Eliminating judges’ mandatory retirement to get hearing
A bill to eliminate mandatory retirement at age 75 for Indiana Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
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Right to hunt amendment hearing Monday
The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will hear Senate Joint Resolution 7 Monday, which looks to add to the Indiana Constitution the right to hunt and fish.
House Judiciary Committee to look at foreclosure fee, privacy issues
At Monday’s House Judiciary Committee, members will discuss three bills, including one that requires a court clerk to collect a $50 mortgage foreclosure counseling and education fee in certain cases.
Senate panel advances DCS oversight measure
A proposed commission that grew from a study committee examining problems at the Department of Child Services cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.
Lawmakers amend bill to restrict sex offenders’ access to social media
In response to a ruling by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, two Indiana lawmakers have introduced a proposal restricting sex offenders from using social media sites.
Debate over health care expansion heating up
Since hospitals are seeing cuts in Medicare, they’re asking the Indiana Legislature to enlarge the Medicaid program.
Dickson’s State of Judiciary highlights interplay of judiciary, Legislature
Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson’s first State of the Judiciary address after 27 years on the bench produced a few collegial chuckles as he offered examples of checks and balances and noted lawmakers had rewritten laws in response to at least three Supreme Court opinions in the last year.
Lawmakers discuss same-sex marriage and criminal code revisions at IU McKinney Law School
Two Republican lawmakers are backing off support for holding a second vote on the same-sex marriage amendment, advocating the Legislature take a wait-and-see approach.
Senate judiciary committee to look at abuse, DNA bills
The Senate Judiciary Committee meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday and has five bills on its agenda, including legislation that redefines child fatality committees in each county.
Probate, child seduction bills move out of committees
Several bills moved out of legislative committee this week, including one that would expand the definition of child seduction to include a mental health professional engaging in certain sexual behavior with a patient between 16 and 18 years old.
Senator files bill restricting educational credit time for sex offenders
Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, announced Wednesday that he has introduced legislation to revise the state’s education credit law for sex offenders. He said eight months ago that he would seek to change the law after a sex offender was released early after earning this type of credit.
Indiana Democrats trying to jumpstart conversation on health care
A coalition of Democratic senators and representatives gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday morning to “jumpstart the conversation” on health care exchanges and Medicaid expansion.
Democrats’ walkout leads to another ‘fines’ mess
Before the Indiana General Assembly convened Jan. 7, some unfinished business was debated in the Statehouse: whether Republican House leaders went too far in seizing fines from Democrats who walked out of the Legislature in 2011 and 2012.
Protecting students from the worst
An increased focus on school safety is expected in Indiana Legislature this session.
Round 2 for hunting and marriage amendments
Although changing the Indiana Constitution is not easy, attempts to amend are common and the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly could see two proposed amendments come to the floor for a second vote. One amendment would protect Hoosiers’ right to hunt while the other would restrict their right to marry.
Zoeller appoints Washington-based deputy AG
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has named a deputy who will monitor federal legislation and regulations in Washington that could impact the state.
House Judiciary, Senate Corrections committees to meet
The House Judiciary Committee this afternoon is conducting hearings on a pair of bills, and the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee will meet Tuesday.
Bill on habitual offender filing deadline moves out of committee
The Senate Committee on Corrections & Criminal Law voted this week to move legislation that will allow an indictment or information to be amended to include a habitual offender charge at any time before trial, as long as the amendment doesn’t prejudice the substantial rights of the defendant.
Indiana authors SCOTUS brief on legislative prayer
Indiana Solicitor General Thomas M. Fisher drafted an amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court of the United States Monday in Town of Greece, N.Y. v. Galloway, 12-696. The brief, joined by 17 other states, asks the nation’s highest court to grant cert petition and issue a ruling clarifying that prayer is permitted before legislative bodies without requiring leaders to screen prayers for sectarian references.
General Assembly begins 2013 session
The Indiana General Assembly convenes for the 2013 legislative session today with a new governor, many first-time legislators and a Republican supermajority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.