning exception for a drug treatment center was based on “fear and bias” and must be reversed, the Court of Appeals of Indiana ruled Wednesday.
Justices vacate ex-trustee’s theft convictions because state didn’t prove criminal intent
Concerns about a former trustee accused of theft because she worked out-of-state during COVID should have been handled via a civil action, not a criminal action, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled, vacating the ex-trustee’s 21 theft convictions.
COA upholds preliminary injunction against construction of Carmel senior living group home
Construction of a proposed senior group home in Carmel cannot move forward after a split panel of the Court of Appeals of Indiana affirmed a preliminary injunction challenging the underlying building permit.
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.