Law kicking in July 1 puts backers of $3M downtown fund on hot seat
Suddenly, Downtown Indy’s quest to create an economic improvement district in the Mile Square faces a major new obstacle.
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Lawmaker sexual harassment bill signed into law
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a law Thursday requiring Indiana lawmakers to complete at least one hour of training a year intended to prevent sexual harassment.
Governor signs four laws combating Indiana’s opioid crisis
Like many states, Indiana has been struggling to contain the opioid epidemic, which has caused the number of overdose deaths to skyrocket and has led to a surge of children in foster care.
Sunday sales, software bills become law
Here is a rundown of key issues from the 2018 legislative session, and where they stand:
Without state fix, federal tax change could cost Indiana firms $100M
Indiana businesses and individual taxpayers might have double the work (and double the cost) to calculate their taxes next year if May’s special session fails to address the problem.
UPDATE: Governor signs Indiana workforce development bills
Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed two workforce development bills on Wednesday that he believes will help Indiana tackle its shortage of trained workers. He also made personnel changes in conjunction with the new law.
Bosma, Long to donate money from special session
Democrats had challenged Republicans to donate the money after the GOP-led General Assembly failed to finish all its work before a deadline this month, forcing Gov. Eric Holcomb to call a special session.
Indiana Democrats call on GOP leaders to donate pay during special session
The move comes one day after Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered lawmakers to return to the Statehouse in May for a special session after Republican supermajorities failed to come to consensus on key bills before a March 14 deadline.
Holcomb orders special session to address school safety, tax reform
The Republican-led Legislature failed to pass several bills by the General Assembly’s deadline last week due to bickering over a few controversial bills. Gov. Eric Holcomb’s legislative agenda was caught in the middle.
Council proposes panel to study county road-funding needs
The announcement follows a unanimous City-County Council vote to approve $14.5 million in emergency funding to address potholes.
Holcomb open to special session for unfinished bills
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is leaving open the possibility of calling lawmakers back to the Statehouse after this year's legislative session left several bills unresolved.
Lawmakers OK workforce system changes, despite complaints
Lawmakers said reforming the state’s muddled workforce development system was a top priority this session. Instead, they ended up bypassing bolder proposals and approving what some say are incremental, bureaucracy-laden changes.
Legislature passes cannabidiol oil sales bill amid regulatory concerns
Even as supporters cheered the measure’s passage, some warned that the bill creates burdensome regulation and warned that the legislation could find itself in similar trouble as vaping legislation the Legislature passed two years ago that wound up creating a monopoly.
Lawmakers don’t act to waive $50M fee in Caesars/Centaur deal
Las Vegas-based Caesars is arguing the costly transfer fee should not be applied to its $1.7 billion deal to acquire Indianapolis-based Centaur Gaming and its racinos in Anderson and Shelbyville.
Manufacturers fear state workforce bill could put $50M from feds at risk
A day away from the end of the state legislative session, the Indiana Manufacturers Association is urging lawmakers to scuttle a workforce development proposal that it contends could put federal funding in jeopardy.
House, Senate agree on workforce changes, but critics say they don’t go far enough
The major change this year is to replace the existing State Workforce Innovation Council with a new board that legislative leaders hope will be smaller and more nimble.
Indiana Legislature poised to pass sexual harassment bill
The measure would require legislators to take at least one hour of training every year.
Indiana Senate backs control shift on troubled schools
The Indiana Senate has approved a bill further reducing the power of the Gary school board while allowing Ball State University to take over Muncie's schools.
Bill to lift Indianapolis-area ban on light rail goes off track
State Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, declined to call up House Bill 1080, which he sponsored in the Senate, for amendments on Monday afternoon before the Senate’s deadline.
Legislature to weather an exodus of veterans by November
Twenty of the 150 members of the Indiana General Assembly have either resigned, announced intentions to leave, or are not seeking re-election this year.