Indiana House Republicans ‘committed’ to voucher school expansion
Indiana House Republicans will seek to expand the state’s “school choice” program despite a top GOP senator’s call for more voucher school reforms.
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Prescription savings under PBMs, manufacturer rebates cause confusion
Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, were the target of state senators Wednesday as they attempt to find solutions to decrease Indiana’s elevated health care costs.
Indiana senators nix discussion on latest bill restricting classroom topics
The abrupt change in plans by the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development came after a Tuesday rally by groups opposed to such legislation.
IRS nominee: No audit boost for households under $400,000
President Joe Biden nominated Werfel to steer the Internal Revenue Service as it receives a massive funding boost—nearly $80 billion over the next 10 years through the Inflation Reduction Act, which Congress passed in August.
Legislation would require Indiana districts to share property tax revenue with charters
Proponents characterize the strategy as funding students instead of systems, while opponents argue it leaves fewer resources for students in Indiana’s traditional public schools.
Committee advances changes to Indiana carbon sequestration pilot project
The proposal seeks to advance the construction of carbon capture and sequestration projects, while also giving special privileges to a company preparing to undertake the nation’s largest carbon dioxide storage project.
Rural hospitals worry as lawmakers move to lower costs for patients
Indiana lawmakers have seized on high health care costs as a priority problem to tackle this legislative session, but rural hospitals with thin profit margins are worried—and want more help from the state.
Marijuana backers prepping for ‘inevitable’ legalization
Supporters say Indiana is missing out on a valuable opportunity by remaining one of only 13 states without a medical or adult-use cannabis program.
Critics call for audit of county fair board
Several neighbors denied entry to a Marion County Fair board meeting want city-county government to stop supplementing the private organization’s budget until the fair’s leadership agrees to an outside audit.
Anti-ESG pension bill’s high price tag a concern for governor, top lawmakers
State senators are pointing to their less-stringent alternative as House lawmakers scramble to tighten up their bill on environmental, social and governmental investment.
Senators advance ‘site of service’ bill with reservations
A bill dictating payments for certain health services based on location—or site of service—cleared an Indiana Senate health committee Wednesday, though nearly every senator voiced concerns with the bill.
Indiana lawmakers look to broaden birth control access
While Indiana’s abortion ban is on hold pending a decision from the state Supreme Court, lawmakers are looking to bolster services that would prevent those pregnancies in the first place.
IPS moving ahead with part of Rebuilding Stronger plan
Indianapolis Public Schools plans to implement only part of its massive Rebuilding Stronger overhaul after the school board failed to place an operating referendum on the upcoming May ballot.
Analysis: Anti-ESG pension bill could shrink state pension returns $6.7B in next decade
An updated fiscal analysis for the legislation shows that over the next decade, the bill, if enacted, could reduce investment returns on defined-benefit funds by $6.4 billion and defined-contribution funds by $300 million.
Tech parks could capture larger share of tax dollars
A bill that would divert some $6 million in state and local tax revenue annually to state-certified technology parks has passed the Senate and is headed to the House, where similar legislation died two years ago.
Pay-transparency trend reaches Indiana as push for equity gains momentum
Compensation has long been a taboo topic around most watercoolers, but that’s changing as more states are forcing companies to open up about their salaries.
Bill requiring public retirement system to divest from ESG-following firms advances
An Indiana House committee on Thursday approved a bill requiring the state’s public pension system to divest from and terminate business relationships with firms or funds that use non-financial environmental, social and governmental framework factors in investment decisions.
Education bills seeking to overhaul school curriculum advance in Indiana legislature
State lawmakers in House and Senate education committees collectively took up more than a dozen bills on Wednesday. Most of those measures advanced or are scheduled for committee votes next week.
Indiana’s plan to ‘reinvent high school’ moves forward
The bill would allow students to meet graduation requirements through career experience and give students state-funded scholarship accounts to spend on workforce training outside their schools.
Funding-boost bill for Indiana public health program advances
State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box, several medical organizations and business groups urged lawmakers to support the plan, pointing to Indiana’s poor national rankings in areas such as smoking, obesity and life expectancy.