Indiana House Republicans kill bill to raise smoking age to 21
House Republicans justified the decision, stating that their calculations indicate the change would cost state government $14 million a year in lost cigarette tax revenue.
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Push for hate crimes law fails again in Indiana Legislature
Indiana will remain one of just five states without a hate crimes law after a bill was sidelined in the Senate. Critics said the failure to pass such a law could hurt the state’s chances of landing Amazon’s planned second headquarters.
Indiana House calls for study of medical marijuana
The resolution was approved Thursday without opposition and comes after 29 other states have passed laws allowing medical marijuana in some form.
House panel advances ‘hillbilly venture capital’ legislation
An Indiana House committee on Wednesday advanced a bill that the payday loan industry says would create a longer-term, higher-value loan for people who have such bad credit scores that they can’t be helped by regular banks.
House panel votes to reverse Indianapolis-area ban on light rail
A proposal to reverse the ban that has precluded Marion County and surrounding suburbs from building or acquiring a light-rail mass-transit project passed an Indiana House committee Wednesday.
Indiana Senate panel delays vote on hate crime bill
The move by Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee Chairman Mike Young came after an emotionally charged hearing Tuesday.
Bill limiting short-term rental regulation advanced by House
The bill would guarantee homeowners the ability to rent out their primary residence on websites such as Airbnb.
Bill to strengthen school-district oversight draws criticism
Some Indiana school officials say a bill that would create a system to monitor school districts' financial health and punish struggling schools goes too far
House votes to avert federal shutdown, but Senate chances dim
A divided House on Thursday passed an eleventh-hour plan to keep the government running. But the measure faces gloomy prospects in the Senate, and it remains unclear whether lawmakers will be able to find a way to keep federal offices open past a Friday night deadline.
Bosma says Legislature might move on Amazon incentives this session
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma said lawmakers could move an incentives bill “expeditiously” to attract Amazon’s proposed second headquarters, if necessary, but he wouldn’t be in favor of doing what Wisconsin did to lure Foxconn.
Future of CBD sales still unclear after hours of testimony
The future for cannabidiol, or CBD, oil in Indiana remains unclear after an Indiana senator declined to call for a vote on two bills that would legalize the sale of the substance if certain specifications are met.
Women rally at Statehouse for legislation against gender pay discrimination
Rep. Linda Lawson and Sen. Jean Breaux are working together this session to pass legislation that would hold employers accountable for permitting a wage gap between male and female workers.
UPDATE: Indiana Senate panel votes against expanded cold beer sales
Indiana will likely remain the only state that restricts who can sell cold beer after a Senate panel voted Wednesday to uphold a closely guarded law that protects the interests of liquor stores.
Bill to regulate autonomous vehicle use moves forward
House Bill 1341 allows people to operate automated vehicles on public highways but only under certain conditions. Critics, including auto manufacturers, said the bill would stifle innovation.
Indiana House panel backs lifting Sunday alcohol sales ban
A Senate committee is scheduled to consider another bill Wednesday afternoon that would allow convenience and grocery stores and pharmacies to sell cold beer.
Bill proposes $2-per-pack cigarette tax, raising smoking age to 21
New legislation introduced by longtime Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, would drastically increase taxes on cigarettes as well as raise the legal age at which Hoosiers can buy tobacco products.
Panel advances bill to exempt some software from sales tax
Advocates say removing Indiana’s sales tax on many service-based software transactions would be a step in the right direction for the state’s growing tech industry.
Bill proposes faculty grants as way to ease nursing shortage
Senate Bill 28 would offer grants of $5,000 a year to eligible instructors at Indiana nursing programs, with a lifetime cap of $25,000.
11 ideas to boost workforce development in Indiana, as proposed by legislators
Faced with a shortage of skilled workers to fill some available jobs, legislators have proposed myriad bills this session aimed at tackling the issue and improving the effectiveness of the state’s system.
Two bills address financial distress in troubled school districts
Lawmakers warn that more school districts will face budgetary distress in the coming years.