Holcomb signs bill allowing regional public defender services
Public defender reforms, including allowing public defenders in multiple counties to pool resources, were signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Gov. Eric Holcomb
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Indiana traffic fine amnesty bill approved by lawmakers
Indiana residents with suspended driver’s licenses or unpaid traffic fines will have the chance to have the fees they face cut in half by petitioning a court. An estimated 185,000 drivers could be eligible for the penalty reductions.
Bill allowing sports betting, casino moves passes General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly approved legislation Wednesday night that allows Hoosiers to place wagers on professional and college sports as soon as Sept. 1. The legislation heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb, who can sign it into law, veto it or let it become law without his signature.
Lawmakers approve $34.6B budget to wrap up session
The Indiana General Assembly has approved the state’s $34.6 billion budget for the next two years, sending it to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature days ahead of the legislative deadline.
State lawmakers pad DCS budget, hike school funding only slightly
State lawmakers are poised to increase school funding by 2.5 percent each year in a $34 billion final budget plan — just slightly more than the amount proposed last week by the Indiana Senate. Meanwhile, the Indiana Department of Child Services’ budget will jump by more than a half-billion dollars over the next two fiscal years.
Animal cruelty penalties measure heads to Holcomb’s desk
People convicted of animal cruelty could face higher penalties under a bill that’s headed to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk.
Judge strikes down legislation that blocked Bloomington annexation
A judge has ruled that 2017 state legislation inserted into the budget bill that blocked Bloomington’s attempt to annex 9,500 acres of property is unconstitutional.
Kosciusko, Wabash counties get new judges
Two attorneys in private practice have been appointed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb to fill vacancies in northern Indiana state trial courts. Christopher Kehler will serve on the new Kosciusko Superior Court, and Benjamin Vanderpool will serve on the Wabash Superior Court.
Indiana Senate approves $34.6B budget with slightly more education funding
The Indiana Senate approved its two-year, $34.6 billion state budget proposal Tuesday morning, setting up final budget negotiations between both chambers as lawmakers close out the last two weeks of this year’s General Assembly.
Lawmakers seek to add school alert system to all 92 counties
Gov. Eric Holcomb is expected to sign a bill that would allow Indiana school districts to seek state money for alert systems to warn students and staff about emergencies.
Bill to compensate those wrongly incarcerated advances
A bill that would offer wrongly convicted Hoosiers compensation for their vacated prison sentences has made steps towards finality in the Indiana Statehouse.
House OKs limits on gambling officials’ access to governor
The Indiana House has responded to a newspaper’s report on private jet flights Gov. Eric Holcomb got from a casino magnate by inserting a provision into a sweeping gambling bill to limit gambling officials’ access to Indiana’s governor.
11 to be interviewed to fill Lake County judicial vacancy
The Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission is seeking public comment on nearly a dozen candidates who have applied to fill an upcoming vacancy in Lake Superior Court. The commission will interview the candidates next month.
Holcomb signs hate crimes measure into law
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation Wednesday aimed at getting Indiana off a list of five states without a hate crimes law, saying that the state has “made progress and taken a strong stand against targeted violence.”
Howard County magistrate, other judicial aid bills advance
A bill requesting an additional magistrate judge to handle an increasing number of cases filed in Howard County was approved by the full Senate on Monday. That bill now joins several other counties’ similar requests for judicial help making their way to the governor’s desk.
Indiana Senate OKs second-trimester abortion procedure ban
The Indiana Senate has approved legislation that would largely ban a common second-trimester abortion procedure — a proposal that if signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb faces a certain challenge in federal court.
Indiana Senate votes to send controversial hate crimes bill to governor
The Indiana Senate adopted the House’s version of a bias crimes bill Tuesday afternoon, sending the legislation to Gov. Eric Holcomb despite complaints from opponents who say the bill isn’t specific enough.
Report: Holcomb got private flights from casino magnate
A newspaper reported that a casino magnate treated Gov. Eric Holcomb to two private jet flights last year and made big donations to Holcomb’s largest 2016 campaign donor while he was pushing for changes to Indiana law that would benefit his business.
Clowers appointed to Posey County bench
Travis Clowers has been appointed to the Posey Superior Court, succeeding Judge Brent Almon who retired last month. Clowers will be sworn in as judge at a later date.
Senate OKs bill banning release of details in child deaths
The Indiana Senate has unanimously approved a bill that would ban the release of details in child neglect or abuse deaths to safeguard criminal cases.