Study panel urges new courts, magistrate judges in 6 counties
A legislative study committee has given a favorable recommendation to the Indiana General Assembly to add new judicial resources in six counties.
Indiana General Assembly
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Marion County files first charge of drug dealing resulting in death
For the first time in Marion County, a suspected drug dealer has been charged under a new law criminalizing dealing that leads to a drug user’s death.
Indiana lawmakers pushed to adopt e-cigarette liquids tax
Indiana needs state taxes to discourage the use of electronic cigarettes as vaping becomes more popular and is increasingly blamed in illnesses and deaths, the state’s main physicians organization and other health advocates said Tuesday.
Halt of simple pot prosecutions gets mixed reaction
Reactions have been mixed to the recent announcement that the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will no longer prosecute cases of simple possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced the new policy Sept. 30.
Reconstituted probate code commission goes to work
When the Probate Code Study Commission convened for its first meeting Aug. 12, it marked the return of a process meant to help Indiana legislators understand the often complex and intertwined issues regarding wills, estates, trusts, guardianships and other probate matters.
IndyBar: Win Tickets to the 2019 BGD LegCon!
The IndyBar Government Practice Section is pleased to offer two tickets to Bingham Greenebaum Doll’s 28th annual Legislative Conference (LegCon) to section members. LegCon will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Indiana Convention Center.
Stakeholders praise pretrial reforms at statewide summit
Across Indiana, 44 local jails are currently at capacity. But if half of all pretrial detainees were released, that number would fall to 11. A key lawmaker used that statistic Friday to demonstrate the possible benefits in Indiana’s efforts to release low-level, low-risk offenders as an alternative to cash bail.
Lawmakers study highway work zone cameras to slow speeders
Some Indiana lawmakers want to authorize the installation of work zone speed cameras along the state’s highways to photograph speeding cars and fine lead-footed motorists.
Legislative study committee hears juvenile offender concerns
Numerous stakeholders offered input and answers Thursday during a legislative committee meeting addressing laws and policies concerning the adjudication and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
Judge hearing suit over Indiana’s religious objections law
Conservative religious groups are arguing their constitutional rights were violated by limits that were placed on Indiana’s contentious religious objections law signed in 2015 by then-Gov. Mike Pence.
Mobile sports betting to debut in Indiana on Thursday
Sports betting is ready to go legally online in Indiana on Thursday, a little more than a month after the state’s casinos started taking game wagers.
Indy mayoral candidates want state law to better protect tenants
The major party candidates for Indianapolis mayor say they want to see changes in the state’s eviction laws that could help prevent some people from becoming homeless.
Reversal: Appeals court strips charter schools of $8.5M tuition judgment
Several Indiana charter schools couldn’t convince an Indiana Court of Appeals panel that they are entitled to a semester’s worth of tuition support funding, as a trial court had ruled.
State lawmaker accused of defamation, slander
A former candidate for Marion County Sheriff is accusing a state lawmaker of defamation and slander for comments the legislator made in a committee hearing earlier this year.
Federal court blocks Indiana law banning smokable hemp
Indiana’s law criminalizing smokable hemp has been snuffed out, at least temporarily, by a federal court, which found the proponents of hemp made convincing arguments that the federal farm bill of 2018, expanding the definition of hemp and removing the plant from the federal schedule of controlled substances, pre-empted the state statute.
Indiana, Illinois AGs investigate after fetal remains found
Indiana’s attorney general said Monday he will work with his Illinois counterpart to investigate what he called the “grisly discovery” of more than 2,000 medically preserved fetal remains at the Illinois home of a late doctor who performed abortions in Indiana. Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill said he and Democratic Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul have “agreed to work together” as Hill’s office coordinates an investigation of the remains found at the home of Dr. Ulrich Klopfer, who died Sept. 3.
Justices: Amended statute retroactively applies in eminent domain action
Indiana Supreme Court justices have determined that an amended statute dealing with ownership transfer in instances of eminent domain may be applied retroactively.
Charter schools, state face off in tuition dispute before appellate panel
A panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals heard arguments Monday between numerous Indiana charter schools and the state regarding several million dollars in unpaid tuition the schools say was not provided to cover costs for students.
Cass County Council member picked for Indiana Senate seat
A county council member has been picked as the new state senator for a northern Indiana district, replacing departing Sen. Randy Head.
Indiana takes steps to improve water sustainability
Hoosier lawmakers, utilities and water policy lawyers in recent years have begun to look more closely at supply and demand. Legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2019, for example, ties certain funding sources to evidence of effective water study and communication. Meanwhile, some of the state’s biggest utilities have begun efforts to increase collaboration so that water resources might be shared.