Tagged: Indiana General Assembly

Indiana legislators have given final approval to a bill tightening the limits on how much consumers can buy of cold and allergy pills often used to make methamphetamine.

The state Senate voted 43-5 today in favor lowering the annual purchase limit of pseudoephedrine-based products to about 61 grams per person. That's about an eight-month supply of the current law's monthly limit.

The bill also increases the criminal penalties for anyone convicted of buying at least 10 grams of the medicines for a meth maker.

Expectations that Indiana will collect $290 million more in taxes leave Gov. Mike Pence’s team optimistic it can win a $500 million cut in the state's personal income tax this year.

House and Senate budget leaders said today that the improved fiscal picture makes it likely they will approve $500 million in tax cuts this year, but not necessarily the cut Pence wants.

State revenue forecasters said the improving economy should help Indiana bring in roughly $290 million more than the state previously anticipated.

The Indiana House of Representatives has approved the creation of a state grant program to help school districts hire police officers and buy safety equipment.

Lawmakers removed a provision that would have required all public schools to have a gun-carrying employee on site during school hours.

That amendment from Republican Rep. Jim Lucas was taken out after concerns were raised about training standards and the safety of having non-police officers carrying guns in schools.

The bill now calls for the issue to be taken up by a study committee this summer.  

Taking videos and photos at Indiana farms and factories without permission would be a crime under a proposal endorsed by a state House committee.

Bill sponsor Rep. Bill Friend says the Senate-passed measure is aimed at stopping overzealous activists from defaming farms and businesses with misleading covert videos or photos.

Opponents have raised concerns that it would prevent exposure of misconduct such as the mistreatment of workers or animal cruelty.

Indiana lawmakers are dropping a proposal that would require clinics offering the abortion pill perform ultrasounds on women seeking the drug.

A House committee removed that provision Wednesday from a broader Senate bill that would force clinics that provide only drug-induced abortions to meet the same facility requirements as clinics that perform surgical abortions.

The committee voted 8-5 to advance the bill to the full House.

The Indiana House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at cracking down on retailers who sell bath salts and other illegal synthetic drugs.

House sponsor Rep. Milo Smith says under the measure, shops caught selling the drugs could have their merchant licenses revoked and face additional penalties.

He says drug makers and sellers have been chemically altering or repackaging the drugs in an attempt to stay a step ahead of police and prosecutors.

Indiana lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow several deer hunting  preserves around the state to continue operating.   The preserves allow hunters to pay for a chance to shoot deer that are kept inside high fences.

Owners of the preserves and some outdoorsmen organizations disagree on whether the hunting of the farm-raised deer is proper.

But Republican Rep. Matt Ubelhor says legislation is needed to resolve a lawsuit over whether four existing preserves can stay in business.