Indiana launches $100M push for broadband to rural areas
Gov. Eric Holcomb said the Next Level Broadband program will bridge the digital divide, giving more rural Hoosiers access to the internet for business or personal uses.
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IBJ Podcast: Hate crimes, gambling, teacher pay at the Legislature’s halfway point
IBJ’s Lindsey Erdody, The Journal Gazette’s Niki Kelly and TheStatehouseFile.com columnist Mary Beth Schneider talk about which issues are moving forward and which ones are fading away.
Bill to tighten management of Indiana veterans fund advances
The measure comes after revelations that a state agency awarded some grants for struggling veterans to its own employees.
Senate approves hate crimes law without specific categories of victims
Critics of the latest version of the bill have charged that it would be ineffective without listing the personal characteristics—such as race, religion and gender identity—that it covers.
Senate panel votes to legalize sports betting, move Gary casino to Terre Haute
Spectacle Entertainment—a company founded by some of the same investors that operated Centaur before it was purchased by Caesars Entertainment—is in the process of buying Gary-based Majestic Star Casino I and Majestic Star Casino. It has said it wants to move one of the casinos to the Interstate 80/94 corridor and the other to Terre Haute.
City sports, tourism board could reap extra $15M annually under amended bill
A change made to legislation designed to boost funding for the Capital Improvement Board means the quasi-governmental agency could see an additional $15 million in tax funds annually—nearly double what was initially proposed.
With House plan that adds money for vulnerable kids, all Indianapolis districts would gain
Even though some districts are projected to lose students, they would still get more state money because of changes to Indiana’s funding formula that add funds for vulnerable students and because lawmakers put more money in the budget overall.
Business leaders say they’ll fight for changes in what is now ‘not a hate crimes bill’
The Senate amended Senate Bill 12 so it no longer specifies that crimes motivated by bias based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and other categories are eligible for stronger penalties.
House committee advances Republicans’ $34.6B budget bill
The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee fended off amendments and objections from Democrats on Tuesday and ushered the bill to the full House for consideration.
Lawmakers move to eliminate ‘growth-only’ grades for all schools, not just those in IPS
The more generous scale has boosted IPS’ performance as it launches a new strategy of partnering with charter operators, by allowing some innovation network schools to earn high marks despite overall low test scores.
House Republicans focus on child services, education in two-year, $34.6B budget
The spending plan includes the additional $286 million per year requested by the Indiana Department of Child Services, covers increases in Medicaid costs, and hikes K-12 spending by 2.1 percent in 2020 and 2.2 percent in 2021, which is slightly higher than the 2 percent annual increase suggested by Holcomb.
Indiana Senate committee moves bias crimes bill forward
After more than three hours of testimony and discussion on Monday morning, the Senate Public Policy Committee voted to send the bill to the full Senate for consideration.
Indiana House panel shoots down bill to tighten oversight of huge farms
The panel voted 9-3 to defeat a bill that would have given the Indiana Department of Environmental Management more authority to deny permits to huge farms known as “confined feeding operations.”
Impeachment investigation sought of Indiana attorney general
Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, said he submitted the request Thursday asking that the House Judiciary Committee investigate Hill's conduct and whether he should remain in office.
Indy Eleven tries to win state lawmaker support for stadium project
Supporters of a proposal to build a permanent stadium for the Indy Eleven tried to make their case before key state lawmakers Thursday morning.
Alcohol bills move to full House for consideration after changes
One of the bills would give cities and towns another way to increase the number of alcohol permits available and would create a special food hall permit meant to benefit the $300 million Bottleworks development under construction in Indianapolis.
FEIGENBAUM: Debates about major issues remain behind closed doors
While you’re still waiting on some indication as to the fate—or even direction—of the key items on the legislative agenda, lots has been happening beneath the surface on most of them.
Bill could allow one Gary casino to move anywhere in state
One of Gary’s two casino licenses could be allowed to operate at any location in Indiana under new legislation. A previous bill limited the casino move to Vigo County.
House approves bill to lift light-rail ban in central Indiana
House Bill 1365, authored by Indianapolis Democrat Justin Moed, removes the existing state law from 2014 that bans light-rail mass-transit projects in Indianapolis.
Indiana House advances bill calling for tax on vaping liquids
The Indiana House has endorsed a bill to start taxing the liquids used in electronic cigarettes, but only after the proposed tax rate was cut in half.