Indiana House panel endorses ban on drivers using handheld phones
A push to combat distracted driving with a ban on driver using handheld cellphones has cleared its first hurdle toward becoming the law in Indiana.
Indiana General Assembly
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House passes bill to prevent companies from forcing employees to be microchipped
The Indiana House passed a bill Tuesday that would prevent companies from requiring their employees to be microchipped. The bill passed without a vote in opposition and moves to the state Senate.
Web Exclusive: Expungement wait period case awaits justices
After more than 10 years with a criminal record, an Elkhart man successfully petitioned to reduce his felony conviction to a misdemeanor. But when he tried to expunge the conviction two years later, he faced an unexpected setback. The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether he and others in his situation must wait longer for an expungement.
Creating collaborative communities: Rush stresses reforms
The importance of community collaboration in the criminal justice system — particularly through ongoing reform and problem-solving courts — was the key message of Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush’s 2020 State of the Judiciary address.
Bill would give undocumented Hoosiers ‘driving cards’
Under legislation introduced in the Indiana House, “driving cards” and driving card learner’s permits would be available to undocumented immigrants living in Indiana. The cards would be limited only to showing proof of driving qualifications and allowing a holder to obtain insurance.
Public forum to push for lead legislation as bills stall
With the deadline looming in the Statehouse for bills to pass through committee, the Greater Indianapolis NAACP Branch #3053 is sustaining the pressure on the Legislature to address the risks of lead poisoning in children.
Indiana lawmaker seeking end of state’s US Senate primaries
A Republican state senator is pushing for the elimination of Indiana’s primary elections for U.S. Senate and proposing that political parties select candidates at conventions.
Proposed Indiana law would limit Lake Michigan beach access
Indiana lawmakers are considering a bill that would undo a landmark Indiana Supreme Court ruling that affirmed that the shoreline of Lake Michigan is unquestionably owned by the state and held in trust for use by all residents.
7th Circuit: Birth certificates should list both mothers in same-sex marriages
Nearly three years after oral arguments, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a ruling in Indiana’s same-sex birth certificate case by following what the U.S. Supreme Court said to do — find in favor of the mothers.
Republicans vote down another Indiana teacher pay boost plan
A Democratic proposal to immediately boost Indiana teacher pay by $100 million a year by stretching out payments to a teacher pension fund was rejected Thursday by a Republican-controlled committee.
Indiana utilities would be prevented from shutting down coal-fired plants under new bill
Indianapolis Power & Light’s Harding Street station will soon shut down its last coal-powered turbine, for conversion to natural-gas-generated electricity.
Bill revamps advisory group for Indiana criminal justice reform
A bill that would remake a key component of Indiana’s criminal code overhaul sailed through the House of Representatives on Tuesday with the author saying the measure will improve the efficiency of “one of the best things” that was included in the reform of the state’s criminal and sentencing statutes.
Indiana panel backs higher fines for underaged tobacco sales
The push to toughen Indiana’s penalties on stores for selling tobacco products to underage customers is facing some questions over whether the proposed fines are too steep.
Rush highlights problem-solving courts, pretrial reform in 2020 State of the Judiciary
The importance of community collaboration in the criminal justice system was the key message of Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush’s 2020 State of the Judiciary address.
Indiana House backs abolishing all township assessor offices
The Indiana House has voted to eliminate the last remaining township assessor offices around the state.
Holcomb says again wait a year on teacher pay boost
Indiana’s governor on Tuesday outlined to state legislators how to free up tens of millions of dollars to boost teacher pay but said he didn’t want them to act on it until next year.
Indiana House backs no test scores in teacher evaluations
Schools would no longer be required to use student standardized test scores in teacher evaluations under a bill approved by the Indiana House.
Indiana House passes $291M surplus spending bill
The Indiana House has approved a spending bill that uses $291 million in surplus dollars to pay for several capital projects at higher education institutions with cash instead of issuing debt.
Special prosecutor sought in attack after bus fatality sentence
A special prosecutor should be appointed to determine whether a northern Indiana woman will be charged in an attack on a woman who had just been sentenced in a crash that killed her three children at a school bus stop, county prosecutors said. Fulton County prosecutors asked a judge in a filing Thursday to appoint a special prosecutor, saying they cannot be unbiased in deciding whether Brittany Ingle should be charged in the Dec. 18 attack on Alyssa Shepherd.
Indiana redistricting critics keeping up push for changes
Critics of how Indiana politicians dice up the state for congressional and legislative districts know they are running out of time for changing that process with the once-a-decade U.S. census less than three months away.