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Higher speed limits for trucks clears first hurdle
A bill that would raise the speed limit for trucks on certain Indiana roadways advanced to the full Senate Tuesday despite opposition from the state’s largest truck drivers group. Republican Sen. Jim Tomes, of Wadesville, authored the proposal that seeks to increase speed limits for large vehicles, like semi trucks, to 70 mph on highways […]
Top Indiana senator rebukes voucher school program in new letter
A top Republican lawmaker threatened to hold up new state spending for Indiana’s voucher school program — and advised parents to “beware” of non-public schools — after he claimed to have witnessed “disgusting” behavior at a private Catholic school in northern Indiana. The reprimand is an uncharacteristic move for a member of the state’s GOP […]
Committee advances changes to Indiana carbon sequestration pilot project
The GOP-majority on the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee approved a bill 8-3 Monday that makes changes to Indiana’s ongoing carbon sequestration pilot project. The proposal seeks to advance 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 […]
Rokita under investigation by disciplinary commission for statements about Indiana doctor
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is under investigation by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission in relation to his televised statements about the doctor who oversaw a medication abortion for a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio. Documents first reported by the Indiana Citizen additionally show Rokita’s office hired a Washington, D.C. law firm to help […]
House committee moves Indiana property tax relief bill — with major changes
Indiana lawmakers on Thursday approved major changes to a proposal that seeks to provide Hoosiers with temporary property tax bill relief. But top GOP legislators cautioned the complex bill is still in its working stages, and other significant amendments are expected as early as next week. The latest draft of the bill was amended in […]
Indiana voters could make school board elections partisan under new GOP-backed legislation
Indiana voters could get to decide whether their local school board elections should be partisan under a new draft of Republican-backed legislation that lawmakers say would provide “more transparency” about candidates. House Bill 1428, authored by Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, seeks to add political party identifications to what are now nonpartisan school board elections […]
Indiana lawmakers advance bill to earmark state dollars for teacher firearm training
Indiana lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill that seeks to provide state-funded firearms training for school personnel — including teachers. Bill author Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, said the proposal serves as a response to deadly mass shootings at schools across the country. The bill would reallocate funding from the Indiana Safe Schools fund — and […]
Indiana’s GOP lawmakers split on bill to offer ‘driving privilege’ cards to immigrants
Indiana’s Republican lawmakers appear divided over a bill that would expand driving privileges to immigrants without documentation. The bipartisan measure narrowly advanced 5-4 from the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday and now heads to the Appropriations Committee for a fiscal impact evaluation. Bill author Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, said the “driving privilege” cards can only be […]
Indiana senators consider bill that would criminalize protesting outside of private homes
Indiana lawmakers are trying to find the line between protecting privacy in Hoosiers’ homes while respecting the First Amendment right to free speech and assembly. Senate Bill 348 would create a new crime — residential harassment — if someone pickets or protests outside a person’s dwelling. It would require an intent to harass and be […]
Birth-control and housing bills pass chambers
Welcome to Wednesday’s legislative roundup, with lawmakers approving several key bills Tuesday, from housing and education to contraceptives and taxes. The House kicked it off with a 91-5 vote to advance House Bill 1005, which establishes a revolving loan fund meant to help municipalities cover housing-related development costs. Bill author Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, said […]
Housing, education bills among key measures passed Tuesday
Welcome to Wednesday’s legislative roundup, with lawmakers approving several key bills Tuesday, from housing and education to contraceptives and taxes. The House kicked it off with a 91-5 vote to advance House Bill 1005, which establishes a revolving loan fund meant to help municipalities cover housing-related development costs. Bill author Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, said […]
Lawmakers advance bill to let utilities charge consumers earlier for new building projects
Indiana House lawmakers advanced a bill Monday that could encourage more natural gas in the state and allow utilities to charge ratepayers for a plant before it ever goes online. House Bill 1421 would allow utilities to use a financing option known as Construction Work in Progress, or CWIP, in which customers pay for the […]