Holcomb signs bill delaying school, teacher penalties from ILEARN exam
Indiana schools and teachers won’t face penalties from lower student scores on the state’s new ILEARN standardized exam under legislation the governor signed Wednesday.
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Indigency uniformity bill advances to full House
Legislation designed to bring uniformity to judges’ indigency determinations is continuing to move through the Indiana Statehouse without opposition.
Holcomb says he’ll keep up workplace pregnancy protection bid
Indiana’s governor said Tuesday he would keep pushing for a law requiring more businesses to provide workplace accommodations for pregnant women, even though the state Senate rebuffed his proposal last week.
Cellphone ban, pregnancy accommodations among issues facing Statehouse debate
Indiana lawmakers returned to the Statehouse this week after deadlines last week on advancing bills for action during the second half of this year’s legislative session.
Web Exclusive: Senate passes bill extending sex crimes statute of limitations
A bill that would have done away with the statute of limitations for certain child sex abuse crimes is making headway in the 2020 Indiana General Assembly. But some advocates are disappointed in how the bill has panned out.
Teacher gun training program clears Indiana Senate
Indiana teachers who carry guns in schools would need to undergo annual training under a proposal advancing in the state Legislature.
Indiana lawmaker facing felony charge drops reelection bid
A state legislator from Indianapolis facing charges of threatening police officers who stopped him on suspicion of drunken driving is dropping his re-election bid.
Senator drops push to force Indiana marijuana prosecutions
A Republican state senator has dropped a proposal attacking what he called “social justice prosecution” by empowering Indiana’s attorney general to appoint special prosecutors to take over criminal cases that local authorities decide they won’t pursue.
Justice by geography? Bill aims to bring uniformity to indigency determinations
Across Indiana, lawyers say judges in different counties often take different approaches to making an indigency determination. That’s led to what some call “justice by geography” — that is, a person facing charges might be deemed indigent in one county, but the same person facing the same charges in another county might be found to have the ability to pay. A Senate bill seeks a statewide standard.
‘Social justice prosecuting’ bill advances despite opposition
Despite opposition from nearly all of the organizations and individuals who testified, a bill that would allow the attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor over certain cases that a local prosecutor declines to prosecute advanced out of an Indiana Senate committee.
Late-night hearing approves adult penalties for youths
A bill increasing the penalties for juvenile offenders passed a Senate committee on the night of Jan. 28 despite more than an hour of testimony from judges, attorneys, social workers, pastors and former inmates who all voiced strong and sometimes emotional opposition.
Indiana House backs slowing coal power plant closures
The Indiana House narrowly endorsed Monday a proposal aimed at making it more difficult for Indiana electric companies to close more coal-fired power plants.
Indiana push for pregnant worker protections gets sidelined
Republican lawmakers on Monday threw a roadblock in front of a proposal that would require more Indiana businesses to allow pregnant women to take longer breaks, transfer to less physical work and take unpaid time off after childbirth. The Indiana Senate voted 34-15 to delete the requirement from the bill and, instead, send the issue to a special committee following this year’s legislative session.
Push dropped for Indiana law requiring youth bicycle helmets
An Indiana legislator is dropping his push for a new law requiring all youthsto wear protective helmets while riding a bicycle, skateboard or skates on public property.
Scrap over old Indiana gay marriage ban derails popular bill
A potential fight over whether to repeal Indiana’s obsolete ban on same-sex marriages has sidetracked a widely supported proposal to raise the state’s minimum age for getting married.
Misdemeanor summonses, small claims filing limit bills pass House
Bills that would allow for summonses to appear instead of arrests in misdemeanor cases and that would raise the small claims filing limit statewide have passed the Indiana House of Representatives.
Ban on drivers using handheld phones clears Indiana House
The Indiana House endorsed a proposal Wednesday that would ban motorists from using handheld cellphones, a step supporters say is aimed at combating distracted driving.
Bill mandating harsher penalties for juveniles passes Senate committee
A bill increasing the penalties for juvenile offenders passed a Senate committee Tuesday night despite more than an hour of testimony from judges, attorneys, social workers, pastors and former inmates who all voiced strong and sometimes emotional opposition.
Indiana woman appealing conviction in fatal school bus crash
An Indiana woman convicted in a crash near Rochester that killed three children who were crossing a highway to board a school bus is appealing her conviction, contending that the tragedy was “just an accident and not a crime,” her attorney said Tuesday.
Speedway Democrat not seeking re-election to Statehouse
An Indianapolis area Democrat who at one point had considered making a run for governor will not seek re-election to her Statehouse office. Indiana Rep. Karlee Macer, of Speedway, announced Tuesday that she won’t run for re-election for House District 92 this year.