Here’s what survived the Legislature and what didn’t
Tax cuts, employer vaccine mandates and various social issues dominated the 2022 Indiana General Assembly. But a divide between Republican leadership in the House and Senate also set the tone.
Legislation
Articles
Incentive for film production breaks losing streak in Indiana Legislature
Filmmaker Angelo Pizzo, Rep. Bob Morris and lobbyist Tony Samuel explain how an underdog proposal to attract movie business became a new law.
New legislation adds incentives for Indiana film, media productions
Eligible productions could include film, television, music or digital media. State Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne) said the legislation could make Indiana a leading state for film and media production.
Senate gives final approval to Ukraine aid, huge budget bill
The Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., to strip earmarks from the legislation. Braun said they encompassed 367 pages that weighed five pounds and showed “the swamp is rising again.”
Legislature ends session by cutting income taxes, not business personal property tax
The plan would cut the income tax rate to 3.15% from 3.23% for 2023, which would amount to a $40 savings for those with $50,000 in taxable income. The tax rate would be cut further in 2025, 2027 and 2029, but only if state tax revenue grows by at least 2% in the previous budget year.
State legislators approve repealing gun permit requirement
The bill’s provisions would allow anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun in public except for reasons such as having a felony conviction, facing a restraining order from a court or having a dangerous mental illness.
Congress passes bill to shore up Postal Service, delivery
Congress mustered rare bipartisan support for the Postal Service package, dropping some of the more controversial proposals to settle on core ways to save the service and ensure its future operations.
Tax on closed-system vaping products might be reduced
The Indiana House and Senate have both approved a measure that would reduce the tax on disposable e-cigarettes from 25% of the wholesale price to 15%.
Indiana school ‘transparency’ legislation likely dead this session
Republican House Speaker Todd Huston said Thursday that even if language from House Bill 1134 is brought back in another proposal, it’s “highly unlikely” that House Republicans would be on board.
Bill would restore pension benefits to 20K Delphi retirees
The largest concentrations of affected Delphi retirees are in Michigan (5,859), Ohio (5,181) and Indiana (4,044).
Indiana lawmakers send campus free speech bill to governor
The proposal, authored by Republican Rep. Jack Jordan of Bremen, aims to codify the First Amendment and U.S. Supreme Court precedents into Indiana law, which Jordan said should guide college campus policies and ensure that free speech applies equally for all students.
Open school board meetings bill heads to Indiana governor
A bill that seeks to require public comment at school meetings advanced to the Indiana governor’s desk after lawmakers gave their final approval Wednesday.
Republicans revive bid for Indiana handgun permit repeal
The provisions would allow anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun in public except for reasons such as having a felony conviction, facing a restraining order from a court or having a dangerous mental illness.
Indiana lawmakers send trans girls sports ban to governor
Indiana lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a Republican-backed bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity.
Watered-down vaccine mandate limits clear Senate, return to House for consideration
The Indiana Senate passed a watered-down version of the House Republicans’ bill to limit employer vaccine mandates, sending it back to the House where its future is cloudy.
Indiana State Police leader blasts GOP on gun permit repeal
A proposal that could ultimately repeal Indiana’s handgun permit requirement remained alive in the Legislature on Thursday despite the objections of major law enforcement groups and officials, including the head of the State Police.
Holcomb signals some support for contentious education bills
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb told reporters that he was waiting to see the final versions of bills that would ban transgender girls from participating in K-12 girls school sports and place restrictions on teaching about racism and political issues.
Indiana transgender athlete bill on fast track to governor
If the full Senate approves the bill, which could happen as soon as Thursday, it would head to the governor for consideration. The Indiana House already passed it.
Indiana Senate panel backs bill without big tax-cut proposal
The Senate’s tax committee voted 12-1 to advance the bill to the full Senate, where Republican leaders have cited uncertainty about the economy in resisting tax cuts despite recent big growth in state tax collections.
Indiana Senate panel waters down vaccine bill, prompting businesses to support it
Lawmakers in the Senate struck language from the House GOP’s employer vaccine mandates bill that would have forced employers to accept any religious exemptions without further question.