Indiana House OKs school-safety funding as special session gets underway

A bill making an additional $5 million available for safety improvements was approved Monday morning by the Indiana House as the first major action taken during what's expected to be a one-day special session of the state General Assembly.

The measure was approved on a 96-1 vote. The House also approved a bill that made some technical changes to the state's tax code, while also offering a tax break to the asphalt industry.

The Indiana Senate is expected to vote on the bills Monday afternoon.

Gov. Eric Holcomb requested the school safety funding during the regular session. But the measure was among a handful of bills that were left in limbo as the regular session ended in March.

House Democratic leader Terry Goodin said the $5 million in safety funding is a pittance, amounting to about $7,000 per school.