Fiscal tug-of-war stalls Indiana voucher expansion
A plan to make vouchers more widely available to families has met a roadblock: So despite the momentum, lawmakers say they want more time to look at the voucher program approved two years ago.
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Bill to handle abandoned homes still on track
State Sen. Jim Merritt wanted to help an eastside Indianapolis church gain possession of some long-abandoned, derelict houses, tear them down and establish a park. The difficulty in doing so led to a bill that would make such improvements easier.
Change gives Rockport gasification plant better odds
Rep. Matt Ubelhor, R-Bloomfield, successfully pushed an amendment Wednesday that would shield the southern Indiana project from the review sought by the plant's opponents, who contend it could saddle ratepayers with higher bills.
Welfare recipient drug testing clears Indiana Senate
The bill would require all applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to complete a written screening test for possible drug abuse problems.
Looser superintendent rules advance on tiebreaker
A proposal to no longer require Indiana's local school superintendents to hold a state superintendent's or teacher's license passed the state Senate after Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann cast her first tie-breaking vote.
Lawmaker seeks relief for fed-up water customers
As citizens of Zionsville, residents of the Royal Run subdivision have had little recourse against the Whitestown-owned water utility that charges them 78 percent more than its customers to the north.
Senate passes new criminal sentencing rules
Supporters hope changes to sentencing laws will direct more people convicted of low-level felonies to work release and other local programs. It also would require those convicted of the most-serious crimes to spend more time in prison.
Limited school voucher expansion approved by Senate
The Senate proposal would allow siblings of students already receiving vouchers to qualify for the program, raise the value of each voucher by $200 and eliminate a one-year waiting period in public schools for students who attend "failing" schools.
House Speaker Bosma returns to podium after surgery
Brian Bosma missed all of last week’s action in the Statehouse due to a serious infection developed from an artificial knee replacement.
Indiana law change allows younger children as referees
A southern Indiana boy has successfully spurred a change in state law that will allow sports leagues to hire youngsters like him as referees.
Indiana Senate approves $30B budget, partial tax cut
The plan keeps much of the additional education spending that House Republicans added to their budget proposal in February. But the Senate package also includes a $150 million cut to personal income taxes.
School guns mandate dropped from House bill
An Indiana legislative committee has dropped a proposed requirement that all public and charter schools have a gun-carrying employee during school hours.
Plan would shift money from horse racing to auto racing
The move—debated Monday in the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee—is meant to subsidize upgrades at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and make low-interest loans available to other auto tracks and businesses across the state.
Revenue forecast could swing Pence’s tax-cut hopes
The state revenue forecast due out April 16 will influence the next two-year budget and possibly help Gov. Mike Pence sell lawmakers on his proposed 10-percent income-tax cut. Experts predict the numbers won’t be much different from those in the last forecast.
2 agency heads already leaving Pence administration
The heads of the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Administration have asked the Indiana Ethics Commission for formal opinions on whether they can accept positions in higher education.
Group, bill promote natural gas fueling stations
Natural gas advocates want to create incentives for building fueling stations across the state in hopes that more people will operate vehicles using alternative fuels.
Indiana lawmakers poised to drop school guns mandate
The chairman of the House committee currently considering the bill said he expected changes would be made before it advances, while the bill's main House sponsor signaled he wouldn't fight to keep the mandate, which was added last week.to violent attacks.
Pence slowly dropping Washingtonian defenses
Gov. Mike Pence appears to be slowly dropping some of the guard he developed after more than a dozen years working in Washington.
Indiana Senate leader opposes fenced deer hunting
The leader of the Indiana Senate says he'll kill an amendment that would allow five fenced deer-hunting preserves around the state to remain open.
Legislators approve Indiana Career Council plan
Supporters say the council should help eliminate barriers and spread information about available training programs at a time when the state's jobless rate remains above 8 percent.