Plan to require welfare drug testing passes to Senate
House Bill 1351, authored by Rep. Jud McMillin, R-Brookville, would require some recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families to undergo drug testing. The bill passed 71-22.
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House passes bill to end hiring discrimination for veterans
House Bill 1242 would make it illegal to refuse a person employment based on military veteran status.
Senate amends corporate tax bill, rejects Democrats’ efforts to strip key provisions
Financial institutions would have to wait an additional three years to fully feel the effects of a statewide tax cut under changes made Tuesday to Indiana Senate Bill 1.
Bill to let wineries sell to stores moves to full House
House Bill 1387 will amend the previous law and allow wineries to distribute up to 5,000 gallons of wine to grocery stores, restaurants, bars and other establishments.
Indiana House passes revised gay-marriage ban
The proposed amendment, which cleared the chamber on 57-40 vote, now heads to the Indiana Senate, where members of the Senate Judiciary Committee could amend the measure back to its original form.
Proposal would cut sales tax for propane users
Republicans say they will offer an amendment to Senate Bill 1 to eliminate the sales tax on any propane that costs more than $2.50 per gallon.
Mass-transit bill clears Senate committee, with changes
A mass-transit bill for metro Indianapolis cleared a key Senate committee Tuesday morning, but left open many questions about how such a system would be funded. An amendment to the bill nixed the use of light rail.
State unemployment rate shrinks to 6.9 percent
The improvement came despite a small decline in private-sector employment of 4,800 jobs during the month.
Proposed hunting, fishing amendment to start over
A Senate committee passed a proposed constitutional amendment Monday that would protect Hoosiers’ right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife – but without language to protect farming that was included three years ago.
Statehouse update: Deer hunting, miscarriages, veteran education, Indiana-grown, and more
State lawmakers on Monday weighed in on legislation involving canned deer hunting, college credit for veterans, parental options after miscarriages, out-of-state seedling sales, and more. Here’s a rundown.
States investigating ITT, other for-profit education firms
For-profit education companies are facing public criticism and regulatory scrutiny over high drop-out rates, graduates' poor job prospects and the high debt levels of its students.
Panel delays vote on bill to require prescription for cold meds
A committee heard two hours of testimony Monday on a bill that would make medicine containing pseudoephedrine a schedule III drug. The committee did not vote.
Voucher students who never tried public school on the rise
Four in 10 students using vouchers never attended an Indiana public school, even though the original 2011 law that authorized the program required it.
House expands nutrition requisite to all food-stamp recipients
Legislation to require Indiana food-stamp recipients buy only products deemed nutritious was expanded Monday to include all Hoosiers who participate in the program.
Indiana House votes to amend gay-marriage amendment
The 52-43 vote to remove the controversial second sentence likely ensures that the proposed constitutional amendment will not reach the public for a vote until at least 2016 – if at all.
Bar Association stands against gay-marriage amendment
Backed by nearly three-fourths of its members, the Indianapolis Bar has taken the unusual step of announcing its opposition to the state constitutional amendment under debate at the Statehouse.
Indiana bill would limit use of drone surveillance
The bill introduced by Republican Rep. Eric Koch of Bedford would strictly regulate police use of unmanned aircraft and prohibit their use to conduct surveillance without a court warrant.
Minimum wage bills pushed in at least 30 states
A pitch last week from Indiana Democrats was a nonstarter. But a Quinnipiac University poll this month found 71 percent of Americans in favor of raising the minimum wage—including more than half of Republicans polled.
Senator drops bill to create Statehouse souvenir shop
Sen. Thomas Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, has withdrawn a bill that would have allowed the construction of a souvenir shop in the Indiana Statehouse over concerns about the cost.
Bill would keep state’s annuity system in-house
The Indiana House is set to consider legislation that will prevent the state from privatizing one part of public employee and teacher retirement funds.