State lawmakers advance bill IndyGo says would kill Blue Line project
Should the bill pass the Senate chamber, it will move to the House, where Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, has indicated it has support.
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State lawmakers hear testimony on bill to repeal Mile Square tax
The majority of people who testified about the bill were against it, arguing that it would undo the work of corporate and civic leaders to boost perceptions of downtown in the aftermath of the pandemic and the 2020 protests for racial justice.
Indiana lawmakers advance bill to hold back more third graders who don’t pass reading test
Senate Bill 1 would reinforce the state’s policy of holding back students who fail the state’s reading test, while also requiring schools to identify and give remediation to those who are at risk of not passing the exam.
Indiana lawmakers seem unlikely to tackle school consolidation in 2024 session
A new statewide report is fueling discussions about consolidating Indiana’s smallest school districts, but state lawmakers continue to lack an appetite for action—at least for now.
Trying on a future career: Lawmakers look to refine apprenticeship program
Lawmakers are already looking to make changes in a law they passed a year ago meant to boost apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities.
Moving ahead too quickly with Blue Line ‘would be a mistake,’ House speaker says
House Speaker Todd Huston says legislation that would bar IndyGo from using dedicated bus lanes for the Blue Line merits consideration.
Suspended license? Indiana lawmakers commit to ‘fix’ BMV insurance verification notices
Hundreds of Hoosiers each year unknowingly have their licenses suspended after auto accidents—specifically for failing to respond to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ mailed requests for insurance verification.
House speaker wants public hearing on Mile Square tax
New legislation would repeal language included in the 2023 state budget that gave the city of Indianapolis the authority to create a special Mile Square taxing district to pay for downtown enhancements and a low-barrier homeless shelter.
What business interests will be seeking in the 2024 legislative session
Reducing health care costs, pursuing tax breaks and preparing the next generation of Hoosiers for the workforce are among the top priorities of business leaders as state lawmakers return to the Indiana Statehouse Monday for the 2024 legislative session.
Opponents of downtown tax to seek reprieve from Legislature, Bosma says
It’s unclear if lawmakers are open to rolling back the measure, which was slipped into the 2023 state budget without public input. However, the push for a change has a powerful ally in former Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma.
Indiana Chamber’s lobbying priorities include driving cards, tax cuts, child care
Members of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce laid out their agenda for the 2024 General Assembly during the business group’s annual legislative preview luncheon on Monday.
In defiance of IEDC, Tippecanoe County passes ban on large water withdrawals
The move comes as the Indiana Economic Development Corp. faces pushback for its exploration of a plan to pump massive sums of water from Wabash River aquifers for a high-tech manufacturing district in Boone County.
Sen. Todd Young to take on alumni, donor college admissions—without stepping on religious toes
U.S. Sen. Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana, and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, introduced a bill this month banning accredited institutions from offering preferential treatment to applicants with relationships to alumni or donors. The bill includes protections for faith-based institutions.
Lafayette area officials take steps to protect water supply as IEDC considers 35-mile pipeline
Two state lawmakers are drafting legislation that would create a permitting process and require a deeper public review of any effort in the state to pump 10 million gallons or more per day from a community’s aquifer. Meanwhile, the West Lafayette City Council is poised to consider a resolution Monday night opposing the IEDC’s plans.
Task force to study Indiana land use for economic growth, farmland protection
The committee will study growth trends in rural, suburban and urban communities, food security issues, factors that developers consider in siting projects and ways in which communities can overcome barriers to attract appropriate economic development.
Can new Indiana law lower drug costs? Answer is as clear as mud
Senate Enrolled Act 8 is part of a sweeping effort this year by the Indiana General Assembly to bring down the cost of health care across the state, where prices are among the highest in the country.
Indy moves ahead with pet sale restrictions, but will state lawmakers stop them?
Some state lawmakers tried and failed to pass legislation that would have prevented Indianapolis from enforcing its ordinance. But the legislator who authored the bill says he plans to try again next year.
Business scores some sizable legislative wins
Lawmakers passed bills to offer tax relief for small businesses, child care tax credits for employers, and hundreds of millions of dollars in financial incentives for economic development projects.
Holcomb signs birth-control, voter-ID legislation
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 68 bills on Monday, including a GOP-backed proposal requiring voters to submit more identification information to obtain mail-in ballots.
New state budget includes $120M for reimagined IU, Purdue presence in Indy
The spending plan includes $60 million for Indiana University to construct “school of science instructional and research building” and $60 million for Purdue to add an “academic and student success building.”