House panel passes bill adding oversight to state agencies
State government agencies could face greater scrutiny when proposing new regulations under a measure an Indiana House committee approved Tuesday.
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Statehouse roundup: Bills tackle audits, religious hiring, massage therapy, divorce waiting times
Lawmakers on Monday advanced or considered legislation regarding religious hiring decisions, massage therapy, divorce waiting times, audit frequency, death benefits for EMS workers and how to treat school board members convicted of felonies.
Bill would treat massage therapists as health care providers
A bill that would impose stricter regulations on massage therapists passed the Indiana House Public Health Committee on Monday.
Legislators look at cutting college tax credit, other breaks
One of the 29 tax breaks targeted for elimination allows up to a $200 credit for contributions to Indiana universities or colleges.
Hotly debated bill to regulate e-cigarette liquid advances
A large group came to protest Senate Bill 539, authored by Sen. Carlin Yoder, R-Middlebury, which would establish regulations on e-liquid – the fluid used in electronic cigarettes.
Measure seeks in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants
A bill that passed a Senate committee Thursday would allow undocumented immigrant students living in Indiana to pay in-state tuition.
Bills weakening school chief’s power advance in House
The elected state superintendent of public instruction would lose authority over several areas of education policy under Republican-backed proposals approved Thursday by an Indiana House committee.
Nearly 80 schools, districts could face takeover under bill
House Bill 1638 would give significant new powers to the State Board of Education to intervene in schools earning a D or F grade for at least four straight years—even creating new schools within a school district.
House panel passes bill for Amish exemption on photo IDs
Bill sponsor Rep. Robert Morris, R-Fort Wayne, said it was created to give Indiana's Amish population more access to outside businesses such as banks and pharmacies that require a state-issued ID.
House panel backs new ethics rules for state legislators
An Indiana House committee has endorsed tighter rules on the conduct of lawmakers in the wake of an ethics investigation of former House Speaker Pro Tem Eric Turner and other issues.
Bill would let companies dock paychecks for more reasons
A bill that would let companies pull money out of employee paychecks for uniforms, education and other expenses could receive a vote next week in the House Judiciary Committee.
Meth bills mandating cold-pill prescriptions face tough road
Bills aiming to reduce Indiana’s methamphetamine problem by requiring prescriptions for some cold medicines probably won’t be considered in House or Senate committees this session, key lawmakers said.
Key lawmaker sponsors bill to allow Sunday alcohol sales
House Public Policy Committee Chairman Tom Dermody of LaPorte has authored the bill that would allow Indiana groceries, pharmacies and liquor stores to sell alcohol on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
State senators pushing for new Indiana standardized tests
A bill sponsored by three Republican senators calls for the State Board of Education to revise Indiana's K-12 academic standards and select a nationally recognized set of exams for testing students by July 2016.
More Indiana audits planned with local government fees boost
The state auditing agency would hire about 100 more field examiners to review spending by local governments and school districts under a plan being considered by Indiana lawmakers.
Transit advocates push to increase state funding
A fund for public transportation could be debated before the House Ways and Means Committee after Rep. Randy Truitt filed a bill that would provide about $20 million more per year than Gov. Mike Pence proposed.
Indiana House bill would legalize chemical cremation
The legislation would require the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service to adopt rules for alkaline hydrolysis. The process is legal in 11 other states.
Proposal would overhaul state ethics laws after scandals
Indiana legislators would face more financial disclosure requirements and elected officials would be expressly prohibited from using state resources for political purposes under a proposed overhaul of ethics laws introduced Thursday.
Senate bill would increase access to adoption records
Senate Bill 352 would allow those adopted from 1941 through 1993 to access their records unless their birth parents sign a form prohibiting it.
Inmates could get trades training under Senate bill
Senate Bill 173, authored by Sen. R. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, requires the Indiana Department of Correction to establish a specialized vocational program to train minimum-security inmates in trades.