Holcomb’s budget plan modestly boosts funding for Indiana schools
Democrats say it’s not enough, particularly in its failure to expand state-funded preschool to more counties.
Legislature
Articles
Preschool advocates urge ‘aggressive’ action from lukewarm lawmakers
Preschool advocates want the Indiana Legislature to spend $50 million a year to expand the state’s pilot program. So far, lawmakers seem cool to that idea.
State’s dubious vaping law to get big overhaul
Sen. Randy Head of Logansport said he will file a bill to “stop the monopoly” that was created by legislation passed in 2015 and amended in 2016, which essentially put one private security firm in charge of deciding which firms could manufacture the “juice” used in e-cigarettes sold in Indiana.
Holcomb calls to use $500M fund from Toll Road lease to fund entrepreneurship
Gov.-elect Eric Holcomb, who announced his legislative agenda Thursday, has roughly the same idea as Gov. Mike Pence when it comes to investing in early-stage Indiana companies, but wants to pay for the plan through a different fund.
House Republicans’ road plan includes gas-tax increase, user fees
The proposal calls to raise three taxes and implement new user fees. House Speaker Brian Bosma said he expects the plan to cost most Hoosiers about $4 per month.
Indiana lawmakers set to kick off annual legislative session
The Senate will gavel in for this year's session at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The House will gavel in Wednesday at the same time.
Critics want tighter restrictions on post-legislative work
The fact that two just-retired Indiana legislators are both already legally working for lobbying groups is leading some to question whether the state’s ethics laws are strict enough.
Indiana bill seeks to eliminate requirement for gun permits
Gun rights advocates view the upcoming legislative session as their best bet to get rid of an Indiana law that requires a license to carry handguns.
State senator proposes casino for Terre Haute
Legislation to put a casino in one, specific location would be tough to pass. Lawmakers from Gary have tried for years to move one of its riverboat casinos inland and a previous proposal to move part of Rising Sun’s gambling operations to Indianapolis found a skeptical response.
Powerful former Sen. Larry Borst dies
Borst served 36 years in the Senate representing southern Marion County and northern Johnson County. For more than three decades, he was chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the panel through which the budget and all tax legislation had to pass.
Legislature served smorgasbord of taxes, tolls, fees as road funding options
An increase in state gas taxes, tolling and a vehicle fee are among many possibilities suggested by a task force to pay for road improvements expected to cost as much as $1.2 billion annually.
State projects $435M less revenue in 2017 than previously expected
The long-term forecast was sunnier, with revenue projected to increase 2.9 percent in 2018 and 3.9 percent in 2019.
Techies team with chamber to gain clout in Legislature
Organizers of the Indiana Tech & Innovation Council say a number of factors led to its creation, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that Gov. Mike Pence signed into law in 2015.
State won’t have enough cash to fulfill wish lists
Legislative leaders have sounded alarm bells over state revenue figures, saying lawmakers will need to take a cautious approach to investing in new programs such as expanding state-funded preschool and raising teacher pay.
Workforce training in disarray, House Speaker Bosma says
Are the state’s workforce development programs a muddled, bureaucratic mess in need of reform? A top Indiana Republican thinks so.
Indiana Senate leader commits to fixing vaping law
Recent legislation has had the effect of dramatically reducing the number of players in Indiana’s vaping and e-cigarette industry and creating a monopoly for a Lafayette security firm.
Indiana GOP leaders say funding for pre-K, roads are priorities
At Tuesday’s Organization Day, Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma called for lawmakers to move past a "rough" campaign season and refocus on the priorities of state government when the Legislature convenes in early January.
Gas, cigarette tax hikes on table again as lawmakers weigh road-funding options
House Speaker Brian Bosma said Monday at the Indiana Chamber’s annual legislative preview event that he wanted funding for Indiana’s roads and bridges that would last for “a generation”—and the question now is how the Legislature will go about paying for it.
City council to get two new Republicans after members elected to higher office
Candidates already have come forward to take over Districts 24 and 25 now that Aaron Freeman and Jack Sandlin have won seats in the state senate.
Marian to capitalize on state scholarship, improve teacher training program
Marian University hopes to attract high-achieving students to its education program by sweetening the pot for those who earn a new state scholarship aimed at retaining teachers in Indiana.