Lawmakers consider protections for kid-run lemonade stands
A bill in the Indiana House would ban local regulations on lemonade stands, making it easier for children to operate such small enterprises without fear of running afoul of the law.
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Bill to undo Mile Square property tax passes House with support from Speaker Todd Huston
As an alternative, the House approved a separate measure that would allow the City-County Council to increase the countywide local income tax by .02% to help pay for the operating costs of a homeless shelter and various improvements in the city’s Mile Square.
Bill to limit foreign ‘adversaries’ from buying Indiana farmland advances in House
The proposal builds on a previous measure passed in the 2022 Indiana legislative session, which limited foreign entities from buying more than 320 acres in Indiana for crop farming or timber production, among other restrictions.
Legislation to regulate huge water withdrawals won’t get a hearing, but farmers could win some protections
Bills inspired to regulate potential plans to withdraw as much as 100 million gallons of water a day from Wabash River aquifers won’t get a hearing in the Indiana House or Senate, but Republican leadership appears open to adding some protections for farmers’ water wells.
Bill that targets Blue Line clears Indiana Senate, casting doubt on planned bus route
Republican Sen. Aaron Freeman said the bill will give a state task force the chance to study the benefits of shared bus-car lanes versus dedicated bus lanes, but opponents say it’s a deliberate attempt to kill the project.
Bill requiring IEDC to disclose large land purchases moves forward
Bill author Sen. Brian Buchanan, a Republican from Lebanon, said the legislation is intended to “streamline the process of economic development in Indiana by making sure all stakeholders are involved.”
Indiana House committee votes to repeal downtown tax district, offers county-wide income tax as alternative
The Republican-controlled Indiana House Ways and Means Committee voted to advance a bill that would repeal the economic enhancement district that Democrat-controlled Indianapolis city government approved last month. The committee chairman offered a new Marion County income tax as an alternative.
Irvington businesses switch stance on Blue Line bill after public backlash
After initially voicing their opposition to IndyGo’s plans to construct a dedicated bus line along Washington Street for the Blue Line, three Irvington business owners are changing their tune.
Ronak Shah: Better transit means real options for high school students
The bus rapid-transit system is one of the best tools in ensuring all students have equitable access to high school options.
Legislature considers easing regulations for startups
Indiana is routinely touted for its positive business climate, but the state ranks 44th among states when it comes to creating new entrepreneurs, according to a recent study from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
State lawmakers advance bill IndyGo says would kill Blue Line project
Should the bill pass the Senate chamber, it will move to the House, where Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, has indicated it has support.
State lawmakers hear testimony on bill to repeal Mile Square tax
The majority of people who testified about the bill were against it, arguing that it would undo the work of corporate and civic leaders to boost perceptions of downtown in the aftermath of the pandemic and the 2020 protests for racial justice.
Indiana lawmakers advance bill to hold back more third graders who don’t pass reading test
Senate Bill 1 would reinforce the state’s policy of holding back students who fail the state’s reading test, while also requiring schools to identify and give remediation to those who are at risk of not passing the exam.
Indiana lawmakers seem unlikely to tackle school consolidation in 2024 session
A new statewide report is fueling discussions about consolidating Indiana’s smallest school districts, but state lawmakers continue to lack an appetite for action—at least for now.
Trying on a future career: Lawmakers look to refine apprenticeship program
Lawmakers are already looking to make changes in a law they passed a year ago meant to boost apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities.
Moving ahead too quickly with Blue Line ‘would be a mistake,’ House speaker says
House Speaker Todd Huston says legislation that would bar IndyGo from using dedicated bus lanes for the Blue Line merits consideration.
Suspended license? Indiana lawmakers commit to ‘fix’ BMV insurance verification notices
Hundreds of Hoosiers each year unknowingly have their licenses suspended after auto accidents—specifically for failing to respond to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ mailed requests for insurance verification.
House speaker wants public hearing on Mile Square tax
New legislation would repeal language included in the 2023 state budget that gave the city of Indianapolis the authority to create a special Mile Square taxing district to pay for downtown enhancements and a low-barrier homeless shelter.
What business interests will be seeking in the 2024 legislative session
Reducing health care costs, pursuing tax breaks and preparing the next generation of Hoosiers for the workforce are among the top priorities of business leaders as state lawmakers return to the Indiana Statehouse Monday for the 2024 legislative session.
Opponents of downtown tax to seek reprieve from Legislature, Bosma says
It’s unclear if lawmakers are open to rolling back the measure, which was slipped into the 2023 state budget without public input. However, the push for a change has a powerful ally in former Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma.