Pence acts to shorten ISTEP, but may lack authority to do it
The governor said he expects state Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz to fully cooperate with the effort, although he acknowledged he can’t force her to do so.
The Statehouse File
Articles
Obama pitches free community college plan at Ivy Tech
President Barack Obama pitched his plan for two free years of community college to a raucous crowd of students and Democratic officials during a Friday stop on Ivy Tech Community College’s campus.
House backs off Pence plan to cut higher ed tax credit
The Indiana House is dropping one unpopular part of Gov. Mike Pence’s proposed tax overhaul – and another key section that would help some businesses is in jeopardy.
House, Senate continue push to revamp education governance
Majority Republicans in the House and Senate are pushing forward with bills to revamp the Indiana Board of Education and strip power from the state superintendent even as Democrats complain the GOP is only playing politics.
Tax ‘simplification’ bill raises numerous questions
Indiana lawmakers are considering legislation that would eliminate $21 million in annual tax cuts for businesses and individuals, bolster a break for the working poor, and expand a sales tax exemption for businesses.
Court costs could increase to pay for more technology
Court fees to pay for new technology would rise at least 80 percent if legislation passed by the Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee on Wednesday becomes law.
Pence tells Congress states need more education control
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence told a Congressional committee on Wednesday that the federal government should give states more flexibility to work on education.
Bill requiring insurance for shared ride services passes House
A bill that would make insurance coverage mandatory for passengers who use ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft passed the Indiana House on Tuesday and moved to the full Senate.
Statehouse roundup: Bills tackle audits, religious hiring, massage therapy, divorce waiting times
Lawmakers on Monday advanced or considered legislation regarding religious hiring decisions, massage therapy, divorce waiting times, audit frequency, death benefits for EMS workers and how to treat school board members convicted of felonies.
Bill to revamp State Board of Education advances
Tensions continued to flare Monday as the Senate Rules Committee debated and then passed legislation to alter the composition of the Indiana State Board of Education and demote the superintendent as its chair.
Bill would treat massage therapists as health care providers
A bill that would impose stricter regulations on massage therapists passed the Indiana House Public Health Committee on Monday.
Hotly debated bill to regulate e-cigarette liquid advances
A large group came to protest Senate Bill 539, authored by Sen. Carlin Yoder, R-Middlebury, which would establish regulations on e-liquid – the fluid used in electronic cigarettes.
Measure seeks in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants
A bill that passed a Senate committee Thursday would allow undocumented immigrant students living in Indiana to pay in-state tuition.
Pence calls off controversial news service site
Gov. Mike Pence has canceled plans for a controversial website called JustIN that his office originally said would act as a news service.
Department of Correction seeks prison expansions
The Indiana Department of Correction presented a budget proposal to the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday that included about $50 million in additional funds to expand two of the state’s prisons.
UPDATE: Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 gets federal approval
Federal officials have approved Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s plan to provide health insurance to lower-income Hoosiers, despite provisions that require some participants to pay part of the premium.
Bill would let companies dock paychecks for more reasons
A bill that would let companies pull money out of employee paychecks for uniforms, education and other expenses could receive a vote next week in the House Judiciary Committee.
BMV moves license plate production away from prisons
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles has entered into a $72 million contract with Intellectual Technology Inc. to produce and distribute the state’s license plates and vehicle registrations until the end of 2019.
State redistricting issue headed to a study committee
House Bill 1032 would create a redistricting commission to hold hearings, take public comment and recommend plans to redraw legislative and congressional districts. But leaders plan to send the issue to a study committee first.
Behning drops lobbying plan that raised ethics questions
House Education Chairman Robert Behning has backed off plans to lobby in another state for a student-testing company that does business in Indiana.