House passes $1.9T pandemic bill on near party-line vote
The massive measure heads to the Senate, where Democrats seem bent on resuscitating their minimum wage push and fights could erupt over state aid and other issues.
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Finding consensus, struggling with conflict at legislative halfway mark
General Assembly has avoided COVID outbreak, but debated the budget and gubernatorial powers as tempers flared over racial issues.
Indiana Senate passes bill to strip IndyGo funding, prevent rapid bus line expansion
Senate Bill 141 would withhold 10% of local income tax revenue from IndyGo until it meets a private fundraising threshold established in a 2014 law. It also would prevent IndyGo from moving forward with expansion projects, like the Blue and Purple lines, until it secures private funding.
Senate committee narrowly approves bill that strips funding from IndyGo
Senate Bill 141, authored by Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, would withhold 10% of local income tax revenue from IndyGo until it meets a private fundraising threshold established in a 2014 law.
House passes pregnancy accommodations bill that lacks requirements
House Bill 1309, authored by Rep. Karen Engleman, R-Georgetown, will allow employees to request accommodations from their employer—something pregnant workers are already permitted to do.
House votes to override governor’s veto of landlord-tenant bill, allowing it to become law
Senate Enrolled Act 148 prevents all local governments from regulating any aspect of landlord-tenant relationships and blocks tenant protections that the city of Indianapolis had put in place last spring.
Indiana Senate panel advances bill that would pass along drug rebates to consumers
The bill pitted the two largest companies headquartered in Indianapolis—drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. and health insurer Anthem Inc.—on opposite sides of the issue.
Committee fails to vote on work-share bill, despite business support
The Senate Pensions and Labor Committee on Wednesday discussed Senate Bill 44, which would authorize the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to implement a work-sharing program, but the chairman of the committee refused to vote on the bill.
Senate taking different approach to tighten governor’s executive powers
The Senate Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee on Tuesday night voted 12-0 to approve Senate Bill 407, which would prevent the governor from continuously renewing statewide emergency orders without the approval of the Indiana General Assembly.
Lawmakers kill bill that would have stripped control of IMPD away from city
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee on Tuesday amended Senate Bill 168, which would have created a five-member board to oversee and govern the Indianapolis police department, to recommend the issue be discussed in a summer study committee.
Lawmakers advance bill to prevent governor, commission from election changes
Senate Bill 353 would give only the Indiana General Assembly the authority to change the date, time or place of an election.
State lawmakers advance bill to allow curbside pickup of alcohol
A wide-reaching alcohol policy bill would allow for curbside pickup of alcoholic beverages, plus carryout beverages at the new food hall at the Bottleworks development in downtown Indianapolis.
More than 60 execs sign letter urging lawmakers to resist ‘heavy-handed limits’ on Indianapolis government
The letter—signed by leaders at Eli Lilly and Co., Elanco, OneAmerica, Anthem Inc., IU Health, Salesforce and Roche Diagnostics, among others—acknowledges that the city faces economic, housing and crime problems, but the executives say they believe local officials are the ones best equipped to tackle those challenges.
Indiana panel OKs bill that sets statewide standards on renewable-energy projects
The vote followed a passionate debate between renewable energy advocates and a group of residents and local officials who said legislation would take away local control.
House panel advances pregnancy accommodations bill with virtually no mandates
If it becomes law, House Bill 1309, authored by Republican Rep. Karen Engleman of Georgetown, will allow employees to request accommodations from their employer—something pregnant workers are already allowed to do.
Indiana Senate votes to override Holcomb’s veto of landlord-tenant bill
If it becomes law, Senate Enrolled Act 148 would prevent all local governments from regulating any aspect of landlord-tenant relationships and would block tenant protections that the city of Indianapolis had put in place last spring.
Senate committee approves bill to take away zoning control from Indianapolis
Senate Bill 392, authored by Republican Sen. Mike Young of Indianapolis, would give each township in Marion County—except for Center Township—its own board of zoning appeals. Speedway, Lawrence, Beech Grove and Southport would also have zoning boards.
Indiana lawmakers propose using cigarette tax for Medicaid
A House committee made significant changes Thursday to the way Indiana would spend proceeds from a proposal to hike the state’s cigarette tax for the first time in more than a decade and impose a new state tax on vaping liquids.
State lawmakers consider new emergency session rules
The House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee on Thursday amended a bill to create what would be called an “emergency session,” which would allow lawmakers to convene at any time during a statewide emergency.
Law enforcement reform bill advances with bipartisan support
A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing police accountability and enacting criminal justice reform advanced to the Indiana Senate after lawmakers unanimously approved the measure in a House vote Tuesday.