Dr. Kristina Box retiring as commissioner of Indiana Department of Health
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Friday named a successor for Box, who became a high-profile figure in Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Government
Articles
Indiana gas tax set to rise again this summer
The annual increase was set to expire in 2024, but it was extended until 2027 with a little-discussed provision included in the state budget bill.
Indiana elections chief criticized for CPAC Hungary trip
Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales’ office said his trip to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Hungary on Thursday and Friday didn’t disrupt any election-related actions by the office.
IBJ Podcast: The biggest questions dogging the bills passed by the Indiana Legislature
Statehouse reporters Peter Blanchard of IBJ and Casey Smith of the Indiana Capital Chronicle talk about what the Legislature did this session and the work that remains for some of those laws to be implemented.
Business scores some sizable legislative wins
Lawmakers passed bills to offer tax relief for small businesses, child care tax credits for employers, and hundreds of millions of dollars in financial incentives for economic development projects.
After passing gas tax increase, lawmakers to tackle long-term road funding
Officially dubbed the “Funding Indiana’s Roads for a Stronger, Safer Tomorrow Task Force,” the body is charged with creating plans for both state and local road and bridge needs. A report is due to the legislature by Jan. 1, 2024.
How a contested GOP gubernatorial primary could help Democrat Jennifer McCormick
Jennifer McCormick, for now the presumptive favorite for the Democratic nomination for governor, could hoard cash while Republicans spend big money to try and win a contested three-way primary election next year.
Holcomb signs 91 more bills, finishes session without veto
Thursday’s final batch included the new two-year $44 billion state budget that includes a broad expansion of the private school voucher program.
UPDATE: McCormick faces uphill battle in race for Indiana governor
Jennifer McCormick, the former Republican state superintendent of public instruction who switched to the Democratic Party in 2021, has a long road ahead of her in a deeply red state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2012.
No cost-of-living boost or 13th check for Indiana retirees
Despite billions in state reserves, fixed income retirees who are part of the Indiana public pension program won’t be getting a bonus benefit from the legislature this year.
Department of Child Services director stepping down; successor named
Terry Stigdon plans to step down at the end of the week, the governor announced Monday. Under Stigdon’s leadership, the number of children in foster care has decreased by more than half since 2017.
Libertarian Donald Rainwater announces 2024 gubernatorial run
Rainwater netted a historic percentage of the vote in the 2020 gubernatorial election as a third-party candidate.
The big wins—and some losses—of Indiana’s 2023 legislative session
Of the 1,154 bills filed, Indiana lawmakers approved 252 of those in the 2023 legislative session, with many still waiting for a final signature from the governor. Here’s a recap.
Holcomb appoints new DWD commissioner
Richard Paulk succeeds David Adams, who is stepping down after less than a year as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Indiana legislature backtracks, offers some property-tax relief
House lawmakers resuscitated several provisions meant to help homeowners struggling with high tax bills—after Senators removed them earlier this month—in a finalized compromise bill.
Priority health care bills divide Indiana Republicans
From pharmacy rebate managers to hospital price caps to public health, legislators struggled to reach consensus about how to push down prices and save Hoosiers money.
State lawmakers pass bill that stops Indy’s ‘no-turn-on-red’ proposal
A Republican state legislator and former Indianapolis City-County Council member is on the verge of thwarting an attempt by Indianapolis lawmakers to install no-turn-on-red signs at nearly 200 downtown intersections.
Indiana school library materials bill revived in committee
Indiana lawmakers on Wednesday added controversial language to a House bill that would remove a legal defense for school libraries if their educators are accused of offering library books deemed harmful to students.
Governor, other top elected officials see large pay raises in budget
Under the addition, the state governor’s salary would be equal to that of an Indiana Supreme Court Justice—starting with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s successor, who would see a salary increase of 48%.
Indiana lawmakers sends teacher gun training bill to governor
The bill that would create a state-funded handgun training program available for teachers, something critics have said could wrongly increase the number of guns in schools.