Indiana legislative round-up
A snapshot of key points from bills heard in the 2012 legislative session. All enrolled acts were signed by the governor by March 20.
legislation
Articles
Power of attorney, Allen County magistrate bills ready for enrollment
Legislation that deals with power of attorney and that would give Allen Circuit Court a second full-time magistrate have made it through both houses of the Indiana Legislature.
CFOs, CAFOs in the spotlight
An update on Indiana laws and legislation involving confined feeding operations and confined animal feeding operations.
Indiana becomes right-to-work state
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed legislation Wednesday making Indiana the 23rd right-to-work state. The law makes it illegal for any worker to be forced to pay union dues or fees or become a member of a labor union as a condition of employment.
Senate passes ‘right-to-work’ bill by narrow vote
The Indiana Senate voted 28-22 in favor of House Bill 1001, which would make it illegal to require employees to pay union dues as a condition of employment.
Governor signs human trafficking bill
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed Senate Enrolled Act 4, which more clearly defines human trafficking and strengthens penalties for that crime. The new law is effective immediately.
Barnes-inspired legislation passes Senate on 3rd reading
The legislation created in response to a controversial Indiana Supreme Court ruling last year regarding defending against unlawful entry was approved 45-5 by the Senate on third hearing Monday.
Bills would make changes to pro bono funding, court costs, early voting
Indiana’s 2012 legislative session promises to be a busy one, with hundreds of bills already filed and a short session deadline of March 14. Read about some of the bills Indiana Lawyer is watching.
Guidelines aim to raise concussion awareness
New laws and policies are prompted by the long-term effects of head injuries in sports.
Man pleads guilty to espionage, theft
A Chinese national and former employee of Dow AgroSciences LLC pleaded guilty Tuesday to economic espionage and theft of trade secrets in federal court. Kexue Huang’s case is the first prosecution in Indiana for foreign economic espionage.
Lawmakers taking second look at ‘second chance law’
Legislators want to take a second look at a new law passed this year that gives Indiana residents with nonviolent criminal histories a chance to limit public access to parts of their record.
U.S. sees most significant patent reform in decades
Some Indiana attorneys think this new first-to-file process will create a race to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in order to obtain patent protection first.
President signs patent reform law
A long-debated patent reform law is now in place, signaling the most significant change to the system in nearly six decades.
Determining dependency in child support
A new law merges what guidelines had previously only recommended.
Beyers: Law makes dishonesty legal on applications
Attorney Bill Beyers writes about a new law enacted by the Legislature that has made it easier for people with a criminal history to obtain employment.
Indiana files appellate brief in Planned Parenthood case
The Office of the Indiana Attorney General filed its appellate brief Monday asking the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift a preliminary injunction against parts of the new abortion-provider law cutting public Planned Parenthood funding.
New law allows for restricted record access for certain crimes
A change in state law that starts Friday allows non-violent offenders to have their criminal records sealed for misdemeanor and Class D felonies. An Indianapolis man is already filing a petition asking the Marion Superior Court to limit access to records involving two money conversion convictions.
Early intervention for juveniles
A new law, along with pilot programs, encourage alternatives to keep kids out of courts.
Immigrant students receive diverted sentences
On June 14, five undocumented immigrant students received diverted sentences for criminal trespass charges stemming from an incident in May in Gov. Mitch Daniels' office.
Groups file suits against new law
The National Immigration Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, and the national ACLU Foundation Immigrants’ Rights Project filed a class action lawsuit May 25 challenging the wording of a new Indiana law designed to curb illegal immigration.