Veterans court bill gets green light from Senate committee
A bill that would establish veterans courts in every judicial district has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and been reassigned to the Appropriations Committee.
Indiana General Assembly
Articles
Ethics reform bill moves out of committee
An Indiana House committee has backed a state ethics law overhaul requiring greater financial disclosure by lawmakers and expressly prohibiting elected officials from using state resources for political purposes.
Senate panel backs absentee voter ID number proposal
An Indiana legislative committee has backed a proposal that would require the use of voter identification numbers for mail-in absentee ballots.
Indiana business opposes ‘religious freedom’ law Pence backs
Indiana business differed with Gov. Mike Pence and some clergy Monday on a proposed law that supporters say would protect people and businesses from having to take part in same-sex weddings and other activities they find objectionable because of religious belief.
Legislature tinkers with new Indiana criminal code
Two different stories by two different witnesses highlighted Indiana’s continuing struggles with its new criminal code.
Indiana bills to increase minimum wage go unheard
More than half of states in the U.S. have enacted laws increasing their minimum wages above the federal standard of $7.25 an hour, but the Indiana Legislature won’t even discuss it.
Criminal code funding bill passes House committee
The Indiana House Judiciary Committee has unanimously passed a funding bill that would provide the resources that many agree are necessary to reduce the number of nonviolent offenders who repeatedly reenter the criminal justice system.
Proposed Indiana voting law changes draw objections
Indiana lawmakers are taking up Republican-backed proposals to eliminate straight party-line voting on state ballots and require the use of voter identification numbers for mail-in absentee ballots, moves that Democrats argue will make voting more difficult and could hurt turnout.
Bosma unsure about future of Sunday alcohol sales bill
The leader of the Indiana House of Representatives isn’t making any predictions on the fate of a proposal to legalize Sunday carryout alcohol sales.
House panel passes bill adding oversight to state agencies
State government agencies could face greater scrutiny when proposing new regulations under a measure an Indiana House committee approved Tuesday.
Senate passes bill allowing religion-based hiring by contractors
The Indiana Senate has moved a bill to the House of Representatives that will allow religious institutions that receive state and local government contracts to make hiring decisions based upon religion.
Indiana courts press for $5M for e-filing system
Indiana courts are asking lawmakers to allocate an additional $5 million a year so they can implement an electronic filing system that allows litigants to submit paperwork online and gives the public free access to court records.
Expungement law still being perfected, legislator says
County clerks being overrun by expungement petitions are asking the Legislature to impose a filing fee to help offset the costs of processing the forms and restricting the records.
Senate votes to raise judicial retirement age
Indiana appellate judges could serve until age 80 under a bill that cleared the Indiana Senate Thursday.
Panel backs religion-based hiring by Indiana contractors
An Indiana legislative panel has endorsed a bill allowing religious institutions that receive state and local government contracts to make hiring decisions based upon religion.
House panel backs new rules after nursing home scandal
An Indiana House committee has endorsed tighter rules on the conduct of lawmakers in the wake of an ethics investigation of a top Republican who fought privately to defeat legislation that would have hurt his family's business.
Changes being considered for medical malpractice claims
More medical malpractice cases could be filed directly in state trial courts without first having to go through the exhaustive and mandatory medical review process under legislation pending in the Indiana Senate. A proposal in the Indiana House of Representatives aims to raise the caps on damages and insurer liability.
Bill to open adoption records moves forward
Indiana has nothing to fear from abandoning long-established practice and following the lead of numerous states in order to allow some 350,000 adopted Hoosiers access to their birth records, a leading national advocate said.
Trust proposal in Legislature would shield assets from creditors, permit perpetuity
Assets could be shielded from creditors and passed down to numerous generations under a legacy trust proposal being considered by the Indiana General Assembly. The proposed estate-planning device would be exempt from the rule against perpetuities.
Indiana Senate backs death penalty for beheading crimes
A bill making intentionally decapitating someone a crime eligible for the death penalty has been approved by the Indiana Senate.