White House, House Democrats reach deal on coronavirus economic relief package
Agreement calls for spending tens of billions of dollars on sick leave, unemployment insurance, food stamps and other measures to address the unfolding COVID-19 crisis.
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Democratic, Republican chairmen call for more flexibility in primary voting
The party leaders did not suggest any delay in the May 5 primary itself.
Bill that outlined requirement for ousting AG dies in last night of session
Despite a push from Indiana House lawmakers to clarify in state code whether Attorney General Curtis Hill could remain in office if his law license is suspended, state legislators failed to pass a bill before adjourning this year’s session Wednesday night.
Legislature passes controversial bill to block new Indy landlord-tenant rules
The provision emerged at the Statehouse last month as a last-minute attempt to block the Indianapolis City-County Council from implementing two ordinances designed to protect tenants from predatory landlords.
Legislature proves it’s unafraid to meddle in Indianapolis affairs
Just in the past month or so, lawmakers have debated proposals to prohibit cities from regulating landlord-tenant relations, allow the attorney general to step in when a local prosecutor decides not to pursue a case, and cut funding to IndyGo—which might stop construction of future bus rapid-transit lines.
IPL gets OK to spend $1.2B on grid upgrade, setting stage for seven years of rate increases
IPL said a typical household customer would likely pay an extra $1.50 a month in the first year. That monthly amount would increase by $1.50 each year, or by a total of $10.50 a month by the seventh year.
Indiana Senate approves bill that could cut IndyGo funding
House Bill 1279, authored by Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, initially only addressed a regional development group in northwest Indiana. But an amendment sought to put teeth in a 2014 state law that required IndyGo to raise private dollars to help finance its mass transit operations.
Justice center’s first building—a center for addictions, mental health—nears completion
The city is just six months from a tentative opening for the first piece of the justice campus project, the 37,000-square-foot Assessment and Intervention Center. Construction on other buildings in phase one is well underway, and the city has started planning for phases two and three.
Ed Feigenbaum: State’s longest-serving House speaker prepares to turn over gavel
House Speaker Brian Bosma is turning control over to Rep. Todd Huston, who isn’t wedded to policies of the past simply because they were justified when enacted and once worked.
GOP lawmakers push to broaden definition of panhandling
The new language, which was added to a bill this week, would effectively make it illegal to panhandle in all of downtown Indianapolis.
Bill could strip IndyGo of millions of dollars, halt future work on Purple, Blue lines
Sen. Aaron Freeman, the Indianapolis Republican and former city councilor who authored the legislation, said his goal is not to cripple the bus system’s operations but to hold IndyGo accountable to a 2014 law that required it to fund some of its operations with private funds.
Ed Feigenbaum: Two issues threaten to disrupt more mundane work
Each year, one item seems to arise unexpectedly—innocently or intentionally—that seems to consume, as Statehouse denizens observe, all the time and calories.
Embattled Rep. Forestal won’t seek re-election; city councilor to seek his House seat
State Rep. Dan Forestal, a Democrat facing charges of drunken driving and impersonating a public servant, said he will not seek re-election so that he can “focus on my mental health.”
Report: First month of Illinois pot sales netted nearly $40M
Despite shortages, Illinois residents bought more than $30.6 million in January, while out-of-state visitor sales totaled $8.6 million. Dispensaries sold more than 970,000 products.
Ed Feigenbaum: Lobbying groups’ tactics test patience, boundaries
Perhaps it is no surprise that Bosma decided to step down as speaker soon, then resign his House seat yet this spring.
IBJ Podcast: The session so far—health care, teacher evaluations and hands-free phone use
IBJ’s Statehouse reporter Lindsey Erdody breaks down what bills are moving, which ones already are dead and what’s about to hit Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk.
Lawmakers consider bill to protect right to resell entertainment tickets
The legislation is meant to protect an individual’s right to sell or give his or her ticket to an event to someone else, should they choose to do so.
Indiana lawmakers backing tougher tobacco sales penalties
The House and Senate will need to reach agreement on a single version in the coming weeks of the legislative session.
Legislator seeking end of state’s U.S. Senate primaries
Sen. James Buck of Kokomo said delegates at a state party convention would select the best Senate candidates and that eliminating primary campaigns would make running for office less costly.
GOP-backed bill to make professional licensing easier faces opposition
A top legislative priority for House Republicans faced some push back this week from the very professionals lawmakers believed they would be helping with the measure.