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.
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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.
Black Indiana lawmakers seek reprimands after confrontations
The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus called Tuesday for lawmakers who sparked confrontations with Black legislators last week to face reprimands and for all lawmakers to undergo mandatory anti-bias training.
Indiana Senate passes bill to strip IndyGo funding, prevent rapid bus line expansion
Senate Bill 141 would withhold 10% of local income tax revenue from IndyGo until it meets a private fundraising threshold established in a 2014 law. It also would prevent IndyGo from moving forward with expansion projects, like the Blue and Purple lines, until it secures private funding.
Booing, jeering, hallway altercations mar House debate on school district boundaries bill
During the Indiana House session on Thursday, a bill concerning school district boundaries that some are calling racist sparked an emotional and angry debate in and out of the chamber.
Governor signs bill for Indiana COVID-19 lawsuit shield
Indiana businesses and others now have broad protections from lawsuits by people blaming them for contracting COVID-19 under a new state law.
Indiana voucher plan could take 1/3 of school-funding boost
Republicans tout their proposal as giving parents more choices over how to educate their children, while Democrats and other opponents argue that it further drains funding from traditional school districts.
Senate committee narrowly approves bill that strips funding from IndyGo
Senate Bill 141, authored by Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, would withhold 10% of local income tax revenue from IndyGo until it meets a private fundraising threshold established in a 2014 law.
House passes pregnancy accommodations bill that lacks requirements
House Bill 1309, authored by Rep. Karen Engleman, R-Georgetown, will allow employees to request accommodations from their employer—something pregnant workers are already permitted to do.