Ed Feigenbaum: State is failing to look to the future on key issues
The demise of the promising Indiana Future Caucus is unfortunate, because no one else seems destined or determined to take the lead on issues critical to Hoosiers going forward.
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Health care bills unlikely to remedy cost crisis
Republican leaders of the Indiana General Assembly and Gov. Eric Holcomb have made addressing high health care costs a top priority this year, but the bills proposed to do so are unlikely to have much direct impact.
Senate bill calls for reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers
Breastfeeding accommodations, bathroom and water breaks and lifting limitations are examples of accommodations employers would be required to make under Senate Bill 342.
Lawmakers consider bill to protect right to resell entertainment tickets
The legislation is meant to protect an individual’s right to sell or give his or her ticket to an event to someone else, should they choose to do so.
How shifting political tides ended Indiana’s ambitious school takeover effort
The State Board of Education’s decision to end the takeover confirmed the waning enthusiasm in Indiana for state oversight of failing schools. But it also revealed how much Indianapolis Public Schools has transformed in recent years.
Indiana lawmakers send surplus-spending bill to Holcomb
The bill moved through the Indiana General Assembly faster than usual. The chambers usually wait until the halfway point of the session to consider legislation that originated in the opposite chamber.
Indiana lawmakers backing tougher tobacco sales penalties
The House and Senate will need to reach agreement on a single version in the coming weeks of the legislative session.
Lawmakers push health care cost-saving, price-transparency bills forward
The measures are largely focused on ending surprise billing for patients, creating an all-payer claims database and requiring health care providers to give patients costs estimates in advance.
House panel approves bill that would prohibit utilities from shutting down coal-fired plants
The bill’s sponsor said coal mines around the nation are closing at an alarming rate, putting the reliability and stability of the electricity sector in question. Opponents say the measure would put handcuffs on Indiana utiltities, which preparing to shift to cleaner fuel sources.
Indiana House committee advances hands-free driving bill
The committee listened to about two hours of testimony, with many of the speakers telling personal stories. No one spoke against the hands-free driving measure, which is a legislative priority for Gov. Eric Holcomb.
House passes bill to prevent companies from forcing employees to be microchipped
House Bill 1143 would prohibit businesses from using the implantation of some type of tracking or identification device as a condition of employment for current or prospective workers.
Indiana House backs tougher rules for tobacco retailers
Stores across Indiana would face tougher penalties for selling tobacco products to anyone younger than 21 under a bill endorsed Tuesday by the Indiana House.
Legislator seeking end of state’s U.S. Senate primaries
Sen. James Buck of Kokomo said delegates at a state party convention would select the best Senate candidates and that eliminating primary campaigns would make running for office less costly.
FELDMAN: Legislature should pass ban on handheld cell phone use
It’s all about eyes off the road, cognitive distraction and the inability to process everything necessary on the road.
EDITORIAL: Lawmakers should pass bill to build up unemployment fund
Federal officials are worried that Indiana hasn’t built up a big enough surplus to weather the next recession.
Holcomb names new revenue commissioner
Bob Grennes has served as chief operating officer at the Department of Revenue since 2017 and has played a role in helping the department update its technology.
GOP-backed bill to make professional licensing easier faces opposition
A top legislative priority for House Republicans faced some push back this week from the very professionals lawmakers believed they would be helping with the measure.
Republicans vote down another proposal to boost teacher pay
A Democratic proposal to immediately boost Indiana teacher pay by $100 million a year by stretching out payments to a teacher pension fund was rejected Thursday by a Republican-controlled committee.
Indiana utilities would be prevented from shutting down coal-fired plants under new bill
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, comes as several large Indiana utilities are planning to shut down thousands of megawatts of coal-fired generating capacity in coming years in favor of cleaner or cheaper fuel sources.
Holcomb announces $400M Fiat-Chrysler investment, teacher pay plan in speech
According to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s prepared remarks, Fiat-Chrysler will invest $400 million in its Kokomo facility and hinted that an announcement will be made on Friday from Toyota in Princeton.