Misdemeanor reimbursement bill gets thumbs up from IN Senate Judiciary Committee
A proposed bill that would establish a seven-county pilot program for misdemeanor reimbursement of public defender offices passed its first legislative test Wednesday.
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Pilot program giving GALs to parents with intellectual disabilities scheduled for full Senate vote
The Indiana Senate is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a bill that would create a guardian ad litem pilot program for parents in adoption cases who have intellectual disabilities.
Bill allowing statewide elected officials to carry handgun at Capitol passes after fervent committee debate
A bill that would allow elected statewide officeholders, including the Indiana attorney general, to carry a handgun on the state Capitol complex has passed through an Indiana Senate committee, though not without a passionate debate.
Senate panel moves bill letting attorney general enforce sanctuary city ban
A Senate homeland security committee on Tuesday voted to advance legislation empowering the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to enforce a 13-year-old law banning sanctuary city ordinances.
Bill seeks to help local governments define decorum for public meetings
The city of Winchester in eastern Indiana has fewer than 5,000 residents but one glaring problem in the eyes of local elected officials: people purposefully disrupting government meetings and deliberately disregarding decorum.
Misdemeanor reimbursement pilot program included in new Senate bill: 7 counties could take part in new program under SB 179
A piece of proposed legislation introduced in this year’s short, nonbudget session is taking a different approach to misdemeanor reimbursement and includes a new pilot program for select counties.
‘Fast and furious. In and out.’ Legislature to address firearms, CHINS and more in 2024
The 2024 legislative session began just nine days ago, but the Indiana Lawyer staff is already keeping an eye on several bills making their way through the Indiana General Assembly.
Bill providing fetus tax exemptions draws committee testimony
A proposed bill that would provide tax exemptions for fetuses drew testimony from pro-abortion-rights and anti-abortion advocates Tuesday — even though the bill admittedly will not become law this year.
Indiana lawmakers move forward with bills to ban antisemitism, expand workforce training funds
Indiana lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill they say will ban antisemitism in public educational institutions — although critics of the proposal maintain it limits free speech and conflates anti-Jewish rhetoric with criticism of a foreign government.
House Republicans to push retiree 13th check, antisemitism bills; Democrats call for IEDC transparency, ballot initiatives and more
Indiana’s House Republicans will prioritize boosting retirement benefits for public employees and banning antisemitism in public educational institutions, alongside bills on job training and administrative law. Democrats, meanwhile, focused on accountability.
These are the major education topics Indiana lawmakers expect to focus on in 2024
Although Indiana lawmakers maintain the 2024 legislative session will be quicker, quieter and “noncontroversial,” there’s no shortage of critical — even touchy — education-related topics expected to be prioritized in the coming months.
Child care legislation coming, but pricey ideas iffy
Indiana lawmakers expect to file and advance significant child care legislation during the upcoming session, after years of advocacy from Hoosier parents, child care providers and worker-strapped businesses.
Legalized sports betting continued to grow in 2023, though some significant states remain resistant
Legalized sports betting continued its expansion this year while also factoring into scandals in college athletics and suspensions in the NFL for players who violated the league’s gambling policy.
Holcomb considers his legacy, next steps as 2023 winds down
As Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb heads into his last year leading the Hoosier State, he emphasized that his administration won’t be resting on its laurels — and will continue to be aggressive about new projects.
Expect a tamer legislative session in 2024
Republican leaders in the Indiana General Assembly say not to expect the same level of heated debate in the 2024 legislative session as there was in recent sessions. Instead, look for lawmakers to “tweak” and “fine-tune” existing laws.
Holcomb defends LEAP pipeline, prepares for last legislative session
Gov. Eric Holcomb defended the timeline process for a water pipeline from Tippecanoe County to Boone County for a massive, high-tech development grounded by a multibillion-dollar investment from Eli Lilly.
Former Indiana lawmaker Eberhart pleads guilty to role in casino conspiracy
Sean Eberhart, a former state representative from Shelbyville, has pleaded guilty in connection with a conspiracy in which he agreed to advocate for legislation in exchange for a lucrative position at a casino.
Lawmakers to revisit reading proficiency, holding back third-graders
Too many Hoosier third-graders can’t read at an appropriate skill level — and some shouldn’t be going on to fourth grade, Indiana lawmakers said Tuesday during the ceremonial start to the legislative session.
‘On an island’: Legislators, advocates will continue push for marijuana reform at Statehouse in 2024
Lawmakers are hearing more and more from constituents about their desire to legalize marijuana use for adults in the state, rather than having to drive to Ohio, Michigan or any neighboring states.
Less ‘aggressive’ legislative session coming, Statehouse leaders say
Moderate your expectations for the next legislative session, say Indiana’s lawmaking leaders: more tweaks and fine-tuning, and fewer overhauls.