Indiana lawmakers on Monday took a preliminary step that would allow people with felony drug convictions to be able to receive food and nutrition assistance—part of one lawmaker’s plan to curb the state’s opioid problem.
The author of the controversial 2015 vaping law is back with a bill to address problems with the legislation, but at least one critic said the bill would allow the industry to remain a monopoly.
An Indiana state senator regrets an “offensive” message about women who attended the Women’s March on Washington, but says he doesn’t know how it was posted to his Facebook account.
Critics say the bill would effectively wipe out a key financial incentive for homeowners and businesses to install rooftop solar systems and windmills.
In his first State of the State address, Gov. Eric Holcomb stressed the importance of growing the state’s economy through increasing the skills of existing workers.
One of the bill’s author said it is designed to help parents who are “up against a wall,” and he stressed that it should not be confused as a first step to medical marijuana legalization in the state.
Republican legislators are considering taking the next step toward adding a balanced budget amendment to the Indiana Constitution, despite claims it’s unnecessary.
Speaker Brian Bosma said it was "important" for the governor to vocalize his support and convince voters that it is important for the Legislature to raise revenue through increased gas taxes or vehicle fees.
Gov. Eric Holcomb is pushing a plan aimed at attracting new nonstop and direct flights to and from the Indianapolis International Airport.
The plan to skill up Indiana’s adult workforce could help prepare the state to fill an estimated 1 million jobs by 2025, most of which will be openings created by the impending retirements of baby boomers.
The $7,500 annual scholarship will cover about one-third of costs at a public college in Indiana beginning in the 2017-2018 academic year. The median cost in a public college in Indiana is $21,000 per year.
Democrats say it’s not enough, particularly in its failure to expand state-funded preschool to more counties.
Preschool advocates want the Indiana Legislature to spend $50 million a year to expand the state’s pilot program. So far, lawmakers seem cool to that idea.
Sen. Randy Head of Logansport said he will file a bill to “stop the monopoly” that was created by legislation passed in 2015 and amended in 2016, which essentially put one private security firm in charge of deciding which firms could manufacture the “juice” used in e-cigarettes sold in Indiana.
Gov.-elect Eric Holcomb, who announced his legislative agenda Thursday, has roughly the same idea as Gov. Mike Pence when it comes to investing in early-stage Indiana companies, but wants to pay for the plan through a different fund.
The proposal calls to raise three taxes and implement new user fees. House Speaker Brian Bosma said he expects the plan to cost most Hoosiers about $4 per month.
The Senate will gavel in for this year's session at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The House will gavel in Wednesday at the same time.
The fact that two just-retired Indiana legislators are both already legally working for lobbying groups is leading some to question whether the state’s ethics laws are strict enough.
Gun rights advocates view the upcoming legislative session as their best bet to get rid of an Indiana law that requires a license to carry handguns.
Legislation to put a casino in one, specific location would be tough to pass. Lawmakers from Gary have tried for years to move one of its riverboat casinos inland and a previous proposal to move part of Rising Sun’s gambling operations to Indianapolis found a skeptical response.
