Holcomb names Indiana Rep. Holli Sullivan as secretary of state
Sullivan will replace outgoing Secretary of State Connie Lawson, who announced in February that she would be retiring after 32 years in public service.
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State lawmakers ignore Holcomb’s wishes
Gov. Eric Holcomb is not having much luck getting what he wants from the General Assembly this year, even though both chambers are overwhelmingly dominated by his Republican Party.
Holcomb administration disagrees with lawmakers on how to handle emergency powers
During the occasionally tense hearing on House Bill 1123, a slew of officials from Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration tried to convince lawmakers that the governor’s ability to make quick decisions has been key to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
States drawing up big wish lists for the COVID relief money
Since most state budgets are not in the tailspins that many feared last spring, states can use their share of the money to go way beyond balancing the books and dealing with the direct costs of the coronavirus pandemic.
Indiana attorney general continues business advisory roles
Attorney General Todd Rokita is being paid by private businesses for consulting work, including $25,000 a year for advising a Connecticut-based pharmaceutical company, according to a newspaper report.
Fishers used-car dealer agrees to state settlement over sales practices
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said the dealer sold cars online in a way that led consumers to believe the seller was a private owner. For its part, the dealer said it was a one-time occurrence.
Indianapolis, Marion County expected to get $424M from latest relief bill
The funding is part of an overall $1.9 trillion bill that could send as much as $5.87 billion to the state, including roughly $237 million to Indianapolis and another $187 million to Marion County.
School boards push back against Indiana voucher expansions
At least 65 public school boards have passed formal resolutions against the proposed legislation through a campaign organized by the Indiana School Boards Association.
Culinary arts, cosmetology programs in jeopardy in Indiana House budget
The funding would instead go to courses in areas that are typically higher paying, such as nursing, biomedical science and welding. But critics say eliminating popular programs would narrow students’ options.
Music production bill a beat away from passing Indiana House
Indiana would join 32 other states, including bordering states like Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky, in having a music production incentive program if the bill passes.
Indiana police reform bill sails through Senate committee
House Bill 1006 includes provisions for mandatory de-escalation training, misdemeanor penalties for officers who turn off body cameras with intent to conceal, and bans on chokeholds in certain circumstances.
Lawmakers weigh freezing property assessments after successful appeals
Indiana lawmakers are considering legislation that would freeze property tax assessments for four years when a property owner wins an appeal.
State launches digital ad campaign to leverage exposure during NCAA tourney
To take advantage the national attention on Indiana as it hosts the entire NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the state has enlisted some famous Hoosiers and some up-and-coming residents for a campaign to show why Indiana is a great place to live, work, study and play.
Indiana governor gets virus shot at state’s first mass clinic
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb sat wearing a face mask in the front passenger seat of an SUV while getting the shot in his right arm of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine being given during the drive-through clinic.
Holcomb joins 21 governors in opposing state-allocation formula in stimulus package
The governors issued a statement criticizing President Joe Biden’s plan to allocate most of the aid to states based on the unemployment rate, rather than total population. Indiana would receive $881 million more if previous allocation methods were used.
State seeks to regulate pharmacy benefit managers
Three bills advancing through the Indiana General Assembly would provide tighter regulation of pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs).
Finding consensus, struggling with conflict at legislative halfway mark
General Assembly has avoided COVID outbreak, but debated the budget and gubernatorial powers as tempers flared over racial issues.
Holcomb extends county-by-county restrictions amid improving COVID-19 conditions
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order outlining pandemic-related capacity restrictions based on a county-by-county system will continue through March, as will the public health emergency.
Indiana Senate moves bills aimed at law enforcement control
Indiana senators advanced measures Tuesday that would allow police to determine what use of force is reasonable in some cases and would allow the state’s attorney general to appoint special prosecutors to handle criminal cases local authorities decide not to pursue.
Senate OKs bill to limit governor’s emergency orders to 60 days
Republican legislative leaders have generally praised Gov. Erric Holcomb’s handling of the pandemic, but they also say lawmakers should be able to provide input in the decisions when an emergency continues for an extended period of time.