Federal judge dismisses Indiana delta-8 legality lawsuit
Judge James R. Sweeney II of the U.S. District Court for Indiana’s Southern District wrote the suit is “fundamentally” a “question for consideration by Indiana’s courts.”
Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle
Articles
International immigration drove Indiana’s growth last year, not births, analysis says
The 44,144 residents added in 2024 represent Indiana’s largest one-year increase since 2008.
Braun issues orders on environmental justice, overregulation
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun made dual executive orders Wednesday—and said President Donald Trump’s timber production goals aren’t aimed at Indiana or its Hoosier National Forest.
Witnesses accuse school board candidates of ‘hiding’ political affiliations
About 40 witnesses from across the state—including more than a dozen embroiled in contentious Hamilton County elections—weighed in Wednesday on legislation that calls for upending Indiana’s nonpartisan school board system.
Call to amend congressional term limits into Constitution gains ground in Indiana
Last year, the Indiana House passed a resolution but it didn’t get a Senate hearing. This year, the Senate has jumped into the fray, passing a resolution despite bipartisan opposition.
LEAP spending nears $1B with projected budget shielded, investigation finds
The LEAP Research and Innovation District, led by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., is among the costliest economic development projects Indiana has attempted. But the agency’s structure obscures its spending and who benefits.
House approves local road fundraising measure
At the end of the 2025 fiscal year, any excess would fund fixes for dangerous at-grade railroad crossings. But in later years, the first $50 million of any surplus could go to Indianapolis-Marion County.
Indiana panel advances AG-backed immigration crackdown
The bill would also ban employers from “knowingly or intentionally” recruiting, hiring or employing people not authorized to work in the U.S.
Bill amendment seeks to block charities from operating like true casinos
The amendment begins by renaming popular “casino game nights” to “card, dice and roulette games events.”
Almost $30M spent lobbying Indiana General Assembly last year
The health care and energy industries dominated lobbying in 2024, but real estate, tobacco and other interests also were busy.
Indiana House approves bill legalizing cremation alternative
Members of Indiana’s House of Representatives approved the measure on a 70-17 vote—a far cry from its defeat on a 34-59 vote a decade ago.
Senate approves electronic pull tabs for charity gambling as House OKs immigration notice mandate
Also past the halfway point are bills on voting, water transfers and teacher pay. The House, meanwhile, pulled back on divorce and municipal election changes.
Bills reducing early-voting period, closing primaries head to Senate floor
Hoosier voters could see in-person early voting slashed under legislation moving to the Indiana Senate’s floor.
Anti-DEI bills take heat, but pass Indiana Senate committee
For four hours on Wednesday, and with tempers flaring throughout, Indiana lawmakers and plenty of constituents debated whether diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts combat or constitute discrimination.
Black Indiana lawmakers denounce governor’s anti-DEI order, budget proposal
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun last week signed an executive order replacing “diversity, equity and inclusion,” or DEI, throughout state government policies and programming with “merit, excellence and innovation,” or MEI.
Indiana lawmakers advance 15-and-under social media ban
Senate Bill 11 would require a social media operator such as Facebook or TikTok to restrict a minor from accessing the site if they did not receive “verifiable parental consent”
Indiana lawmakers contemplate slashing unemployment insurance timespan
Indiana workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own can claim unemployment insurance for up to 26 weeks under state law. Senate Bill 123 would slash that to 14 weeks.
Indiana lawmakers seek road-funding changes, hope to avoid fiscal cliff
While education dominates half of Indiana’s budget and Medicaid costs worry lawmakers, a projected transportation infrastructure funding shortfall creeps closer.
State lawmakers hint at road funding changes
In a final report, the task force found that improvements to Indiana’s road and bridge network should be paid by those who benefit from the network “in proportion to their use.”
Braun names next leader of Indiana National Guard
Gov.-elect Mike Braun touted Brig. Gen. Lawrence “Larry” Muennich’s experience in the military and as a business leader.