The Senate amended Senate Bill 12 so it no longer specifies that crimes motivated by bias based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and other categories are eligible for stronger penalties.
The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee fended off amendments and objections from Democrats on Tuesday and ushered the bill to the full House for consideration.
The more generous scale has boosted IPS’ performance as it launches a new strategy of partnering with charter operators, by allowing some innovation network schools to earn high marks despite overall low test scores.
The spending plan includes the additional $286 million per year requested by the Indiana Department of Child Services, covers increases in Medicaid costs, and hikes K-12 spending by 2.1 percent in 2020 and 2.2 percent in 2021, which is slightly higher than the 2 percent annual increase suggested by Holcomb.
After more than three hours of testimony and discussion on Monday morning, the Senate Public Policy Committee voted to send the bill to the full Senate for consideration.
The panel voted 9-3 to defeat a bill that would have given the Indiana Department of Environmental Management more authority to deny permits to huge farms known as “confined feeding operations.”
Supporters of a proposal to build a permanent stadium for the Indy Eleven tried to make their case before key state lawmakers Thursday morning.
One of the bills would give cities and towns another way to increase the number of alcohol permits available and would create a special food hall permit meant to benefit the $300 million Bottleworks development under construction in Indianapolis.
One of Gary’s two casino licenses could be allowed to operate at any location in Indiana under new legislation. A previous bill limited the casino move to Vigo County.
The Indiana House has endorsed a bill to start taxing the liquids used in electronic cigarettes, but only after the proposed tax rate was cut in half.
Supporters are fighting for continued public funding of the Indianapolis-to-Chicago rail service—even as they acknowledge the route’s travel times and ridership levels need improvement.
Senate Bill 425, authored by Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, would also prevent anyone under 18 from entering designated smoking areas in clubs and cigar stores.
Senate Bill 552, authored by Jasper Republican Mark Messmer and Terre Haute Republican Jon Ford, would allow the casinos in Gary to relocate, accelerate when horse-track casinos could begin offering live table games and legalize sports gambling.
The omnibus alcohol bill authored by Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, would also create a special alcohol permit for a planned food hall at the Bottleworks development on Massachusetts Avenue.
Senate Bill 105, authored by Elections Chair Greg Walker, R-Columbus, would establish a series of standards lawmakers would use to redraw district lines following population reapportionment, which occurs each decade after the completion of the U.S. Census.
Senate Bill 570, authored by Columbus Republican Greg Walker, would require counties paper backups to electronic voting systems they use.
Republican and Democratic leaders of the City-County Council say they want the opportunity to fully debate a bill that would funnel state and local tax revenue to an 18,000-seat stadium that would be part of a larger mixed-use development.
The bill approved 48-0 by the Indiana Senate would allow counties to waive penalties and interest if overdue taxes are paid by May 2020.
House Bill 1444 would impose a tax of 8 cents per milliliter on e-liquids. The tax could generate between $4.16 million and $7.33 million in annual revenue for the state.
One of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s top priorities for the legislative session passed the Indiana House on Tuesday afternoon with nearly unanimous support.
