Bill seeking to study elimination of state income tax moves forward
The proposal would form the State and Local Tax Review Commission to study the feasibility of ending Indiana’s income tax and reforming property taxes for Hoosiers.
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Bill targeting ESG investing for public pensions passes Indiana House
A controversial proposal cracking down on alleged ESG investing in public pensions—while supporting “discriminated” businesses in contentious industries—passed the House mostly along party lines Monday.
Effort to make Indiana school board elections politically partisan dies in House
That means school board races will stay non-partisan—at least for now. Language from the bill could still crop up in others before the end of the current legislative session.
Herbal painkiller kratom could become legal again in Indiana
Kratom was legal in Indiana until 2014, when state lawmakers banned the substance in anticipation of similar action at the federal level. But the FDA has failed to outlaw kratom, despite numerous attempts.
Hoosiers would earn more for jury duty under proposal
Hoosiers haven’t seen a pay increase for jury duty in at least two decades, but that could change—even double—under a bill advancing steadily through the Statehouse.
Indiana lawmakers discard illegal immigrant driving cards proposal
A state Senate committee had endorsed the bill in early February but it failed to advance through another committee before a deadline this week for action.
Bill aims to keep state from releasing non-resident prisoners in Indianapolis
House Bill 1087, authored by Rep. Justin Moed, D-Indianapolis, would require the Indiana Department of Correction—with some exceptions—to return offenders to the county where they lived when they were convicted.
House passes $43.4B budget with no Democrat votes
Democrats denounced the budget for taking funding away from traditional public schools. Under the new proposal, families making up to 400% of the federal poverty level, roughly $220,000, qualify for vouchers.
Bills on underused school buildings, cursive writing advance
Meanwhile, Hoosiers have their first new law for the year—and it’s a retroactive business tax deduction in time for tax season.
Statehouse, City-County Council poised for dogfight over retail sale of pets
The Indianapolis City-County Council Public Affairs Committee voted unanimously Wednesday in favor of restricting the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits, days after the Indiana Senate voted in favor of a law that would override such an ordinance.
Indiana lawmakers back defunding Kinsey sex institute
The Indiana House voted 53-34 to block state funding toward the Kinsey Institute, which has long faced criticism from conservatives
Indiana lawmakers advance ban on gender-transition procedures for minors
The bill, which moves to the full state Senate, would ban all gender-transition care for Indiana minors. That care could range from taking puberty blockers and hormone therapy to social transition at schools.
Indiana bill to criminalize nefarious GPS tracking advances to Senate
Although the proposal advanced 8-0, lawmakers cautioned that the bill still needs more work. More amendments are expected in the full chamber.
Anti-ESG bill clears financial panel with new $5.5M price tag
House Bill 1008 seeks to block the Indiana Public Retirement System, the Indiana State Police Pension Trust and their respective publicly traded financial managers from making investment decisions based on environmental, social or corporate governmental policies, or ESG.
What is a Hoosier? Indiana bill with origin theory dies in committee.
House Bill 1143, which sought to establish “The Hoosier State” as Indiana’s official nickname, died in a House government committee Tuesday after historians raised questions about the “Hoosier” origin story outlined within the proposal.
Indiana Senate passes legislation protecting retail dog sales
If approved, the legislation would interfere with a proposal banning dog, cat and rabbit retail sales—introduced just this month—making its way through the Indianapolis City-County Council.
SALT deduction bill heading to Indiana governor’s desk
Senate Bill 2 is expected to provide a state and local tax, or SALT, deduction for what are known as pass-through entities, which are businesses that are not subject to corporate income tax.
Five ways the state can help downtown
While the state and the city have come together on major downtown projects over the years, there’s sometimes tension between what Indianapolis officials would like to see from the state and how the state views its responsibility to the capital city.
Indiana House Republicans ‘committed’ to voucher school expansion
Indiana House Republicans will seek to expand the state’s “school choice” program despite a top GOP senator’s call for more voucher school reforms.
Indiana lawmakers to discuss bill similar to Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law
The two-page bill is one of several proposals from legislators this session that address how schools must handle controversial social issues involving race and sex.