Giving felons a chance to wipe their records clean
The Indiana General Assembly moving forward with expungement bill.
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Overhaul of Criminal Code approved by House
The bill rewriting Indiana’s Criminal Code gained approval of the House of Representatives Monday by an 80 to 13 vote. The measure now moves to the Senate.
IDEM’s application of new antidegradation rule raising ire
After more than 10 years of protracted and, at times, contentious debate, Indiana finalized protections for some of its most clean waters. But less than a year after taking effect, a short letter denying an antidegradation application has unleashed criticism that the state is not implementing the rule as intended.
Tracking fracking in Indiana
Recent laws provide regulations, but an effort for advance plan approval gains little traction.
Will small claims court stay or will it go?
Marion County’s busiest docket is at the center of a judge-trustee tug-of-war over location.
Legislature considers changes to prosecutors’ and judges’ retirement funds
In the House of Representatives, a bill that would change features of the Prosecuting Attorneys Retirement Fund is eligible for a third reading vote. In the Senate, a bill calling for a study of judges’ pensions is ready for second reading Monday as well.
Ban on police cell phone searches in texting-while-driving cases advances
Police would be restricted in most cases from retrieving information from cell phones and similar devices for violation of texting-while-driving laws under a measure that passed the Indiana Senate on Thursday.
Bills on magistrates; custody and visitation pass House
The Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 1041 Thursday morning 96-0. The bill addresses petitions to modify custody and visitation involving children who have been abused or neglected.
7th Circuit rejects hospital’s claims for $20M more in federal aid
Columbus Regional Hospital, which was flooded following heavy rains in southern Indiana in 2008, is not entitled to an additional $20 million in disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in addition to the $70 million it already received, the 7th Circuit concluded Wednesday.
Proposed changes would make convicted felons serve at least 75 percent of sentence
The worst-of-the-worst criminal offenders will be facing more time while low-level offenders will be given intensive probation under the new sentencing provisions included in the rewrite of the Indiana Criminal Code.
Senator’s push for constitutional convention passes committee
Senate President Pro Tem David Long’s legislative initiative calling for a convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution advanced out of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure Tuesday.
Bill restricting social media access for sex offenders passes Senate
Senate Bill 347, introduced to rectify issues brought up by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals when it struck down an existing law regulating social media use by registered sex offenders, passed the Senate Monday by a vote of 49-0.
Long’s constitutional convention legislation before committee Tuesday
Senate President Pro Tempore David Long’s resolution and two companion bills calling for states to gather to amend the U.S. Constitution to limit the commerce clause and federal taxing authority will be heard before the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure Tuesday.
Legislation on judicial nominating commission members moves to House
A bill that would require the governor to appoint nonattorney members to the Judicial Nominating Commission from a list of legislator-approved candidates passed the Senate 46-2 Thursday.
Judge-backed court staff attorney pilot program bill moves out of committee
Legislation that would create a pilot program administered by the Indiana Judicial Center to assist trial courts when preparing and writing certain motions moved out of the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code 11-0.
Senate president calling for constitutional convention to protect states’ rights
Declaring that states’ rights are being trampled and the 10th Amendment is in shambles, the leader of the Indiana Senate is calling for a “gathering of states” to amend the U.S. Constitution.
Justices decline to order mediation in walkout fines case
The Indiana Supreme Court issued an order Monday refusing to order mediation in the lawsuit filed by Democratic lawmakers after some of their pay was withheld following legislative walkouts in 2011 and 2012.
Commission for children, appellate judge retirement age legislation moving
The Indiana Senate passed on second reading Tuesday legislation that will create a commission on improving the status of children in the state. The introduced version of Senate Bill 125 was prepared by the Department of Child Services Interim Study Committee.
Bill enabling legislators to fight for immigration law in court gets hearing
State senators who are fighting to go to court to defend parts of Indiana’s immigration law – a law that Attorney General Greg Zoeller concluded could not withstand constitutional scrutiny – will hear a bill Wednesday that would give them the power to defend their measures in such cases.
Anti-meth bill and right to hunt amendment clear Senate, head to House
Two high-profile bills cleared the Indiana Senate Monday and are headed to the House of Representatives.