Indiana bill banning gender-transition care for minors sent to governor
The bill would prohibit transgender youth under 18 from accessing hormone therapies, puberty blockers and surgeries in the state.
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To boost scholarship program’s impact, Indiana might enroll students automatically
Despite success with enrollees and its more than 30-year track record, the 21st Century Scholars program has struggled to attract students to enroll in the program that has helped more than 50,000 Hoosiers earn college degrees.
State tourism agency adds workforce needs to its goals for promoting Indiana
The agency tasked with this growing responsibility is the Indiana Destination Development Corp., a quasi-government entity formed in 2019—in the mold of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.—to replace the Office of Tourism Development.
Secretary of state seeks salary bumps, funding for election security
Secretary of State Diego Morales is asking for salary increases for his employees and about $6 million in funding for an election cybersecurity program in the next two-year budget cycle.
Graduation waivers for Indiana students targeted by lawmakers who worry they’re overused
Two bills in the legislature aim to discourage the overuse of waivers that exempt high school students from certain graduation requirements, a move that could ultimately bring down graduation rates for Indiana’s districts.
Bill advancing Indiana’s carbon sequestration projects moves forward
Senate Bill 451 is part of a years-long effort to move forward the construction of carbon capture and sequestration projects, while also giving special privileges to an Indiana company that is preparing to undertake the nation’s largest carbon dioxide storage project.
Wholesalers battle over bill on mixed beverages like White Claw, Truly
Mixed alcoholic beverages like hard seltzers have exploded in popularity, and wholesalers all want a piece of the pie. Senate Bill 1544 would open sales to all wholesale types—and has already reopened industry squabbles over who gets to sell what.
House lawmakers hear testimony on bill protecting retail dog sales
A heated debate over whether the state should restrict municipalities from banning the retail sale of dogs continued Monday at the Indiana Statehouse without resolution.
Lawmakers say Indiana bill to monitor early coal plant closures would ensure reliability
Supporters maintain the bill will keep Indiana from relying too heavily on natural gas. Some energy advocates are more hesitant, however, expressing concern that the measure could slow the state’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
FAFSA requirement for Indiana students one step closer to becoming law
Indiana students could soon be required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a shift that supporters say could give students more money to go to college and convince more of them to enroll in higher education in the first place.
Three utility-related bills pass the Indiana House
Two of the bills–one establishing utility receiverships and another increasing the cap on pay that trustees on utility boards can earn–received no opposition, passing with a unanimous vote.
IEDC paying premium for farmland for Boone County tech district
The quasi-government entity has secured roughly 9,000 acres of land in Boone County for its LEAP Lebanon Innovation and Research District.
Money debate begins in Statehouse over transition to green energy
A bill advancing through the Legislature would add natural gas to the list of clean-energy projects state utility regulators could consider for a financial incentive known as “construction work in progress,” or CWIP for short.
Renewable energy advocates seek legislative daylight for more solar and wind farms
An Indiana Senate bill looks to provide incentives to encourage counties to adopt developer-friendly ordinances for solar and wind projects, but local objections persist.
Business backlash pushing GOP to weaken anti-ESG proposals
Conservative Republicans who want to thwart socially and environmentally conscious investing are now being pushed to water down their proposals by backlash from powerful business groups and fears that state pension systems could see huge losses.
Indy mayoral candidate Meriweather drops out, backs Shackleford
Candidate Gregory Meriweather is abandoning his campaign in favor of supporting state legislator Robin Shackleford in her bid for the Democratic mayoral nomination, he announced Wednesday.
Indiana House proposed budget alters salary calculations, public health allocations
The proposed changes could have big impacts for lawmakers, as the bill’s language would change the formula used to calculate pay raises for many–from the governor down to each legislator.
IBJ Podcast: At Legislature’s midpoint, which bills survived and which bills are toast?
IBJ’s Peter Blanchard and Casey Smith, a reporter for Indiana Capital Chronicle, talk about the state budget, education and social issues that lawmakers have focused on so far this year.
Transgender disputes, tax reform dominate first half of General Assembly
While hundreds of bills made it to the halfway point, two major themes have risen to the forefront at the Indiana Statehouse this legislative session.
Robotics curriculum initiative targets younger, nonwhite kids
A $2.6 million grant from the Indiana Department of Education, announced Feb. 21, will help expand a program offered by the IUPUI Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.