Bill adding magistrates, judges in 3 counties moves to governor
Legislation that will add more judicial officers in Hamilton, Hendricks and Owen counties passed unanimously out of the House of Representatives Tuesday.
Indiana House of Representatives
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Senate passes civil immunity, sentencing alternatives for young offenders bills
The Indiana Senate approved several pieces of legislation from the House this week, including a bill that would establish sentencing alternatives for certain offenders under the age of 18.
Tax cut dispute overshadowing Legislature’s work to lower state’s unemployment, Bosma tells lawyers
A public spat between the Legislature and governor’s office over tax cuts has become an overarching issue, but Indiana Speaker of the House Brian Bosma said the state should be focusing on job creation.
Synthetic drug ban, human trafficking bills move out of committee
Senate bills stiffening the state’s synthetic drug ban and strengthening Indiana’s human trafficking laws were approved unanimously by the House of Representatives Committee on Courts and Criminal Code Wednesday.
House Committee approves CHINS bill returning power to prosecuting attorneys
A bill giving prosecuting attorneys the ability to file a Child in Need of Services petition continues to garner strong support in the Indiana General Assembly.
Humane Society, ASPCA target confined-hunting bill
Two-legged and four-legged lobbyists will head to the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday to oppose a bill that would lift a ban on hunting animals in fenced areas.
Giving felons a chance to wipe their records clean
The Indiana General Assembly moving forward with expungement bill.
Overhaul of Criminal Code approved by House
The bill rewriting Indiana’s Criminal Code gained approval of the House of Representatives Monday by an 80 to 13 vote. The measure now moves to the Senate.
Legislature considers changes to prosecutors’ and judges’ retirement funds
In the House of Representatives, a bill that would change features of the Prosecuting Attorneys Retirement Fund is eligible for a third reading vote. In the Senate, a bill calling for a study of judges’ pensions is ready for second reading Monday as well.
Proposed changes would make convicted felons serve at least 75 percent of sentence
The worst-of-the-worst criminal offenders will be facing more time while low-level offenders will be given intensive probation under the new sentencing provisions included in the rewrite of the Indiana Criminal Code.
Bill restricting social media access for sex offenders passes Senate
Senate Bill 347, introduced to rectify issues brought up by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals when it struck down an existing law regulating social media use by registered sex offenders, passed the Senate Monday by a vote of 49-0.
Legislation on judicial nominating commission members moves to House
A bill that would require the governor to appoint nonattorney members to the Judicial Nominating Commission from a list of legislator-approved candidates passed the Senate 46-2 Thursday.
Judge-backed court staff attorney pilot program bill moves out of committee
Legislation that would create a pilot program administered by the Indiana Judicial Center to assist trial courts when preparing and writing certain motions moved out of the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code 11-0.
Justices decline to order mediation in walkout fines case
The Indiana Supreme Court issued an order Monday refusing to order mediation in the lawsuit filed by Democratic lawmakers after some of their pay was withheld following legislative walkouts in 2011 and 2012.
Anti-meth bill and right to hunt amendment clear Senate, head to House
Two high-profile bills cleared the Indiana Senate Monday and are headed to the House of Representatives.
Renewal of $50 mortgage foreclosure filing fee advances in House
A $50 filing fee on mortgage foreclosure actions that expired Jan. 1 would be renewed for two years under legislation that advanced this week in the Indiana House of Representatives.
House Judiciary Committee to look at foreclosure fee, privacy issues
At Monday’s House Judiciary Committee, members will discuss three bills, including one that requires a court clerk to collect a $50 mortgage foreclosure counseling and education fee in certain cases.
Probate, child seduction bills move out of committees
Several bills moved out of legislative committee this week, including one that would expand the definition of child seduction to include a mental health professional engaging in certain sexual behavior with a patient between 16 and 18 years old.
Indiana Democrats trying to jumpstart conversation on health care
A coalition of Democratic senators and representatives gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday morning to “jumpstart the conversation” on health care exchanges and Medicaid expansion.
Democrats’ walkout leads to another ‘fines’ mess
Before the Indiana General Assembly convened Jan. 7, some unfinished business was debated in the Statehouse: whether Republican House leaders went too far in seizing fines from Democrats who walked out of the Legislature in 2011 and 2012.