Panel backs religion-based hiring by Indiana contractors
An Indiana legislative panel has endorsed a bill allowing religious institutions that receive state and local government contracts to make hiring decisions based upon religion.
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Changes being considered for medical malpractice claims
More medical malpractice cases could be filed directly in state trial courts without first having to go through the exhaustive and mandatory medical review process under legislation pending in the Indiana Senate. A proposal in the Indiana House of Representatives aims to raise the caps on damages and insurer liability.
Bill to open adoption records moves forward
Indiana has nothing to fear from abandoning long-established practice and following the lead of numerous states in order to allow some 350,000 adopted Hoosiers access to their birth records, a leading national advocate said.
Trust proposal in Legislature would shield assets from creditors, permit perpetuity
Assets could be shielded from creditors and passed down to numerous generations under a legacy trust proposal being considered by the Indiana General Assembly. The proposed estate-planning device would be exempt from the rule against perpetuities.
Indiana Senate backs death penalty for beheading crimes
A bill making intentionally decapitating someone a crime eligible for the death penalty has been approved by the Indiana Senate.
House committee to hear magistrate bills
Bills that would provide magistrates for three circuit courts in Southern Indiana are scheduled to be considered Jan. 21 by the Indiana House of Representatives Courts and Criminal Code Committee.
Service of process fees increase under proposal in Senate
Fees sheriffs collect to serve parties in civil lawsuits would nearly double under a bill that cleared a Senate panel last week.
Senate panel advances bill to open adoption records
Advocates of opening Indiana’s adoption records won an emotional first round Wednesday as a Senate panel advanced legislation that for the first time would open birth records of hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers.
Senate panel passes bill for harsher beheading penalties
Decapitation soon could be punishable by death in Indiana. The state Senate Criminal Law Committee unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for beheadings.
Bill would block local limits on large livestock facilities
Local governments would be prohibited from placing restrictions on large livestock facilities in rural areas under a bill being considered in the Indiana Senate.
Senate committee advances bill to raise judges’ retirement age
A proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age for appellate judges from 75 to 80 narrowly advanced in the Indiana General Assembly Wednesday.
Electric utilities battle over annexing territories
When it comes to annexing nearby land, the city of Greenfield has a proposition that officials say sells itself.
Bill would let Hoosiers refuse gay-wedding services
Legislation that supporters contend is needed to protect Indiana residents with strong religious beliefs by allowing them to refuse services for same-sex weddings is drawing fire from gay rights groups and others who say it would legalize discrimination.
Bill seeks to give Indiana appellate judges more time on the bench
Sen. James Buck is again pushing to increase the mandatory retirement age for Indiana appellate judges.
Impact of Indiana’s criminal code changes unclear
Indiana's prosecutors and judges are still adjusting to sweeping changes to the state's criminal code intended to send more low-level, nonviolent criminals to community corrections programs and jails instead of state prisons.
Little Statehouse appetite exists for government reform
Indiana lawmakers set to reconvene next week aren't showing any signs they'll embrace some of the more sweeping changes to the structure of the state's local government proposed by a bipartisan commission.
Indiana lawmakers return to correct errors
State lawmakers returned to the Indiana Capitol Tuesday to fix a series of problems with their sweeping overhaul of the state's criminal sentencing rules.
Pence signs criminal code update, mental health witness bills into law
Gov. Mike Pence this week has signed numerous bills into law, including the legislation that reconciles conflicts between HEA 1006-2013, which reformed the state’s criminal code, and other bills touching on criminal law.
Statehouse says yes to meth house database
The methamphetamine bill that passed during the 2014 session turns attention away from the ingredients and to the contamination left behind by active meth labs. House Enrolled Act 1141 establishes an online database where potential homebuyers and renters will be able to see if their property was the site of a lab.
General Assembly, Supreme Court ponder big changes for small claims
A national nonprofit organization has been tasked with a fresh study of Marion County’s troubled township small claims court system, while a bill that passed the General Assembly has implications for small claims courts around the state.