Lawmakers approve $34.6B budget to wrap up session
The Indiana General Assembly has approved the state’s $34.6 billion budget for the next two years, sending it to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature days ahead of the legislative deadline.
Indiana General Assembly
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Holcomb sent bill allowing pension restitution for stolen public funds
A bill that would allow taxpayers to recoup stolen funds from public officials’ pensions has received a few tweaks, but the bill’s chief aim has remained untouched.
State lawmakers pad DCS budget, hike school funding only slightly
State lawmakers are poised to increase school funding by 2.5 percent each year in a $34 billion final budget plan — just slightly more than the amount proposed last week by the Indiana Senate. Meanwhile, the Indiana Department of Child Services’ budget will jump by more than a half-billion dollars over the next two fiscal years.
Animal cruelty penalties measure heads to Holcomb’s desk
People convicted of animal cruelty could face higher penalties under a bill that’s headed to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk.
Judge strikes down legislation that blocked Bloomington annexation
A judge has ruled that 2017 state legislation inserted into the budget bill that blocked Bloomington’s attempt to annex 9,500 acres of property is unconstitutional.
Birch Bayh memorial set for May 1 at Statehouse
A memorial service to honor former United States Senator Birch Bayh will take place at noon May 1 at the Indiana Statehouse. Bayh, who represented the Hoosier state in Washington from 1963-1981 after becoming the youngest-ever Indiana House speaker in 1954, died last month at age 91.
Report: Bosma has deal arranged by casino investor
The leader of the Indiana House is skipping votes on a major gambling-related bill after a casino owner helped arrange a local government contract with his law firm.
Ex-EPA chief Pruitt registers as energy lobbyist in Indiana
Scott Pruitt, the scandal-ridden former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, registered as an energy lobbyist in Indiana on Thursday as fossil-fuels interests there are fighting to block the proposed closure of several coal-fired power plants.
Amended ‘red flag law’ bill advances out of Senate
A firearms-related bill aiming to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals received the go-ahead to advance in the statehouse Tuesday, taking one step closer to becoming law.
Indiana Senate approves $34.6B budget with slightly more education funding
The Indiana Senate approved its two-year, $34.6 billion state budget proposal Tuesday morning, setting up final budget negotiations between both chambers as lawmakers close out the last two weeks of this year’s General Assembly.
Public defenders: ‘Pay now or pay later’
In the 2½ years since the Sixth Amendment Center released a report strongly condemning indigent criminal defense in Indiana, public defenders have pressed for reforms. Now, those efforts slowly are beginning to bear fruit as the Indiana General Assembly takes action on reform legislation.
Lawmakers seek to add school alert system to all 92 counties
Gov. Eric Holcomb is expected to sign a bill that would allow Indiana school districts to seek state money for alert systems to warn students and staff about emergencies.
Bill to compensate those wrongly incarcerated advances
A bill that would offer wrongly convicted Hoosiers compensation for their vacated prison sentences has made steps towards finality in the Indiana Statehouse.
House OKs limits on gambling officials’ access to governor
The Indiana House has responded to a newspaper’s report on private jet flights Gov. Eric Holcomb got from a casino magnate by inserting a provision into a sweeping gambling bill to limit gambling officials’ access to Indiana’s governor.
Indiana House defeats proposed moratorium on new power plants
An effort by Indiana Republicans to put a two-year moratorium on large new power plants has failed, following strenuous objections from utilities, environmentalists and consumer groups.
Scooter bill zips through Statehouse, but not yet to Holcomb
Hoosiers statewide may be able to scoot alongside other modes of transportation now that a bill aimed at regulating electronic scooter use has zipped through both Houses of the the Indiana General Assembly.
Report: Indiana’s outsized foster population lags educationally
Indiana, which places a greater percentage of its children in the foster care system than almost any other state, must take steps to close educational shortcomings for children in the system, according to a first-of-its-kind report released recently that details a wide achievement gap.
Criminal penalties for revenge porn may become law
Efforts to hold revenge porn perpetrators criminally accountable advanced Monday after the Indiana House of Representatives voted 95-0 in favor of legislation that would criminalize the posting of nonconsensual pornography.
Lawmakers back felony charge if fertility doctors misuse sperm
A woman who was among numerous patients unknowingly impregnated by their Indiana fertility doctor’s own sperm said she’s pleased with state lawmakers backing a proposal that would make such actions a felony.
Ethics panel dismisses complaint against Speaker Bosma
The Indiana House Ethics Committee has dismissed a complaint against Speaker Brian Bosma, who was accused of illegally using campaign funds to collect unflattering information about a former intern.