Indiana Legislature passes $30 billion budget
Lawmakers worked feverishly into the wee hours to hammer out agreements on the budget and other issues, including an expansion of the state's school voucher program and changes to sentencing laws.
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Anti-smoking officials say Indiana funding cuts hurt
A decision to cut state funding by 38 percent for programs that help people stop smoking and try to prevent others from starting worries those behind the state's tobacco cessation efforts.
Voucher expansion awaits governor’s signature
Indiana lawmakers have approved an expansion of the nation's broadest private school voucher program that will allow more children to be immediately eligible.
Online sales tax push dies in Indiana Legislature
An effort to require Amazon.com and some other online-only retailers to start collecting Indiana's 7-percent sales tax this summer has fallen short in the Legislature.
Bill banning secret videotaping at businesses fails
Rep. Bill Friend, R-Macy, said he withdrew the bill he sponsored at the request of Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma.
General Assembly goes late in effort to wrap us session
The Indiana General Assembly worked into the night Friday to hammer out final details on a two-year, $30 billion budget containing new tax cuts, a modest expansion of school vouchers, new oversight of the $2.8 billion Rockport coal gasification project and a series of other measures.
Overhaul of sentencing laws heading to governor
The Senate voted 34-15 on Friday in favor of the bill aimed at sending fewer nonviolent offenders to prison.
Lawmakers forge deal to help Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The plan authorizes the state to loan the Speedway $100 million—money it will borrow through bonds—to make the grandstands more accessible to people with disabilities and to install lights for night races.
Bill would delay new Indiana school standards
Indiana legislators prepared a compromise bill Thursday that would suspend implementation of a national set of reading and math education standards for a year while new state reviews are done.
FEIGENBAUM: Legislative session notable for minimal acrimony
When partisanship did rear its head—Indianapolis Democrats charged a GOP “power grab” in negotiations over changes in Marion County government structure—it was not disruptive.
Councilors poised to ban criminal-history question
Democratic City-County Councilor Vop Osili said he expects to draft a “ban the box” ordinance this spring or summer.
Budget includes tax cut, more school, road funds
Indiana taxpayers will see their personal income tax rate reduced by 5 percent over the next four years under a budget plan agreed to Thursday by lawmakers. The plan also repeals the inheritance tax retroactive to Jan. 1.
Senate cans hunting plan
A proposal aimed at legalizing five fenced deer-hunting preserves around Indiana has failed in this year’s legislative session.
Low-level felons could get less prison time under plan
Indiana lawmakers have reached a compromise that would direct more non-violent, low-level felons to work release and other local programs rather than sending them to prison.
Size of Indiana income tax cut remains undecided
Indiana's new state budget will include at least a small personal income tax cut, although legislative leaders said Wednesday they weren't certain whether it will be as large as Republican Gov. Mike Pence wants.
GOP concerns derailed Turner’s chance at powerful post
Republican lawmakers bypassed House Speaker Pro Tem Eric Turner for the chairmanship of House Ways and Means committee last year amid concerns over his potential conflicts of interest, sources say.
New lights only the beginning for Brickyard changes
Everything is on the table for consideration, says new Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles.
Mass Ave business owners split over proposed district tax
Opponents of a proposed tax to pay for improvements throughout the cultural district have accused tax advocates of rigging the proposal to ensure its passage.
More Hoosiers favor legal pot than Pence’s tax cut, poll says
A new poll of 600 voters by Howey Politics Indiana shows 39-percent approval for Gov. Mike Pence’s proposed 10-percent tax cut. But 56 percent said they favor decriminalization of marijuana.
Indiana lawmakers drawing close on remaining measures
The leaders of the Indiana General Assembly said Tuesday they will continue meeting daily with Gov. Mike Pence to hammer out a broad range of issues before the 2013 session ends.