Campaign pledges to raise teacher pay face uncertain future at Statehouse
Campaign promises to raise teacher pay are facing an uncertain future on the floor of the Indiana Statehouse.
Indiana General Assembly
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Prominent Republicans back ‘safe and regulated’ marijuana legalization group
A Republican-backed group pushing Indiana’s lawmakers to “adopt safe and regulated” marijuana policies launched on Wednesday.
Indiana’s HIV criminalization laws are ‘outdated,’ report says
Indiana laws criminalizing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission are “outdated” and largely unnecessary, asserts a report from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.
Tutoring programs funded by feds face uncertain future in Indiana
The Indiana Department of Education has indicated it would evaluate the academic impact of tutoring programs such as summer labs and learning grants as it seeks state, philanthropic, and existing funds to sustain and expand the programs.
Tax collections lag, bringing revenues below projections
Indiana’s revenues are down as tax collections continue to lag behind estimates, according to November’s state revenue report. Projections are based on analysis from December 2023 and due for an update next month.
Statehouse leaders plan to prioritize balanced budget over policy overhauls
Indiana Statehouse leaders said Monday that their legislative economic and business priorities during the upcoming General Assembly will be fixed on the budget.
Indiana Senate Democrats retain leader despite sexual harassment allegations
The Indiana Senate Democratic caucus on Monday reelected its leader, Sen. Greg Taylor of Indianapolis — just hours after the Indianapolis Star reported three woman have accused Taylor of sexual harassment.
State’s courts seek additional $12M over next two years for improved security, technology
One proposal would fund a jail management system that would help simplify jail placements and releases that are now run on about 20 different systems and can lead to communication breakdowns.
Democrat spending on legislative races pales in comparison to Republicans
Republicans are pouring financial resources into a handful of legislative races around the state, recognizing potentially tight margins with an aim to protect the party’s supermajority hold in the General Assembly.
More moms are serving as Indiana legislators — but far fewer than should be, new report says
The number of Indiana lawmakers who are also moms of minor-aged children has boosted significantly since 2022, but family and women’s advocates maintain there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
Lawmakers scrutinize “black box of state PBM spending”
A review of five years of data from the state’s major pharmacy benefit managers cataloged more than 63 million claims and nearly $6.7 billion paid to the entities across state-sponsored plans — including Medicaid and the health plan for state employees, according to an analysis presented before lawmakers on Tuesday.
State panel recommends judicial reallocation from low- to high-need counties
Some Indiana counties have more than double the judicial officers needed to handle court cases, while others are understaffed, according to the state’s most recent weighted caseload report.
FSSA provides update on growing waitlist, hears about provider issues under managed care
Two committees tasked with studying and addressing issues related to aging met Thursday, concluding that Medicaid waitlist progress was “barely treading water” and dissecting ongoing provider issues with the transition to managed care.
Hogsett prepares to again seek changes to state road-funding formula
Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration again will ask the Legislature next year to change the state’s road-funding formula so it stops favoring rural areas over Indianapolis and other densely populated cities.
Committee working to identify defunct government boards, commissions and councils
In less than 45 minutes, a dozen committee members swiftly moved through a Wednesday agenda analyzing nine Indiana government commissions to determine whether the boards still existed functionally or only on paper.
FSSA exploring narrow relief options for Hoosiers on Medicaid waitlists
Responding to pressure, state officials are considering whether or not they can tap into a pool of federal dollars to provide relief for a narrow subset of Hoosiers on Medicaid waiver waitlists. Indiana Medicaid Director Cora Steinmetz described the process during a two-hour Medicaid Oversight Committee Tuesday alongside updates on various Medicaid initiatives.
Hoosier HIV anti-donation law used 18 times since 2000, report says
Since 2000, Indiana has arrested 18 Hoosiers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on charges of donating plasma, according to a report released this week. None were charged under provisions penalizing actual transmission.
State Budget Committee members say details about MLS investor group not necessary
Two members of the Indiana State Budget Committee said this week they don’t need a would-be investor group for a Major League Soccer franchise in Indianapolis to unveil itself ahead of the Hogsett administration’s anticipated request for stadium funding from the board.
After legislative changes earlier this year, what’s next for Indy’s downtown tax district?
Although Majority Republicans in the Indiana Legislature didn’t kill a taxing district meant to help the city of Indianapolis and the not-for-profit Downtown Indy Inc. enhance public safety, beautification and homeless services downtown, the changes they made to the law that authorized it have sent local architects of the district back to the drawing board.
Guidance updated on new literacy training mandate following criticism from Indiana teachers
In response to widespread pushback from Hoosier educators, state officials have issued new guidance — with more “flexibility” — on a new literacy licensure requirement that was adopted by the General Assembly earlier this year.