Republican leaders halted gun bills to avoid debate, lawmakers sought to address DACA recipients getting job licenses, and the governor made alcohol law history.
Here's what you might have missed this week at the Statehouse.
Get comprehensive coverage of the 2018 legislative session here.
GOP Leaders Halt Gun Bills To Avoid Statehouse Debate
Republican leaders say they halted gun bills in each chamber this week to avoid debate on several gun regulation proposals. There were several proposed amendments to the gun bills on everything from banning bump stocks and assault weapons to barring those on the terror watch list from possessing guns.
Senate GOP Leader David Long says the amendments were purely political and designed to force embarrassing votes.
Lawmakers Seek To Provide Professional Licenses To DACA Recipients
The House this week took steps to ensure recipients of the federal immigration program known as DACA will be able to receive and renew professional licenses.
The Professional Licensing Agency recently changed its applications to better comply with a 2011 state immigration law. The move meant thousands of DACA recipients were barred from professional licenses.
An amendment approved in a House committee will allow people to receive licenses as long as the federal government allows them to work…which is DACA's purpose.
Goodin says he can't understand why Republicans aren't exhibiting what he thinks is the appropriate level of seriousness & urgency on DCS
- Brandon J. Smith (@brandonjsmith5) January 10, 2018
Senate Panel Backs Control Shift On Troubled Indiana Schools
An Indiana Senate committee has endorsed a bill further reducing the power of the Gary school board while allowing Ball State University to take over Muncie's schools.
The bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on a 9-4 vote Thursday would further insert the state into running the districts. The proposal previously passed the House and now moves to the full Senate.
Alcohol Law History: Sunday Carryout Alcohol Sales Now Legal
The governor signed into law this week legislation to allow Sunday alcohol retail sales for the first time in state history. The measure takes effect immediately.
Senate Committee Strips Out Alcohol Regulation Provisions
The same day Gov. Holcomb signed the Sunday sales bill, a Senate panel voted to get rid of proposed alcohol regulations that would have governed where alcohol is housed in stores and who's legally allowed to ring it up.
Panel members eliminated a requirement that all cashiers conducting alcohol sales be at least 21-years-old, and a provision that would have mandated all alcohol in grocery stores be limited to one section of the store.
The measure now goes to the Senate floor.
Committee Chairman Kills Divisive Payday Lending Bill
An Indiana Senate committee chairman has killed a payday lending bill that critics charge would have allowed predatory lending practices.
It's a felony under state law to offer loans with an annual percentage rate over 72 percent. But the bill would create a new type of payday loan that would have allowed for annual percentage rates of up to 222 percent.
Senate Committee Changes Self-Driving Vehicles Bill
A Senate committee made changes to a bill regulating autonomous vehicles. The bill's Senate sponsor says the amendment seeks to find a middle ground between self-driving car manufacturers and those who want tighter controls on the industry.
Sen. Mike Crider (R-Greenfield) says his change to the bill would treat existing and new manufacturers differently. The original legislation required all self-driving auto manufacturers to receive state approval to operate and test the vehicles on Indiana roads.
The original bill also required vehicles with higher levels of automation to have drivers in them. Crider's amendment eliminates that requirement.
Sweeping Changes Made To Teacher Licensing Bill
Some teachers say the initial teacher licensing test contributes to the state's teacher shortage, and SB 387 aims to address that. Originally, the bill waived content licensing exams for teachers as long as they maintained high grades in their teacher prep coursework, and tried to pass the test at least twice, among other requirements.
But a change in the House Education Committee stripped that language from the bill, and it now says schools could hire up to 10 percent unlicensed teachers while they work on earning a license.
Other Measures Moving Forward:
- A Senate committee advanced a bill that would incentivize private companies to provide broadband internet in rural areas.
- A committee approved a bill expanding access to the Indiana School for the Deaf.
- The House approved a bill to create new abortion complication reporting.
