Indiana’s governor would begin appointing the state schools superintendent in 2021 instead of 2025, under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by the House Education Committee. Voters traditionally have elected the superintendent.
New proposals stem from recommendations made by education officials, including potential solutions to low test scores and graduation rates, a lack of student and parent participation, and the need to improve their oversight.
Republican Rep. Randy Frye, of Greensburg, submitted a bill Thursday that would make Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs employees ineligible for grants from the Military Family Relief Fund and would firmly cap the lifetime amount a person could receive at $2,500
On Tuesday night, Holcomb said in his State of the State speech that the state will use $150 million from its surplus to pay off a teacher pension liability that schools have been gradually paying down.
A bill filed by Senate Appropriations Chairman Ryan Mishler would extend the life of multiple tourism- and entertainment-related taxes that help fund the Capital Improvement Board and expand the footprint of what’s known as the Professional Sports Development Area to capture even more tax revenue for the CIB. But there’s a catch.
The Republican governor did not take a position on an Indy Eleven plan to have state and local taxpayers fund a new stadium, but he said officials always need to embrace the future.
The bill would allow for higher prize payouts and more not-for-profits to offer charity gaming.
An Indiana legislator who says she was groped at a bar by state Attorney General Curtis Hill wants to make it easier to remove some state officeholders from their positions.
Holcomb announced in September that fees along the 157-mile toll road would increase by 35 percent for heavy vehicles and that the state would in turn reap $1 billion to spend on new infrastructure projects.
Several lawmakers, lobbyists and state officials are pushing for sweeping changes to the state’s tourism bureau.
A Republican bill calling on districts to raise teacher pay by making other budget cuts passed an Indiana House of Representatives education committee vote Wednesday, despite sharp criticism from school officials and education advocates.
The Indiana General Assembly is likely to consider a proposal that would allow Gary’s two casino licenses to be relocated this year—one would stay in Gary, while the other could move to another city in the state.
Indiana Forward, a group pushing for hate crimes legislation, said the law must include a comprehensive list of protected classes.
The goal for school districts would be to use 85 percent or more of their state funding for instruction-related costs, such as teacher salaries.
The Legislative Council voted in November to recommend the Indiana General Assembly adopt the new policy, which adds a definition of sexual harassment to the ethical standards for lawmakers.
The priorities for Indiana House Republicans this year align with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s agenda, except for one significant issue that did not make the list: a hate crimes bill.
IBJ reporter Lindsey Erdody talks with host Mason King about the sports gambling legislation that will be considered in the Indiana House and Senate this year, including the many details that could complicate passage.
Indiana officials have approved new rules to rein in a state agency that awarded grants intended for struggling veterans to its own employees.
The state GOP said Holcomb ended 2018 with more campaign cash in the bank that any previous second-year governor.
Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, who introduced the bill, said the measure does not list specific protected classes because “we wanted every bias to be included that you can think of.”
