Businesses applaud Legislature’s ‘wow’ initiatives
State lawmakers came through in big ways for business and manufacturing interests this year.
Barb Berggoetz / Special to IBJ
Articles
UPDATE: IndyGo escapes financial hit from Legislature, but fight is not over
The IndyGo transit system will not have to pay millions of dollars for companies to relocate utility services to make way for new rapid bus lines. That’s because the state senator who proposed the requirement dropped it.
No clear path ahead for large-scale wind, solar projects
Much-debated legislation to boost wind and solar farms in Indiana was thwarted during this legislative session, but a key state lawmaker said Thursday he hopes to revive the issue next year to help meet the growing need for renewable energy.
Lawmakers OK bill to allow local officials to overrule county health departments
With strong support from Republican lawmakers, Senate Bill 5 was characterized by them as a way to inject a system of “checks and balances” into the process of imposing restrictions on citizens and businesses during public health emergencies.
Flush with cash, Indiana leaders boost spending for education, construction
Gov. Eric Holcomb and Republican legislative leaders revealed a revised state two-year budget Tuesday that invests a historic $1.9 billion in additional funding for K-12 education and provides a healthy boost in economic grants and building projects.
Gov. Holcomb signs bill expanding aid to small businesses hurt by pandemic
The program will provide grants of $10,000 per month to small businesses, with a maximum award of $50,000. The funding could reimburse businesses for up to 80% of non-payroll expenses and 100% of payroll expenses between March 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021.
New IU president promises focus on diversity, students and faculty
In her current post as president at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, Pam Whitten appointed a task force to address racial challenges and opportunities on campus and created the Radow Institute for Social Equity to find solutions for dealing with social justice and inequity issues.
UPDATE: GOP lawmakers override governor’s veto of bill that weakens his emergency powers
The Indiana House and Senate voted to override GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto of a bill giving legislators more authority to intervene during emergencies declared by the governor. The conflict ultimately may be decided in court.
IndyGo battling another potential financial hit from GOP as Legislature winds down
A Republican senator won initial approval this week for an amendment that would require IndyGo to pay public utilities to relocate utility services to make way for new transit lines, a move that Democrats say goes against standard practice.
Bill to ease approval of wind, solar farms flops, but debate rages on
A strong coalition of renewable energy developers, major businesses and manufacturers could not muster enough support in the Indiana Senate on Tuesday to pass a bill that would have shifted some local control over the siting of wind and solar farms to the state.
Indiana Senate ditches cigarette tax hike, proposes tax on vaping
The House version of the budget, which passed in late February, included a cigarette tax increase of 50 cents per pack—and even that wasn’t nearly as much as tax advocates had hoped for.
Bill that could strip funding from IndyGo hits roadblock in House
Rep. Jim Pressel, who chairs the House Roads and Transportation Committee, will not schedule the measure for a vote by Thursday’s deadline, his spokesman said Wednesday, effectively killing the bill, which has already passed the Senate.
Indiana House OKs bills to give local officials, churches more say over public health restrictions
Under one proposal, county commissioners or city councils would be allowed to approve or reject restrictions called for by local health departments, if those restrictions were more stringent than the governor’s.
Legislature’s approval of emergency session bill puts it on collision course with governor
Gov. Eric Holcomb will now get the chance to follow through on his pledge to veto a bill that would give state lawmakers the power to call themselves into session during public emergencies. The measure ultimately may be challenged in court as unconstitutional.