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.
Local government
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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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Police ID 2 guns used by FedEx shooter, cite white supremacist websites
Police on Monday identified the two weapons used by Brandon Scott Hole when he shot and killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis late last Thursday.
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Taft builds new lobby group with Ice Miller transplants
Taft Stettinius & Hollister is making a big push into public affairs and lobbying in both Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., and has nabbed seven attorneys and nonlawyer professionals — including several big names in Indiana politics — from rival Ice Miller to do it.
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Articles
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.
Bill seeks to help local governments define decorum for public meetings
The city of Winchester in eastern Indiana has fewer than 5,000 residents but one glaring problem in the eyes of local elected officials: people purposefully disrupting government meetings and deliberately disregarding decorum.
Merrillville municipal judge loses summary judgment appeal in litigation over court’s closure
In the continued litigation over whether and when the Merrillville Town Court should be shut down, the court’s judge has lost his appeal of a summary judgment ruling in favor of the town council’s passage of an ordinance on the court’s eventual closure.
IU McKinney prof works on drug policy reform project
To Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law professor Nicolas Terry, there are a lot of opportunities available on the federal, state and local level to make significant changes in U.S. drug policy and improve people’s lives.
In 3rd appeal, COA again rules against couple operating shooting range without a permit
Returning to the Court of Appeals of Indiana for the third time, a couple operating a shooting range on their property without the proper permitting failed to find relief from an order in favor of the local planning commission.
Indy animal shelter volunteers file 1st Amendment suit, claiming shelter officials tried to stifle critical speech
The ACLU of Indiana has filed a lawsuit against the city of Indianapolis on behalf of two animal shelter volunteers who allege Indianapolis Animal Care Services’ attempts to restrain speech that was critical of the shelter violated their constitutional rights.
Judge reverses hold on Bloomington annexation lawsuit
A case dictating the outcome of whether two areas will become part of the city of Bloomington is moving to trial after a judge lifted a hold on the case Wednesday.
Prosecutor’s office, public defender agency get funding boost in 2024 Marion Co. budget
Law enforcement agencies, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and the Marion County Public Defender Agency will each receive a funding boost in 2024 after the City-County Council passed Mayor Joe Hogsett’s 2024 budget earlier this week.