Indiana Senate backs bill to ban renaming of Indianapolis
A proposal to ban Indianapolis and more than 100 other Indiana cities from ever changing their names has been approved by the state Senate.
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Indiana House approves COVID-19 liability protection bill
The House voted 76-20 to approve the bill on Monday. Two Republicans—Reps. John Jacob of Indianapolis and Curt Nisly of Milford—joined 18 Democrats in voting against it.
Indiana Senate approves bill to deregulate wetlands
Wetlands would still be regulated by the federal government under the Clean Water Act, but that oversight would only apply to about 20% of the remaining wetlands.
Indiana lawmakers discuss doubling cigarette tax rate
House Bill 1485, authored by Republican Rep. Julie Olthoff of Hebron, would increase the cigarette tax by $1 per pack and tax e-cigarettes and e-liquids.
Indiana Senate passes COVID-19 liability protection bill
Senate Bill 1, authored by Republican Sen. Mark Messmer of Jasper, would shield businesses and individuals from coronavirus civil liability lawsuits unless there was gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct that could be proven with “clear and convincing evidence.”
Senate committee advances bill to give Indy Eleven more time on stadium project
Senate Bill 385, authored by Republican Sen. Jack Sandlin of Indianapolis, would add two years to a 2019 bill that had called for a new special tax district—known as a professional sports development area—to be established in Marion County by mid-2022.
House committee advances bills to create small business, learning loss grant programs
The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday unanimously voted to approve pandemic-related bills that would allocate $30 million to help small businesses and $150 million to help students struggling from learning loss.
State lawmakers add $70M to bill to upgrade police training academy
The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday amended House Bill 1006 to add the funding to the legislation before unanimously voting to send it to the full House for consideration.
State lawmakers again considering change to business property tax exemption
Senate Bill 336, authored by Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, would base the exemption on the assessed value of equipment—called personal property—rather on the value at the time the company acquired it.
Indiana, other states eye allowing concealed carry of guns without permit
Fifteen states already allow concealed carry without a permit, and lawmakers in nine others have proposed allowing or expanding the practice.
Voucher expansion, education savings account plan could cost Indiana $100M
Indiana politicians are seizing on the upheaval caused by the pandemic to push forward a vast expansion of taxpayer funding for private education.
Push for Indiana minimum wage increase likely stalled again
A Democratic-backed proposal that would unlink Indiana from the current federal minimum wage that’s remained at $7.25 an hour since 2009 is unlikely to get traction in the General Assembly.
House Republicans propose $30M for small businesses, $150M for learning loss grants
The two grant programs were initially announced last week as part of the House GOP legislative agenda, but the exact funding amounts were not shared at that time.
Indiana Senate committee advances COVID-19 legal immunity bill
The bill would shield businesses and individuals from coronavirus civil liability lawsuits unless there was gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct that could be proven with “clear and convincing evidence.”
Law enforcement reform bill easily advances in Indiana House
The bill, authored by Republican Rep. Greg Steuerwald, would largely ban the use of chokeholds, penalize officers for intentionally turning off body and vehicle cameras, and make it easier for the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board to decertify bad acting officers.
Coronavirus relief legislation could end ‘surprise’ medical bills
Although lawmakers of both parties long agreed that the practice amounted to abusive billing, a lobbying war between doctors and insurers had thwarted a compromise.
Legislative priorities for tech industry include focus on diversity, inclusion
The Indiana Technology and Innovation Association, which represents more than 100 members from large technology companies and small startups, announced its legislative agenda on Thursday and about a quarter of the items are focused on equity and inclusion.
Congress deeply unpopular again as gridlock on coronavirus relief has real-life consequences
Over the past two months, congressional approval ratings have crashed downward, after a sudden previous bump in approval. Fewer than 1 in 5 voters say they like what lawmakers are doing on Capitol Hill, according to the Gallup Poll.
Democrats pledge to transform law enforcement through Justice in Policing Act
The act would ban chokeholds, establish a national database to track police misconduct, prohibit some no-knock warrants and enact other initiatives. The bill contains several provisions that would make it easier to hold officers accountable for misconduct in civil and criminal court.
Union-connected PAC spends thousands to defeat candidate who represents non-union contractors
Believe in Indiana, a political action committee connected to the Indiana State Building & Construction Trades Council, has spent more than $51,000 to run TV commercials that criticize JR Gaylor, CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana and Kentucky, who is running against Scott Baldwin in the Senate District 20 primary.