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Indiana Supreme Court Justices hear arguments in challenge to near-total abortion ban
Indiana Supreme Court Justices will decide the future of Indiana’s near-total abortion ban after hearing oral arguments over the constitutionality of the new law on Thursday. Attorneys for abortion care providers maintained that the ban will “severely” injure women and girls, while lawyers for the state doubled down on their position that abortion access is […]
Indiana lawmakers weigh bill to create universal school choice program
Indiana lawmakers on Wednesday began a contentious debate over whether it should bring universal school choice — and its daunting potential long-term cost — to Hoosier students and parents. Testimony heard in the Senate education committee raised questions about how much universal education scholarship accounts would cost and whether the state can afford to fund […]
Bill would force schools to tell parents about students’ pronouns, gender identities
A bill filed by a top Republican lawmaker would require schools to inform parents if students request to change their names or pronouns, or generally express questions about their gender identity. Buried in proposed school accreditation legislation authored by Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, is a provision that mandates teachers and school employees to report to […]
Indiana bill seeking to eliminate township assessors advances to House chamber
Township assessors in multiple Indiana counties could see their jobs nixed by voters under a new bill passed out of committee 9-2 Tuesday. The measure, authored by Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, now heads to the full House for further consideration. The bill would require county election boards to place a public question on the […]
Indiana bill to increase semi truck speed limits faces tough road ahead
A pair of bills filed in the Indiana Legislature seek to raise the speed limit for large trucks on certain state highways and interstates, but continued pushback from a Hoosier truck drivers group is likely to keep the measures from becoming law. Five prior proposals to eliminate the lower speed limit for trucks have been […]
Indiana House Republicans say education, health care costs are top-of-list in 2023 session
Indiana House Republicans will rally behind a collection of bills in the 2023 session that emphasize fiscal responsibility, expand Hoosiers’ access to health care and increase work-based learning and school choice programs. The House GOP are also calling special focus to a bill that seeks to authorize child support for pregnant women. House Speaker Todd […]
Where did ‘Hoosier’ come from? An Indiana bill seeks to answer that question for good.
Refer to someone from Indiana as an “Indianan” and your ignorance might invoke an eye roll or a glare, but — if you’re really lucky — you’ll get a comedic interruption of an 1800s-era Indiana settler who’s just heard a knock at the door. This is the land of Hoosiers, after all. But there’s little consensus […]
Indiana Senate Republicans make health care, fiscal responsibility priorities in 2023 session
Indiana’s top Republican senators said their caucus will largely prioritize health care and fiscal responsibility in the 2023 session, leaving out any education-related agenda items. The plan was unveiled at the Statehouse on Monday as lawmakers reconvened for the first day of the legislative session. The supermajority proposals include tax cuts, mental health care funding, […]
Five environmental issues to watch for in Indiana’s 2023 legislative session
Renewable energy, climate change mitigation and ongoing efforts to improve statewide water quality are top issues for Indiana environmental advocates in the 2023 legislative session. Bills already filed by state lawmakers center around local water infrastructure, biofuel tax credits, confined feeding operations and solar panels. More bills will be filed this week. Language addressing other […]
Judge orders Rokita to publicly release inspector general’s report about former job
An informal advisory opinion issued to Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita about the private-sector job he also held while beginning his term in state office must be made available to the public, a Marion County judge ruled this week. The decision comes nearly two years after a local voting rights activist made a push for […]
Holcomb outlines big spending plans for education, public health, police in 2023 budget
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday rolled out proposals for several major funding increases in the next state budget, including paying for all K-12 textbooks, salary increases for state police troopers, and millions more for public health services in all 92 counties. The Republican governor announced his priorities for the 2023 legislative session, which is […]
Indiana lawmakers say they’re unlikely to pass new abortion legislation in 2023
Indiana’s top Republican lawmakers say they’re holding off on new abortion legislation in the 2023 legislative session — at least for now. But the future is less clear on tangential issues of mail-order abortion pills and contraception. The state’s current ban is in the hands of the Indiana Supreme Court, where justices will hear arguments […]