Indiana Senate approves sports betting, casino moves
The legislation would legalize sports wagering, let horse-track casinos add table games this year as opposed to waiting until 2021 and allow two Gary casinos to move.
Lindsey Erdody
Articles
Bill to help Indy Eleven with stadium, boost funding for CIB passes Senate
The Indiana Senate passed legislation Tuesday morning that would boost funding for Indianapolis’ Capital Improvement Board, keep the Indiana Pacers in town for at least another 25 years and provide support for a dedicated soccer stadium for the Indy Eleven.
Indiana House passes $34.6B budget along party lines
The proposed budget includes an additional $286 million per year requested by the Indiana Department of Child Services and increases K-12 spending slightly more than suggested by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Senate approves hate crimes law without specific categories of victims
Critics of the latest version of the bill have charged that it would be ineffective without listing the personal characteristics—such as race, religion and gender identity—that it covers.
Senate panel votes to legalize sports betting, move Gary casino to Terre Haute
Spectacle Entertainment—a company founded by some of the same investors that operated Centaur before it was purchased by Caesars Entertainment—is in the process of buying Gary-based Majestic Star Casino I and Majestic Star Casino. It has said it wants to move one of the casinos to the Interstate 80/94 corridor and the other to Terre Haute.
City sports, tourism board could reap extra $15M annually under amended bill
A change made to legislation designed to boost funding for the Capital Improvement Board means the quasi-governmental agency could see an additional $15 million in tax funds annually—nearly double what was initially proposed.
Lawmakers put soccer stadium funding in CIB bill—but the money comes with a huge caveat
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted for new language that unlocks funding for a new stadium but only if the Indy Eleven becomes a Major League Soccer franchise and kicks in 20 percent of the arena’s construction cost.
Business leaders say they’ll fight for changes in what is now ‘not a hate crimes bill’
The Senate amended Senate Bill 12 so it no longer specifies that crimes motivated by bias based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and other categories are eligible for stronger penalties.
Senate Republicans strip hate crimes bill of victim categories
Democrats—including several who are part of minority groups—pleaded with Republicans not to change the bill, but the amendment passed 33-16. Sen. Greg Taylor predicts the backlash “might be worse than RFRA.”
House committee advances Republicans’ $34.6B budget bill
The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee fended off amendments and objections from Democrats on Tuesday and ushered the bill to the full House for consideration.
House Republicans focus on child services, education in two-year, $34.6B budget
The spending plan includes the additional $286 million per year requested by the Indiana Department of Child Services, covers increases in Medicaid costs, and hikes K-12 spending by 2.1 percent in 2020 and 2.2 percent in 2021, which is slightly higher than the 2 percent annual increase suggested by Holcomb.
Indiana Senate committee moves bias crimes bill forward
After more than three hours of testimony and discussion on Monday morning, the Senate Public Policy Committee voted to send the bill to the full Senate for consideration.
Indy Eleven tries to win state lawmaker support for stadium project
Supporters of a proposal to build a permanent stadium for the Indy Eleven tried to make their case before key state lawmakers Thursday morning.
Small wineries want chance to self-distribute products
The number of wine wholesalers in Indiana has dwindled from hundreds to a couple of dozen. That has raised concerns for small wineries that might not produce enough wine to attract a major distributor.
Alcohol bills move to full House for consideration after changes
One of the bills would give cities and towns another way to increase the number of alcohol permits available and would create a special food hall permit meant to benefit the $300 million Bottleworks development under construction in Indianapolis.
Bill could allow one Gary casino to move anywhere in state
One of Gary’s two casino licenses could be allowed to operate at any location in Indiana under new legislation. A previous bill limited the casino move to Vigo County.
House approves bill to lift light-rail ban in central Indiana
House Bill 1365, authored by Indianapolis Democrat Justin Moed, removes the existing state law from 2014 that bans light-rail mass-transit projects in Indianapolis.
IUPUI poll finds moderate support among Hoosiers for sports betting
The poll, conducted by the Sports Innovation Institute at IUPUI along with Qualtrics, found that 46 percent of respondents say Indiana should legalize sports gambling.
Sports wagering, casino bill clears first legislative hurdle
Senate Bill 552, authored by Jasper Republican Mark Messmer and Terre Haute Republican Jon Ford, would allow the casinos in Gary to relocate, accelerate when horse-track casinos could begin offering live table games and legalize sports gambling.
Rokita lands job with Indianapolis health benefits company
Todd Rokita, who represented Indiana’s 4th district from 2010-2018 and served as secretary of state from 2002-2010, has taken a job as general counsel and vice president of external affairs for Apex Benefits.