Indiana Senate backs GOP bill tightening mail voter rules
A Republican-backed proposal that would require Indiana voters to submit more identification information to obtain mail-in ballots was endorsed Monday by the state Senate.
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Machine gun switches will become illegal under Indiana bill
Indiana lawmakers have given final approval to a proposal that would make it illegal for anyone to possess devices for adapting a firearm into a machine gun.
Federal judge enjoins Indiana laws on union dues deductions for teachers
A federal judge has blocked Indiana laws that require teachers and school corporations to comply with new procedures to authorize the deduction of union dues from their paychecks.
Bill creating prosecutor commission, review board for ‘noncompliance’ passes out of House committee
A bill combining efforts to establish an Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Commission and hold so-called “noncompliant” prosecutors accountable has advanced out of an Indiana House committee.
Constitutional right-to-bail change narrowly scrapes through committee
A constitutional change letting judges deny bail to anyone they deem a “substantial risk” squeaked through an Indiana House committee Wednesday after several edits and detailed discussion.
Georgia bill is latest effort targeting prosecutors
A new Georgia commission to discipline and remove wayward prosecutors would be the latest move nationwide to ratchet up oversight on “woke prosecutors” who aren’t doing enough to fight crime. The bill parallels efforts in other states including Indiana.
Indiana bill banning gender-affirming care sent to governor
Indiana House Republicans on Monday approved a bill that would ban all gender-affirming care for minors in the state, sending the measure to Indiana’s Republican governor amid a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation across the U.S.
No quorum means no new judges or courts: Legislature rejects requests for judicial resources as caseloads grow
As caseloads continue to grow, Hoosier judges are increasingly feeling the pressure of trying to move their cases quickly, but also justly.
States’ divisions on abortion widen after Roe overturned
A group of Tennessee Republicans began this year’s legislative session hoping to add narrow exceptions to one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, armed with the belief that most people — even in conservative Tennessee — reject extremes on the issue.
State’s poorest renters hurt most by affordable housing shortage, report says
Sixty-one percent of Hoosiers in extremely low-income households can’t find an affordable rental, instead spending more than half of their income on housing with little left for food or other necessities, according to a newly released analysis.
Holcomb signs controversial utility bill into law
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law Wednesday a controversial bill that could allow utilities to pass along certain costs to customers for federally mandated projects without having to get pre-approval for those projects from state regulators.
Bill that would change wetlands definition passes Indiana House committee
Democrats, environmental groups and business leaders are denouncing a bill that they say would further erode protections for Indiana’s already shrinking wetlands.
Indiana lawmakers back making machine gun switches illegal
Indiana lawmakers have endorsed a bill making it illegal for anyone to possess devices for adapting a firearm into a machine gun.
Lawmakers push controversial military trial rights bill through to governor
The Indiana Senate on Thursday passed a much-disputed proposal barring Indiana National Guard members from demanding a military trial — or court-martial — in lieu of non-judicial punishment.
Bill revoking National Guard members’ ability to demand court martial headed for final Senate vote
A bill changing the process for calling a court martial within the Indiana National Guard is one step closer to passage.
Experts say attacks on free speech are rising across the US
First Amendment rights had been stable in America for decades, but in recent years, many states have reverted to the anti-speech tactics employed by people like Sen. Joe McCarthy during the “Red Scare” of the early 1950s.
Halfway point: A look at key legislation in 2nd half of 2023 session
Here is an update on key legislation affecting not only lawyers, but all Hoosiers statewide. Updates are as of March 10.
Proponents of increased juror pay bill point to better engagement
As it stands now, the pay to show up for jury selection is $15 per day. Those chosen to serve on a jury earn $40 per day, which comes out to $5 an hour for an eight-hour day. Legislation making its way through the Statehouse would double that pay.
Misdemeanor funding coming back to defenders? Public defender offices hoping for restoration of misdemeanor reimbursement funding
As staff shortages collide with overflowing caseloads, chief public defenders around the state are keeping a close eye on new funding proposed by Gov. Eric Holcomb that would reimburse public defender offices for handling misdemeanor cases.
Finding freedom? Noncompete agreements facing stiff challenges on state, federal level
Noncompete agreements are taking center stage in the Indiana Statehouse and on the federal level this year.