Indiana state senator hoping to replace Hollingsworth
Republican Sen. Erin Houchin of Salem announced Thursday, a day after Hollingsworth said he would not seek reelection, that she would seek the GOP nomination for the 9th District seat
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Indiana House removes employer penalty from vaccine mandates bill
The Indiana House on Thursday removed language from a controversial employer vaccine mandates bill that would have financially punished employers for firing workers because they are unvaccinated against COVID-19.
Indiana lawmaker says curriculum bill doesn’t ban teachers from condemning racism
The bill, authored by Rep. Tony Cook, R-Cicero, would ban teachers from promoting eight concepts, including teaching about race and racism in a way that makes students feel responsible for matters like slavery and discrimination.
Veteran Indiana legislator Mrvan stepping down from seat
Democratic Sen. Frank Mrvan of Hammond has represented Hammond and neighboring communities in the state Senate for all but four years since 1978, serving more than 39 years in the Legislature.
Republicans’ $1B tax-cut package heads to full Indiana House
Republicans on the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee passed their $1 billion tax-cut proposal Wednesday night on a 15-7 party-line vote, sending it to the full House for consideration.
Public health emergency bill moves forward in Indiana Senate
The Senate Health and Provider Services Committee voted to move the bill forward to the full Senate, after hearing testimony all in favor of the measure.
Indiana House panel approves sweeping bill aimed at nursing shortage
The bill, which allows nursing schools to increase enrollment and hire more part-time instructors, is widely supported by Indiana hospital systems, nursing schools and the long-term-care industry.
Turn signal bill gets green light to Indiana Senate floor
A bill that would strip a requirement for Hoosier motorists to signal at certain distances before changing lanes or turning advanced in the Indiana Legislature on Tuesday.
Indiana lawmakers get pushback on partisan school board bill
School board members from across Indiana voiced opposition Tuesday to a Republican-backed proposal that would add political party identifications to what are now nonpartisan school board elections throughout the state.
Indiana House backs dropping state’s handgun permit law
The proposal, which would loosen Indiana’s already lenient firearms restrictions, passed on a largely party-line 63-29 vote despite the opposition of several major law enforcement organizations.
Indiana teachers push back against school curriculum bills
A controversial Indiana bill that Republican lawmakers contend would increase transparency around school curricula has drawn opposition from dozens of teachers who testified Monday at the Statehouse that the legislation would censor classroom instruction.
Medicare told to reassess premium hike caused by Alzheimer’s drug
U.S. health secretary Xavier Becerra on Monday ordered Medicare to reassess a big premium increase facing millions of seniors this year, attributed in large part to a pricey new Alzheimer’s drug with questionable benefits.
Supreme Court to weigh vaccine rules affecting more than 80M
The justices are scheduled to hear arguments Friday about whether to allow the Biden administration to enforce a vaccine-or-testing requirement that applies to large employers and a separate vaccine mandate for most health care workers.
White House, Postal Service making plans to ship COVID tests to households
Test manufacturers and distributors seeking to provide a share of the 500 million tests have submitted proposals to the government, and the Biden administration on Thursday evening awarded its first contract toward the purchase.
Holcomb: Emergency powers law is a constitutional amendment, requires vote
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is moving forward with his bid to have the Indiana Supreme Court overturn a law allowing the Legislature to call itself into special session, arguing in a new filing that the law is akin to a constitutional amendment that must be voted on by Hoosiers.
House committee moves vaccine mandates bill forward
The vaccine-mandate provisions of the bill would effectively force employers to accept any medical or religious reason to exempt employees from getting a vaccine, without question.
House, Senate differ on handling vaccine mandates, health emergency
Indiana House and Senate Republican leaders appear to be at odds on how to handle legislation to address employer vaccine mandates and end the state’s public health emergency.
House Republicans unveil $1B tax cut plan; other GOP leaders are more reluctant
The plan proposes lowering or eliminating four separate taxes on sales, business personal property, individual income and utility receipts.
Indiana legislative leaders take aim at ‘out-of-control’ health care prices
House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Rodric Bray sent a joint letter Tuesday to 20 hospital and insurance executives, telling them to submit a plan by April 1 that would lower Indiana’s hospital prices to the national average or lower by 2025.
COVID-19 surge not deterring push to end Indiana health emergency
A House committee is set to vote Thursday on a bill that includes administrative actions sought by Holcomb, along with provisions that would force businesses to grant broad exemptions to any workplace COVID-19 vaccination requirements.