New bid planned to end Indiana’s Sunday alcohol sales ban
A new attempt could be coming to end Indiana's eight decades-old ban on Sunday carryout alcohol sales.
Indiana General Assembly
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Bill proposes increasing med-mal cap by $400,000
The maximum award for medical malpractice would increase by $400,000 under legislation proposed after a study committee last year examined Indiana’s caps. Caps on damages were last raised 17 years ago and have been increased just twice in 40 years.
Coalition advocating for hate crime legislation
A coalition of religious and civic organizations has already started pushing the Indiana General Assembly to pass hate crime legislation that includes language covering sexual orientation and gender identity.
Pence agenda addresses ISTEP impact, not LGBT rights
Gov. Mike Pence called for lawmakers to pass legislation decreasing Indiana's reliance on 2015 ISTEP standardized test scores but made no mention of adding LGBT civil rights protections into state law when he released his agenda for the coming legislative session.
Bill eases law on alcohol offenders obtaining gun permits
Indiana lawmakers will consider a plan to lift state restrictions on alcohol offenders obtaining handgun licenses.
Vaping industry sues state over new regulations
The advocacy group that represents Indiana’s vaping and electronic cigarette industry is suing the state, claiming new safety regulations are unconstitutional.
A look at bills proposed in the 2016 General Assembly
Proposals addressing everything from civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to requiring a prescription for a common cold medicine used to make methamphetamine will be debated when lawmakers gather for the 2016 session, which begins Tuesday.
Bill pushes to replace administrative law judges
The chairman of the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee has introduced Senate Bill 1, a 119-page proposal that would replace administrative law judges with an administrative court made up of nine judges appointed by the governor.
Indiana adoption advocates to push again to open up records
The leader of an advocacy group for Indiana adoptees says she's optimistic state lawmakers will endorse a bill to expand adoptees' access to sealed records.
Some police, prosecutors back tougher cold-medicine law
Some Indiana police agencies say their fight against methamphetamine production would be helped by a proposed state law change to require a doctor’s prescription for a common cold medicine that is used to make the illegal drug.
Indiana law drives down moped thefts, sales
Evansville Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jason Cullum said scooter theft reports fell from 269 in 2014 to just 79 as of Dec. 17. He said that’s because scooters are now easier to track if stolen because they now must be registered and licensed.
Bill would allow recovery of attorney fees in all wrongful death actions
A northern Indiana senator has introduced legislation to amend Indiana’s wrongful death statute to allow for surviving families to collect attorney fees.
Battle looms over restriction on cold medicine used for meth
Indiana lawmakers have yet to gather for the 2016 legislative session, but already the multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical industry has clashed with influential law enforcement organizations over a proposed law that would require a prescription to buy a common cold medicine also used to make methamphetamine.
Lawmakers offer alternative to cold medicine sales crackdown
Republican Sens. Randy Head of Logansport and Jim Merritt of Indianapolis said pharmacists should have the authority to approve or disapprove sales for medicines containing pseudoephedrine, which is a decongestant used to treat colds and allergies. A rival measure backed by Indiana prosecutors and GOP House Speaker Brian Bosma would require a prescription for such medicines.
IPAC legislative agenda to target meth, heroin-related crime
The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council will announce legislative goals Wednesday, including targeting serious drug dealers driving increases in meth labs, pharmacy robberies, heroin overdoses and violent crime.
150 businesses in group pushing for Indiana LGBT protections
A large coalition of Indiana businesses is calling on Republican Gov. Mike Pence and the GOP-controlled Legislature to put LGBT civil rights protections into state law.
Some Indiana cities worry about impact of proposed LGBT bill
Officials in some Indiana cities with ordinances that provide protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents are worried that a bill lawmakers will consider in the 2016 session could undermine their local authority.
DNA collection bill filed in Legislature
Once again, the Indiana General Assembly is being asked to expand law enforcement’s ability to collect DNA.
Indiana House leader backing tighter cold medicine law
The top Republican in the Indiana House on Tuesday endorsed tightening state law to require a doctor's prescription for cold and allergy medications that can be used to make methamphetamine.
GOP bill on Indiana LGBT rights has religious exemptions
Indiana Senate Republicans released a proposal Tuesday that would extend state civil rights protections to LGBT people while also carving out broad exemptions for religious institutions and some small businesses that object to working with gay people.