Senate panel approves bill to punish meth, heroin dealers
Meth and heroin dealers in Indiana will face harsher penalties if they are convicted and have a criminal history under a bill passed by a state Senate panel Tuesday.
Indiana General Assembly
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Mandatory minimums for drug dealing splits Statehouse
Roughly 18 months after Indiana’s reformed criminal code took effect, emphasizing treatment over incarceration for drug offenses, the General Assembly is considering proposals that would boost certain crimes to a higher level felony, stiffen punishments for possession of controlled substances and make some cold medicine more difficult to purchase.
Adoptee birth-records bill passes
A bill long sought by Hoosiers adopted between 1941 and 1993 and denied their birth records passed the Indiana General Assembly Monday and heads to the desk of Gov. Mike Pence.
Black lawmakers oppose Marion County judge selection bill
A proposal to create a 14-member merit-selection commission to nominate Marion Superior judges would harm minority representation on the bench of the state’s largest county, members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus said in a statement Monday as the bill awaited second reading on the House floor.
Indiana House committee tosses hate-crimes bill
Legislation creating the state’s first hate-crime law to help victims targeted because of their race, sexual identity, religion or other specified characteristic is expected to die because it won’t get a committee hearing in the House, leaving lawmakers few options to address civil rights this year.
Attorneys added to Marion County judicial selection committee
The Courts and Criminal Code Committee in the Indiana House of Representatives passed an amendment Wednesday modifying the makeup of the Marion County judicial selection committee. The amendment adds more Marion County attorneys to the committee that will send names to the governor for appointment.
Indiana Senate panel delays bill on police video
An Indiana Senate panel is holding off on changing and voting on a bill allowing law enforcement agencies to withhold police video from the public.
Future uncertain for state environmental policy limit
The future remains uncertain for a proposed limit on Indiana's authority to make its own environmental policies. The Senate Environmental Affairs Committee heard hours of testimony Monday on the bill, which has already passed the House.
Adoptee birth records bill advances to full House
A House committee voted 11-2 Monday in favor of passage of a bill that would provide thousands of adopted Hoosiers with access to their birth and adoption records.
Lawmakers zeroing in on anti-meth plan
Pharmacists say there are tell-tale signs that a customer is buying cold medicine to make methamphetamine: They peer behind the pharmacy counter, ask for the highest dosage and make multiple purchases in the same hour.
Fantasy sports companies defend embattled industry
Fantasy sports sites say their contests aren't gambling because a player's skill level is more of a factor than chance in determining success, but some states have declared them gambling games and either banned them outright or required operators to get gambling licenses.
Senate panel plans changes to limits in police video bill
An Indiana Senate committee is considering an overhaul of a bill that would give Indiana police departments broad authority to withhold body camera video amid opposition from open-government advocates.
General Assembly leaders honor Dickson
A resolution honoring the service of retiring Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent Dickson unanimously passed both houses of the General Assembly, and House and Senate leaders praised the second-longest-serving justice in state history Tuesday.
Former foes support Indiana lawsuit funding bills
Harsh regulations in other states are inducing the legal financing industry to compromise.
Lawmakers pass bills to give pharmacists discretion
Indiana lawmakers passed similar, competing bills Wednesday aimed at giving pharmacists the ability to prevent methamphetamine cooks from buying pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in the illegal drug.
Senate bets on fantasy sports, sends regulatory bill to House
Legislation that would regulate commercial fantasy sports games and clarify that they are legal passed the Senate on Wednesday and is headed to the House for consideration.
Indiana business community fears fallout from gay rights failure
Indiana corporate leaders warned that the failure of the Republican-controlled Legislature to enact a law protecting gay, lesbian and bisexual people from discrimination could rebound on business, making it harder to recruit talented employees and sell the state as an attractive place to live.
Gay rights bill dies after author withdraws legislation
The Indiana Senate won’t act on a controversial bill meant to extend some civil rights to gay and lesbian Hoosiers, effectively killing the legislation for the session.
Lawmaker: Health department didn’t comply with baby box law
The Indiana Department of Health has ignored a law requiring it to prepare guidelines for installing "baby boxes" where people could anonymously leave unwanted newborns, a state legislator says.
Indiana House backs bill to limit state environmental rules
The Indiana House has approved a bill that would prevent state agencies from enacting environmental rules tougher than those imposed by the federal government.