Behning drops lobbying plan that raised ethics questions
House Education Chairman Robert Behning has backed off plans to lobby in another state for a student-testing company that does business in Indiana.
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Meth bills mandating cold-pill prescriptions face tough road
Bills aiming to reduce Indiana’s methamphetamine problem by requiring prescriptions for some cold medicines probably won’t be considered in House or Senate committees this session, key lawmakers said.
Utilities favor legislation changing economics of rooftop panels
Investor-owned utilities are lobbying for a bill that would allow them to alter customers’ credits for net metering, or generating energy on-site and selling it back to the grid.
FEIGENBAUM: Lawmakers weighing overwhelming stack of bills
Many of the new House and Senate members ran on limited, simplistic campaign platforms, and—because few had seriously contested general election campaigns—they had little opportunity to educate themselves on more than a handful of big-picture matters.
Bill loosening rules on wine sales clears committee
A state legislative panel has endorsed a proposal that would allow Indiana residents to buy wine directly from a winery without first having to make an in-person visit.
INDOT officials say they need more cash to keep up
INDOT Commissioner Karl Browning said more money needs to be budgeted to prevent more of Indiana’s roads and bridges from falling into poor condition.
Key lawmaker sponsors bill to allow Sunday alcohol sales
House Public Policy Committee Chairman Tom Dermody of LaPorte has authored the bill that would allow Indiana groceries, pharmacies and liquor stores to sell alcohol on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
UPDATE: House education chairman seeks OK for lobbying
Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, formed Berkshire Education Strategies last June to represent out-of-state clients in the education field.
State senators pushing for new Indiana standardized tests
A bill sponsored by three Republican senators calls for the State Board of Education to revise Indiana's K-12 academic standards and select a nationally recognized set of exams for testing students by July 2016.
More Indiana audits planned with local government fees boost
The state auditing agency would hire about 100 more field examiners to review spending by local governments and school districts under a plan being considered by Indiana lawmakers.
Transit advocates push to increase state funding
A fund for public transportation could be debated before the House Ways and Means Committee after Rep. Randy Truitt filed a bill that would provide about $20 million more per year than Gov. Mike Pence proposed.
Lawmakers to discuss high school civics test measure
Indiana House committee members are set to discuss legislation that would require high school students to take the same test that immigrants must pass to become a U.S. citizen.
Bills filed that would allow medical marijuana in Indiana
Two Democratic lawmakers have filed bills that would allow the use of medical marijuana in Indiana, although neither measure is likely to advance in the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Indiana House bill would legalize chemical cremation
The legislation would require the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service to adopt rules for alkaline hydrolysis. The process is legal in 11 other states.
Pence’s $51M prison expansion proposal met by skepticism
The proposal comes just months after Indiana's criminal sentencing laws changed in part to reduce the need for more prison space.
Pence gubernatorial campaign raises record amount
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence raised a record $3.3 million in campaign funds last year, including nearly $2.1 million over the second half of the year, his campaign announced Friday.
Education officials’ plan for school money differs from Pence’s
Indiana Department of Education officials presented their two-year budget proposal to the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday. It includes large increases to the Non-English Speakers Fund, textbook relief funding, and tuition support.
Key lawmaker introduces bill to allow live dealers at racinos
Two of the state’s largest casinos and horse track betting facilities, Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, stand to benefit most if the proposed legislation becomes law.
Bill seeks to limit referendums to general elections
Lawmakers raised questions and community leaders testified against a bill that would require that referendums for school and government construction projects occur only during general elections every other year.
Proposal would overhaul state ethics laws after scandals
Indiana legislators would face more financial disclosure requirements and elected officials would be expressly prohibited from using state resources for political purposes under a proposed overhaul of ethics laws introduced Thursday.