Bill proposes modest Marion County small claims reforms
Modest reforms to the derided Marion County township small claims courts are proposed in a bill scheduled to get a committee hearing Wednesday.
Indiana General Assembly
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IndyBar takes public position against marriage amendment
Backed by the results of a membership survey, the Indianapolis Bar Association has announced its opposition to the marriage amendment being debated at the Statehouse.
Pre-settlement lenders say rate cap could doom industry
Representatives of businesses that provide pre-settlement funding to plaintiffs said they would be forced out of Indiana by a proposal to cap their returns at 25 percent, after which a House committee advanced a bill that would do just that.
Lifeline Law expansion clears Senate committee
Indiana’s Lifeline Law that provides immunity for minors who report dangerous underage intoxication would expand to cover reporting of any medical crisis, sexual assault or crime if a bill that cleared a Senate committee Wednesday is enacted.
Bosma moves HJR3 to new committee, citing need to vote
Speaker of the House of Representatives Brian Bosma Tuesday moved House Joint Resolution 3, which would ban same-sex marriage through Indiana’s Constitution, and related House Bill 1153 from the House Judiciary Committee to the Elections and Apportionment Committee. The move led Democrats to accuse the speaker of “changing the rules in the middle of the game.”
Judiciary committee to consider guardians being able to file for divorce
Tackling an issue that has appeared in the Court of Appeals twice in recent months, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear legislation that would allow guardians to file for divorce on behalf incapacitated adults.
Committee continues hearing on ‘ag-gag’ bill Tuesday
The Corrections and Criminal Law Committee will hear six bills Tuesday, including controversial legislation concerning trespassing on agricultural land.
Magistrate, expungement bills pass committee
Legislation updating Indiana’s expungement law – including language specifying where a petition for expungement must be filed – is now eligible for consideration by the full House. The expungement bill is one of several that moved out of committee Thursday.
Beer wholesalers enlist lawmakers in fight against Monarch
The Statehouse is a common battlefield for factions in Indiana's alcoholic beverage industry, and this session, one group of beer wholesalers is firing shots in multiple directions.
Dickson: Lawmakers’ help needed to fix Marion County Small Claims courts
Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson told a joint session of the General Assembly Wednesday that lawmakers’ help was needed to fix Marion County Township Small Claims Courts, which have been plagued by allegations of forum shopping and other criticism.
Law student honored for cross-country golf fundraiser
Luke Bielawski was honored Tuesday at the Indiana Statehouse for his novel fundraising efforts. The Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law student made headlines last year when he hit golf balls across the country to raise money for an Indianapolis high school serving at-risk students.
Lawmaker targets burdensome pre-settlement funding by proposing cap on interest rates
Funding companies woo plaintiffs in need with promises of quick cash for their pending settlements without oversight in Indiana. That soon could change.
Does marriage amendment need to be amended?
The Indiana Legislature offers companion bill to explain the intent of the constitutional provision banning marriage between same-sex couples.
House committee ends hearing without vote on marriage amendment
After more than three hours of testimony, the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee recessed Monday without taking a vote on the constitutional marriage amendment and accompanying bill.
Judge firearm, ‘ag-gag’ bills to get hearings Tuesday
Legislation that would increase the penalties for battery on a judicial officer and provide judges the same immunity as law enforcement officers for possession and use of a firearm will be heard by an Indiana Senate Committee on Tuesday.
Rep. Turner introduces resolution defining marriage
Rep. Eric Turner, R-Cicero, filed House Joint Resolution 3 Thursday, which looks to ban same-sex marriage in Indiana through the state Constitution. He also introduced a bill describing the legislative intent of offering the amendment.
Legislators return to Statehouse Monday
The Indiana House of Representatives and Senate will reconvene at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Among the bills before the legislators this session are measures making battery against judicial officers a Level 5 or 6 felony instead of a misdemeanor; outlining when juvenile court records may not be confidential, and various probate and trust matters.
Suit spawns liquor-distribution showdown
Indiana’s largest beer distributor is mounting the latest legal challenge to the state’s arcane, Prohibition-era liquor laws.
Shepard to moderate same-sex marriage debate
Retired Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard will moderate a debate at Franklin College Jan. 13 on the issue of same-sex marriage.
Repeal of administrative code abolishes 3-year limit for filing petitions
In a ruling that it conceded could “open the floodgates,” the Indiana Tax Court found neither state statute nor regulations provided any time limits for homeowners to file petitions to correct error on their property tax assessments.