Bills affecting immigration, IEDC limits and more head to governor
Dozens of bills received final concurrence votes in the Indiana House and Senate on Wednesday.
Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle
Articles
Indiana House Republicans OK massive local property, income tax plan that Democrats dub a ‘scam’
House Democrats accused their GOP colleagues of strong-arming local units of governments into raising local income taxes to make up property tax revenue losses.
After third committee vote, Delta-8 regulations head to Indiana House floor
Senate Bill 478 sets out advertising, age-limit, licensing, packaging, testing and other requirements for the hemp-derived products.
Panel strikes utility pole compromise to boost Indiana broadband access
Lawmakers on Tuesday also expanded a nuclear development bill beyond a pilot.
Legislation on vote center study, student ID voting ban, income tax cuts sent to governor
In addition, the Indiana House approved towing regulations after months of strife within the Republican supermajority.
‘Better in Indiana’: Bill to absorb Illinois communities advances to Senate floor
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker previously called Indiana’s legislation “a stunt.” He’d need to bless the move, but companion legislation is already dead.
Indiana considers ban on all marijuana advertising—not just on billboards
The legislation goes beyond the billboard-specific prohibition advanced by a Senate panel last week.
Governor appoints Indiana’s next public access chief
Business-focused Indianapolis attorney Jennifer Ruby will take over the state’s vacant public access counselor role.
Utility customer advocates say protections inadequate in large-load users, nuclear development bill
The legislation would expedite approval processes for large-load customers like data centers and set out cost-recovery mechanisms for projects utilities undertake to serve those big customers.
Delta-8 regulation advocates fend off marijuana opponents
Changes to the bill accepted in an Indiana House committee last Wednesday turned the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council’s neutrality to opposition, and triggered alarm bells among marijuana critics.
Federal judge dismisses Indiana delta-8 legality lawsuit
Judge James R. Sweeney II of the U.S. District Court for Indiana’s Southern District wrote the suit is “fundamentally” a “question for consideration by Indiana’s courts.”
International immigration drove Indiana’s growth last year, not births, analysis says
The 44,144 residents added in 2024 represent Indiana’s largest one-year increase since 2008.
Braun issues orders on environmental justice, overregulation
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun made dual executive orders Wednesday—and said President Donald Trump’s timber production goals aren’t aimed at Indiana or its Hoosier National Forest.
Witnesses accuse school board candidates of ‘hiding’ political affiliations
About 40 witnesses from across the state—including more than a dozen embroiled in contentious Hamilton County elections—weighed in Wednesday on legislation that calls for upending Indiana’s nonpartisan school board system.
Call to amend congressional term limits into Constitution gains ground in Indiana
Last year, the Indiana House passed a resolution but it didn’t get a Senate hearing. This year, the Senate has jumped into the fray, passing a resolution despite bipartisan opposition.
LEAP spending nears $1B with projected budget shielded, investigation finds
The LEAP Research and Innovation District, led by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., is among the costliest economic development projects Indiana has attempted. But the agency’s structure obscures its spending and who benefits.
House approves local road fundraising measure
At the end of the 2025 fiscal year, any excess would fund fixes for dangerous at-grade railroad crossings. But in later years, the first $50 million of any surplus could go to Indianapolis-Marion County.
Indiana panel advances AG-backed immigration crackdown
The bill would also ban employers from “knowingly or intentionally” recruiting, hiring or employing people not authorized to work in the U.S.
Bill amendment seeks to block charities from operating like true casinos
The amendment begins by renaming popular “casino game nights” to “card, dice and roulette games events.”
Almost $30M spent lobbying Indiana General Assembly last year
The health care and energy industries dominated lobbying in 2024, but real estate, tobacco and other interests also were busy.