Rep. Bob Cherry won’t seek reelection, ending 25 years in seat
The Greenfield Republican, whose district includes parts of Hancock and Madison counties, co-authored the state’s latest biennial budget.
Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle
Articles
State revenue under projections for first time this fiscal year
The state budget plan predicted revenue of about $1.6 billion but collections were short $139 million: almost 9% below expectations, according to a monthly revenue report.
Braun launches first TV ad in gubernatorial bid
U.S. Sen Mike Braun is the fourth Indiana GOP gubernatorial contender to go on air with campaign advertising.
State Rep. Haggard announces congressional bid—if incumbent doesn’t run
First-term state Rep. Craig Haggard said he’ll run for Congress whenever incumbent U.S. Rep Jim Baird of Indiana leaves his post—whether that’s in 2024 or afterward.
State grants $8.7M to early-education providers in child care push
Twenty-one early education providers throughout Indiana—and potentially more—will expand their child care offerings with the grants.
Indiana public transit ridership cracks 20M trips, but far from pre-pandemic years
The state’s 65 public transit systems recorded 20 million passenger trips in 2022, up significantly from 17.2 million in 2021. But that’s still well shy of previous highs.
State lawmaker pension panel recommends 13th check, cost-of-living adjustment
Indiana should move from ad hoc public retirement benefit increases to a long-term approach that guarantees former public employees a 13th check or cost of living adjustment, or COLA, annually, an interim committee recommended Tuesday.
Replacing income tax with sales tax hike would cost poor Hoosiers more, experts say
Analyst Neva Butkus with the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy called the state’s tax system “deeply regressive,” meaning that lower-income residents contribute larger shares of their income toward government services.
State Rep. Schaibley of Carmel to retire after almost decade in office
Rep. Donna Schaibley, has served House District 24—parts of Boone and Hamilton counties—since 2014.
Indiana lawmakers push for better data on higher education cost, debt
Indiana lawmakers on Tuesday reviewed the results of a “first-of-its-kind” request of higher education cost and debt data—and found it lacking.
U.S. Rep. Jim Baird to seek reelection, dispelling retirement rumors
Just two other candidates have filed to face Baird in 2024: Charles Bookwalter and Jerry Jones.
Budget experts recommend caution before Indiana considers tax overhaul
Key Indiana Republicans at a task force meeting heard tepid support on Friday for their hopes to cut or scrap the state’s individual income tax.
Indiana contemplating own strategic medical stockpile following national shortages
Pandemic shortages forced the state to run more lab tests—with results taking days rather than minutes—which former State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said delayed quarantines and medication referrals.
‘Success coaches’ to hit Indiana colleges after budget approval
The Indiana State Budget Committee on Friday approved $2.5 million to embed 31 success coaches in higher education institutions across the state.
Lawmakers explore site readiness, regulations, demographics in first land-use task force
State legislation creating the task force gave it five issues to examine: growth trends, growth barriers, developer siting, local self-investment and food insecurity.
Breach exposes information of 200K-plus Hoosier Medicaid members
The exposed information includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, gender, medical conditions, diagnoses, medications, allergies, health conditions and more.
Delta-8 legal dispute: Following attorney general’s guidance, industry files suit
When Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita issued the opinion in January this year finding that delta-8 and other hemp-derived products are illegal, law enforcement around the state took note.
Utility regulator staffer leaving to work as industry lobbyist
Ryan Heater has served as the IURC’s staff chief since 2019, but he’ll soon head to Indiana Electric Cooperatives to be the group’s vice president of government relations.
Experts carefully optimistic about state’s fiscal footing as lawmakers look to cut taxes
The Interim State and Local Tax Review Task Force, which began meeting Wednesday, will examine Indiana’s corporate tax, individual income tax, property tax, sales tax, and others.
Indiana attorney general leading tenants-protection movement
Republican state lawmakers have long resisted taking up legislation strengthening tenants’ legal rights, making Todd Rokita an outlier at the state level—but a possible ally for advocates who’ve struggled to advance such changes.