Indiana lawmakers return for session of spending decisions
Indiana lawmakers return Monday to the Statehouse for the start of this year’s legislative session with a large budget surplus and a long list of big-ticket spending wishes to sort through.
Funding
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Budget has big ongoing, one-time obligations
When drafting the state’s next budget, lawmakers will need to consider the state’s ongoing commitments and one-time obligations under the cloud of a potential recession.
Legal aid receives major funding increase from Congress
Legal Services Corp., which supports legal aid organizations around the country including Indiana Legal Services, has received a $560 million appropriation from Congress — a 14.5% increase over last year’s $489 million and the largest percentage boost in funding since 1979.
Holcomb awaiting April forecast to see what state can afford in 2023-2024 budget
Republican legislative leaders have been urging caution on new spending since a new economic forecast this month predicted a mild recession next year, but Gov. Eric Holcomb remains hopeful that his legislative priorities can be funded.
House passes $1.7 trillion spending bill with Ukraine aid
A $1.7 trillion spending bill financing federal agencies through September and providing more aid to a devastated Ukraine cleared the House on Friday as lawmakers race to finish their work for the year and avoid a partial government shutdown.
Indiana Supreme Court asks for funding swap to support technology initiatives
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush outlined the judicial branch’s biennial budget request for a 7% increase in funding, highlighting the work of the court technology office and its need for a steady stream of funding.
Agency budget presentations document big needs
Requests for funding are up across the board for state agencies in their budget presentations before the State Budget Committee this week, especially for personnel, construction costs and technology services.
Indiana lawmakers return ahead of new state budget debate
Indiana lawmakers returned to the Statehouse on Tuesday, fresh off Republican election victories that maintained the party’s dominance of the Legislature and facing a possible list of expensive proposals from GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Costs pile up for abortion ban
A newly-released fiscal study of the state’s near-total abortion ban shows Indiana will need to spend almost $44 million in fiscal year 2023 to cover additional costs related to births and lawsuits.
More than $2.5M awarded to Indiana legal aid providers
Legal aid providers around the state that offer civil legal assistance to low-income Hoosiers have received a financial boost totaling more than $2.5 million from the Indiana Bar Foundation.
Hundreds of urban areas to become rural under new criteria
Hundreds of urban areas in the U.S. are becoming rural, but it’s not because people are leaving.
National legal aid agency seeking more than $1 billion in federal funding
Citing the continuing need created by the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Legal Services Corp. is asking Congress for an appropriation of $1.26 billion for fiscal year 2023.
ILAS sets ambitious goal for annual holiday fundraiser
The cards have been mailed and the team captains continue to encourage colleagues to donate as the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society moves forward with a ramped-up holiday campaign that has a goal of raising $400,000 — nearly double the record amount received in 2020.
Report shows despite increase in funding, LSC grantees not able to meet demand
A report analyzing the 2020 activities of Legal Services Corporation grantees, which includes Indiana Legal Services, shows that even as federal funding for legal aid has climbed to $440 million, the highest amount ever appropriated, the number of cases closed has slumped and more than 70% of the assistance offered is classified as “limited.”
Senate passes stopgap funding bill, avoiding shutdown
The Senate has passed a stopgap spending bill that avoids a short-term shutdown and funds the federal government through Feb. 18, after leaders defused a partisan standoff over federal vaccine mandates. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Lawmakers reach deal on spending bill, but hurdles remain
Congressional leaders reached agreement Thursday on a stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government running through mid-February, though a temporary shutdown was still possible with some Senate Republicans holding out over the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates for some workers.
Indiana to land $8.8 billion from U.S. infrastructure bill
Roughly $8.8 billion from the federal $1.2 trillion infrastructure package should head to Indiana over the next five years to improve crumbling highways, roads, bridges and more.
DOJ awards $370K to Northern Indiana District to hire officers
Funds amounting to $370,639 were granted to the Northern District of Indiana to help hire additional law enforcement officers in three cities, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana Clifford D. Johnson announced Thursday.
Muncie police awarded $375K to hire officers
Funding amounting to $375,000 has been granted to the Muncie Police Department for hiring purposes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Zachary A. Myers announced Thursday.
Indiana allocates more than $19 million to school safety
The Indiana Secured School Safety Board has approved more than $19 million in state grants, marking a third consecutive year the General Assembly has allocated funds for school safety investments.