Indiana has always had a weak veto power — so why are overrides increasingly common?
Indiana has one of the weakest governor systems in the nation, lacking both a pocket and line-item veto in addition to the low threshold for override.
Indiana Senate
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Child care, early learning advocates highlight legislative successes
There was no comprehensive effort to address Indiana’s child care and early learning shortages this legislative session, but a series of smaller changes will have big impacts on Hoosier families.
Indy moves ahead with pet sale restrictions, but will state lawmakers stop them?
The city of Indianapolis is moving forward with plans to implement an ordinance banning the retail sale of pets that come from sources other than shelters or not-for-profit animal rescue organizations.
Budget earmarks top $500 million
Spending on specific local projects climbed to $536 million in Indiana’s newest two-year budget, which Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law Thursday. Such earmarks, routed through the State Budget Agency, have risen steeply in recent budget cycles — up from just $18 million in 2015.
Holcomb signs 91 more bills, finishes session without veto
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 91 bills on Thursday, finishing this year’s legislative session without vetoing any of the 252 bills sent to his desk by state lawmakers.
DCS contract attorney pilot program kicked to study committee
Republican lawmakers have removed a controversial portion of their state budget legislation that would have replaced Indiana Department of Child Services attorneys with contractors in two regions.
House, Senate strike compromise in final budget proposal
Republicans in both chambers appear to have reached a compromise on the state’s two-year budget, earmarking more than $1 billion for school vouchers while maintaining a commitment to pay down the state’s outstanding debt obligations.
Indiana sends state-funded teacher gun training to governor
Indiana state lawmakers have sent the state’s Republican governor a bill that would create a state-funded handgun training program available for teachers, something critics have said could wrongly increase the number of guns in schools.
Sen. Tyler Johnson moves to seal malpractice case from public
A state senator embroiled in a medical malpractice case wants an Allen County judge to block public access to court records and pause proceedings while he finishes the legislative session.
Teacher discussions could be limited under Indiana bill
Indiana Republican state senators signaled their final approval Tuesday of a bill that would remove the requirement for administrators to discuss some topics with a teachers union representative
Indiana lawmakers give approval to anti-ESG investing bill
Indiana Republicans pushed through a proposal Monday taking a stand against socially and environmentally conscious investing although disagreements within their legislative majorities narrowed it from what conservatives first sought.
Physician noncompetes, unlawful tracking heading for governor’s desk
Lawmakers sent several bills to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk on Monday following chamber actions on concurrence votes and conference committees.
Time running out for state lawmakers to deliver on health, education and tax promises
Indiana’s lawmakers are nearing the end of a grueling nearly four-month legislative session, but three of their biggest priorities — aside from the budget — remain unresolved.
More money means more funding decisions for Indiana lawmakers as session nears end
Indiana lawmakers have an extra $1.5 billion in cash to work with as they finalize a two-year state budget, but with more money comes the added responsibility of deciding who gets a share of the windfall.
DCS ‘ambushed’ by GOP senators ahead of proposal to switch to contract attorneys in 2 regions, source says
A Senate Republican plan to switch from in-house attorneys to contractors in two Indiana Department of Child Services regions caught the agency off guard and followed a meeting in which agency executives were “ambushed” by a group of senators.
Indiana Senate approves handgun training fund for teachers
Indiana state Senators advanced a bill Tuesday that would make state funding available for teachers seeking firearms training, a move critics have said could increase the number of guns in school to the detriment of students.
Indiana Senate passes resolution that would limit bail
The Indiana Senate has passed a resolution that would amend the Indiana Constitution to allow denial of bail in certain circumstances.
Senate unveils budget with no expansion for school voucher program
Senate Republicans on Thursday unveiled their two-year spending plan for the state, calling for record increases in education funding but declining to increase eligibility for Indiana’s school voucher program—a priority of House Republicans.
Committee deadline fatal for many bills
Indiana’s House and Senate both face committee deadlines this week, so any bill that doesn’t advance to the respective chamber is dead for the year.
Senate passes bill requiring schools notify parents of transgender student requests
Indiana senators on Monday approved a controversial bill mandating that schools notify parents when a student asks for name or pronoun changes, as well as banning human sexuality instruction to the youngest students.