legislation - The Indiana Lawyer

St. Pierre: Employers grappling with religious exemptions to COVID vaccine

March 16, 2022 | Alyson St. Pierre

Previous versions of HEA 1001 provided that any worker could be granted a religious exemption to a vaccine mandate without employers inquiring into the validity of the employees’ claims. Had that version of the bill passed through the General Assembly and been signed by Holcomb, Indiana employers would have clear marching orders when it came to religious exemptions from vaccine mandates. But that provision was hotly contested and, ultimately, removed from the version of the bill that is now law in Indiana. So the question remains: What should Indiana employers do when they receive a request for religious exemption from a COVID-19 vaccine mandate?

Bill repealing handgun permit requirement awaits decision from Holcomb

March 9, 2022 | IL Staff

A highly contested bill that would allow Hoosiers to carry a handgun in public without a permit is headed to the governor’s desk for final consideration after Republican lawmakers successfully revived the measure in spite of criticism from law enforcement and other stakeholders.

Legislature ends session by cutting income taxes, not business personal property tax

March 9, 2022 | Emily Ketterer and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

Indiana lawmakers gave final approval early Wednesday morning to a Republican tax-cut package that would gradually reduce state income taxes over the next seven years, but they failed to reach agreement on cutting the business personal property tax.

Indiana senators cheer, laugh for rare unanimous ‘no’ vote against special education bill

March 7, 2022 | Associated Press

An advocate for children with disabilities says she believes Indiana state senators never took seriously a bill they defeated in a rare 0-50 vote that would have changed the handling of special education disputes between families and schools.

Holcomb signs bill to end health emergency, limit vaccine mandates

March 4, 2022 | Emily Ketterer and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

Gov. Eric Holcomb on Thursday signed into law legislation to end Indiana’s public health emergency and limit employer vaccine mandates, shortly after state lawmakers sent the measure to his desk.

Indiana school ‘transparency’ bill language likely dead

March 4, 2022 | Associated Press

Language from a contentious bill that sought to place broad restrictions on teaching about racism and political topics in Indiana is unlikely to be revived after the Senate stalled the measure earlier this week.

Bill to end health emergency, limit vaccine mandates heads to governor

March 3, 2022 | Emily Ketterer and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

The Indiana House voted Thursday to send watered-down legislation to limit employer vaccine mandates to the governor, who is expected to soon sign it into law.

Handgun permit repeal language revived by Republican lawmakers

March 3, 2022 | Katie Stancombe

Indiana lawmakers have revived a bill that would have repealed Indiana’s handgun permit requirement by putting the language into another vehicle, despite continued opposition to the measure.

Indiana bill to close rape law loophole heads to governor

March 3, 2022 | Associated Press

A bill that seeks to redefine rape and consent in Indiana is headed to the governor’s desk after state lawmakers gave it their final approval on Wednesday.

Indiana lawmakers send trans girls sports ban to governor

March 2, 2022 | Associated Press

Indiana lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a Republican-backed bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity, sending it to the governor to decide whether it will become law.

Child Advocates’ program provides model for direct representation

March 2, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

As the Legislature, agency stakeholders and foster parents restart the conversation about providing attorneys for children in child-in-need-of-services and termination of parental rights proceedings, the Child Advocates Direct Representation Program is an example of how direct representation works and what it can do.

Senate Bill 180 reignites conversation about direct representation for CHINS, TPR proceedings

March 2, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

Indiana is one of just six states that does not require counsel for children in child welfare cases in any situation, according to the National Association of Counsel for Children. Although Indiana Code § 31-32-4-2 does give state court judges the discretion to appoint counsel for children in child welfare cases, stakeholders say the Hoosier State could be forced to implement a direct representation program either through lawsuits filed by national children’s rights organization or federal legislation that Congress is considering.

Bill would require de novo judicial review of environmental agency decisions

March 2, 2022 | Katie Stancombe

A bill proposed in the 2022 Indiana legislative session would have required trial courts to try disputed issues of fact de novo in a judicial review of certain agency actions. Republican Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, said he authored House Bill 1063 in an attempt to even the playing field between decision-making agencies and Hoosiers, and in response to an Indiana Supreme Court decision.

Legal battle brewing over trans athlete bill

March 2, 2022 | Jordan Morey

In Indiana, a legal battle is already brewing over legislation that would ban transgender female athletes from competing on K-12 girls’ sports teams. Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana have promised to file a lawsuit while Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has said his office will defend the bill’s constitutionality.

Indiana State Police leader blasts GOP on gun permit repeal

February 25, 2022 | Associated Press

A proposal that could ultimately repeal Indiana’s handgun permit requirement remained alive in the Legislature on Thursday despite the objections of major law enforcement groups and officials, including the head of the State Police.

Holcomb decries ‘political’ motivations in HEA 1123 litigation

February 24, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

Contending the Legislature is injecting politics into the litigation over House Enrolled Act 1123, Gov. Eric Holcomb is reiterating his argument to the Indiana Supreme Court that the dispute is not about public policy but rather about whether the state’s constitution allows the General Assembly to call itself into a special session.

Indiana governor signals support for trans girls sports ban

February 24, 2022 | Associated Press

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signaled support Wednesday for contentious proposals moving through the Legislature that would ban transgender girls from participating in K-12 girls school sports and place restrictions on teaching about racism and political issues.

Indiana Senate endorses bill allowing Level 6 offenders to go to DOC

February 23, 2022 | Olivia Covington

A bill allowing Level 6 felony offenders to serve their sentences in the Indiana Department of Correction for addiction and mental health treatment has passed the full Indiana Senate, setting the bill up for final consideration.

Indiana transgender athlete ban headed for final Senate vote

February 23, 2022 | Associated Press

The Indiana Senate on Tuesday refused to amend a Republican-backed bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity, putting it on the fast track to passing.

Indiana Senate panel backs bill without big tax-cut proposal

February 23, 2022 | Associated Press

An Indiana Senate committee endorsed a tax proposal on Tuesday without the business and individual tax cut package potentially totaling more than $1 billion that the House approved last month.

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