Indiana's new Democratic state schools superintendent would no longer oversee the private school voucher program that she has opposed under a proposal approved Tuesday by a Republican-controlled legislative committee.
Republicans sparked protests from teachers and union officials Tuesday by pushing legislation through a House committee that would bar Indiana schools from automatically deducting union dues from teacher paychecks, an issue that critics thought was off the table this year.
A pair of Republican senators argued Tuesday for the personal income tax cut that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has made his top priority, while House Republicans across the hall advanced a budget that swaps that cut for education and roads spending.
New calculations for property taxes on Indiana farmland would be delayed for a year under a proposal approved by the state Legislature.
House Republicans tossed out Gov. Mike Pence's call for a tax cut Friday, unveiling a $30 billion biennial budget that instead relies on Indiana's roughly $500 million annual surplus to restore education cuts and pay for road and bridge repairs.
The leader of the Indiana House is hesitant about the chances of an overhaul of state casino taxes and regulations aimed at helping them against growing competition from surrounding states.
The change would save the state $24 million in 2015 and another $48 million each year thereafter—all money that’s now being collected from gambling taxes and sent to cities, towns and counties.
Gov. Mike Pence is unhappy with a two-year budget proposal from House Republicans released Friday that would replace his proposed tax cut with more funding for education and roads. Pence closed his Statehouse office Friday morning for “out of office staff meetings.”
The legislature is considering a bill that would require intrastate securities offerings to file audited financials, a safeguard that caused trouble for Fair Finance investors.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will need far more money than it will get from a proposed state tax subsidy if it hopes to be in the top tier of U.S. racing venues, sports business experts said.
The Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday morning unanimously passed a bill that would capture state tax money generated at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and give it back to the track to improve the facility.
Indiana lawmakers say they hope to improve security at schools around the state by offering grants toward hiring police officers and buying safety equipment.
Options include increasing exports as opposition to coal-fired electricity generation heats up at both national and local levels.
Indiana's longtime ban on Sunday retail alcohol sales likely will continue for at least another year after a legislative committee leader said Wednesday he didn't plan on holding a vote on a bill lifting the prohibition.
Sen. Scott Schneider said he expects the Senate Education Committee to vote on a proposal to suspend implementation of the Common Core State Standards while the State Board of Education holds new hearings.
The Indiana Senate Public Health Committee is advancing a proposal to expand Medicaid using the state's health savings account plan.
The Indiana House has approved a plan to overhaul the state's specialty auto license plate system that requires all the groups with plates to sell 500 a year and undergo a financial review once a decade.
The bill would stop Indiana from using updated soil productivity figures in setting new property tax rates this year. The Legislature would consider a revised approach next year.
Nearby businesses hope upgrades to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from a proposed state taxing district would pave the way for additional offerings at the venue, including night racing.
More than 200 people are expected to attend a meeting at the Statehouse to show their support for a public referendum on mass transit funding.
