Special session to debate school safety, tax changes
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Friday that he is calling lawmakers back to the Statehouse for a special session that will begin May 14.
Indiana General Assembly
Articles
7th Circuit strikes Indiana’s abortion law
In a split 2-1 decision, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Indiana’s abortion ban, which prohibited a woman from terminating her pregnancy because of the gender, race or disability of the fetus.
Expansion of DNA database could help catch Delphi teens’ killer
A broader DNA database is helping police find suspects to unsolved crimes. Perhaps soon it might mean finding the man who killed Delphi teens Libby German and Abby Williams.
Indiana House speaker expects May 14 special session start
Indiana lawmakers are expected back at the Statehouse the week of May 14 for a special session to deal with bills the Republican-dominated legislature couldn’t wrap up last month.
Indiana lawmaker hopes to protect state forests from logging
An Indiana lawmaker plans to reintroduce legislation to protect the state’s forests after seeing the outcome of a timber cut that removed more than 1,700 trees.
Patients, doctors concerned about new Indiana opioid limits
Some patients and doctors in Indiana are worried that increased restrictions imposed in response to the national opioid epidemic may reduce access to necessary medication.
Law limiting short-term rental regulations by cities may face test from Carmel, others
As the popularity of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO has increased, local governments across the country have stepped in to regulate when and where their residents can lease their homes to temporary guests. Indiana cities have been no exception, but the 2018 General Assembly limited the extent to which municipalities can regulate the local short-term rental industry.
Indiana woman wins $35 million verdict in pelvic mesh lawsuit
A northern Indiana jury returned a $35 million verdict March 8 for a woman injured by a transvaginal mesh implant in a trial that is believed to the seventh mesh lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon, Inc.
As state allows for professional licenses, long-term national DACA solution remains elusive
With all this uncertainty, one thing DACA recipients won’t have to worry about anymore — in Indiana, at least — is obtaining state professional licenses. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed Senate Enrolled Act 419 on March 21, which allowed “Dreamers” to apply for professional certifications.
IU McKinney profs research opioid effects on law, policy
Officially announced in February, Grand Challenges is a 16-project program aimed at preventing, reducing and treating addictions throughout the Hoosier state.
Autonomous vehicle regulation stalls out in statehouse
Gov. Eric Holcomb last month called for a special session of the Indiana General Assembly to address some of the unfinished business, but self-driving cars will have to wait.
Carmel thumbs nose at Indiana’s new short-term rentals law
Officials in one of Indiana’s wealthiest cities are thumbing their noses at a new state law intended to curtail local governments’ authority to regulate short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, raising the possibility of a court fight.
Holcomb signs bills allowing CBD oil, licenses for ‘Dreamers’
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed bill that allow for the widespread sale of a cannabis-derived oil as well as legislation to lift a prohibition on immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children from obtaining state professional licenses.
Indiana House member Ober picked for state utility commission
The Indiana House utility committee chairman will be leaving the Legislature for a seat on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that oversees most of the state’s electricity and natural gas companies.
Justices again will consider fixed-sentence plea modifications
The Indiana Supreme Court will once again consider when, if ever, fixed-sentence plea agreements can be modified. The court granted transfer to a second sentence-modification appeal after recently hearing a similar case.
Holcomb orders special session to address school safety, tax reform
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday morning ordered lawmakers to return to the Statehouse sometime in May for a special session of the Indiana General Assembly after Republican supermajorities failed to come to consensus on key bills by the time this year’s session ended last week.
Ten counties allocated additional senior judge service days
Ten Indiana judges have been allocated additional senior judge service days for 2018, with two judges receiving nearly 50 additional days.
Holcomb signs bill to replenish eroded NW Indiana beaches
A new Indiana law will require companies that dredge sand along the state’s Lake Michigan shoreline to use it to replenish eroded beaches.
Judge rules disbursement of civil forfeiture proceeds constitutional
Indiana’s process of diverting a portion of civil forfeiture proceeds to law enforcement and away from the Common School Fund is constitutional, a trial court judge ruled Friday.
Gov. Holcomb open to special session after chaotic finale
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is leaving open the possibility of calling lawmakers back to the Statehouse after this year’s legislative session descended into chaos Wednesday as bickering Republicans failed to take up some key bills.