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.
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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.
Online casino gambling appears off the table for this legislative session
A proposal to legalize online casino gambling in Indiana has failed to gain traction for a third consecutive year despite earlier optimism about its prospects. A powerful confluence of factors led to its demise.
Health care bills aim to reform insurance, Medicaid reimbursement rates
A slew of health care bills moving through the legislature target high prices for Hoosiers by encouraging competition and restructuring how the state pays for services under Medicaid.
Two-thirds of filed Senate bills dead, including immigrant help and marijuana legalization
Just one in three of the Indiana Senate’s filed bills—about 160 of 489 total—survived do-or-die deadlines this week.
Indiana schools still on hook for curricular fees under House budget plan
Indiana House Republicans said their budget plan would eliminate textbook and curricular fees for kids in K-12 public schools. But budget writers did not specifically appropriate state dollars to cover the cost
Townships try to prove worth—and get more support—with new report
Indiana’s 1,000-plus townships have largely survived nearly three-dozen legislative attempts to reorganize or extinguish them since 2004—and they’re hoping to deter future tries with a report that attempts to substantiate their value.
Boone County farmer, businessman to lead state agriculture department
Don Lamb, a second-generation farner from Lebanon, succeeds Bruce Kettler, who stepped down from the post in January to become president and CEO of the Agribusiness Council of Indiana.
Senate advances bill banning gender-transition care for minors
The bill would ban the use of puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapies and surgical procedures—but only if the minor is diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
Senators debate ban on ‘inappropriate’ library materials for minors
Democrats and a handful of GOP lawmakers pushed back, arguing that the bill could lead to the removal of anything a parent deems to be unsuitable.
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.
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.