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.
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Indiana House panel shoots down bill to tighten oversight of huge farms
The panel voted 9-3 to defeat a bill that would have given the Indiana Department of Environmental Management more authority to deny permits to huge farms known as “confined feeding operations.”
Indiana House advances bill calling for tax on vaping liquids
The Indiana House has endorsed a bill to start taxing the liquids used in electronic cigarettes, but only after the proposed tax rate was cut in half.
Committee OKs bill that boosts age to buy cigarettes, e-liquids to 21
Senate Bill 425, authored by Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, would also prevent anyone under 18 from entering designated smoking areas in clubs and cigar stores.
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.
Lawmakers consider changes to allow more alcohol permits in growing communities
The omnibus alcohol bill authored by Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, would also create a special alcohol permit for a planned food hall at the Bottleworks development on Massachusetts Avenue.
Lawmakers move redistricting bill that would leave them in control of maps
Senate Bill 105, authored by Elections Chair Greg Walker, R-Columbus, would establish a series of standards lawmakers would use to redraw district lines following population reapportionment, which occurs each decade after the completion of the U.S. Census.
Counties could be required to have paper trail for voting by 2024
Senate Bill 570, authored by Columbus Republican Greg Walker, would require counties paper backups to electronic voting systems they use.
Senator decides to send child labor law bill to summer committee
A state senator accused of having a conflict of interest over a bill he filed that seeks to eliminate the state’s child labor laws has essentially withdrawn the proposal from consideration this year.
Indiana lawmakers considering tax on e-liquids
House Bill 1444 would impose a tax of 8 cents per milliliter on e-liquids. The tax could generate between $4.16 million and $7.33 million in annual revenue for the state.
Indy Eleven stadium bill appears unlikely to get Statehouse hearing
The state’s top budget-writing senator doesn’t see a reason to schedule a hearing for a bill that would help fund a proposed soccer stadium for the Indy Eleven.
Indiana Senate backs law change after school shooting
The shooting at a suburban Indianapolis middle school last year has legislators looking to change state law.
Indiana lawmaker seeks to eliminate state child labor laws
An Indiana lawmaker's efforts to eliminate the state's child labor laws have raised conflict-of-interest concerns because he employs hundreds of minors at a ski resort.
Bill to make civics test a graduation requirement advances at Statehouse
Sen. Dennis Kruse, R- Auburn, said he authored the bill to ensure high school students would better understand their government and country.
Bill would give schools voting power on redevelopment commissions
Similar measures that would have given the school representatives a voting position on redevelopment commissions have failed in the previous sessions.
UPDATE: Indiana doctor’s offspring pushing state fertility fraud law
A Senate committee went along Wednesday with the request from Republican Sen. Mike Young of Indianapolis to remove from a bill the section creating a felony charge of fertility fraud for doctors using their own sperm or eggs without the patient’s consent.
Sexual harassment bills target public official misconduct
Among the lawmakers leading the charge for harassment legislation is Democratic Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, one of the four women who say Attorney General Curtis Hill groped them at a party last March.
Indiana fiscal policy think tank finds new leader
The institute, which studies how Indiana collects and spends taxpayer money, has been without a president since late 2017.
Indiana lawmaker seeks tighter management of veterans fund
Republican Rep. Randy Frye, of Greensburg, submitted a bill Thursday that would make Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs employees ineligible for grants from the Military Family Relief Fund and would firmly cap the lifetime amount a person could receive at $2,500
Gov. Holcomb announces plan to pay off pension liability, free up money for teacher raises
On Tuesday night, Holcomb said in his State of the State speech that the state will use $150 million from its surplus to pay off a teacher pension liability that schools have been gradually paying down.