By SKIP BROWN Communications Director INDIANAPOLIS ― Members of the Indiana Senate Republican Caucus announced their legislative agenda today, Tuesday, Jan. 5, as they met at the Statehouse for the start of the General Assembly’s 2016 legislative session. Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) said Senate Republicans will advance a host of issues …read more.

State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen) announced the Indiana Senate Republicans are offering paid internship opportunities in the Senate’s legislative, legal, policy, communications and information technology offices during the 2016 session of the General Assembly. Qualified candidates must be college students, recent graduates, or enrolled in graduate or law school. Positions are open to Indiana residents …read more.

Numerous new laws were signed into effect today by the Indiana Senate. Among those are several controversial laws including the “slowpoke” law, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the ability to now own a sawed-off shotgun. Below is a short digest of some of the more notable laws signed into effect today. Senate Bill 8 …read more.

By HILLARY CHERRY Press Secretary, Sen. Ryan Mishler Sen. Ryan Mishler has announced the passage of a new state budget that provides significant funding increases for K-12 education. The Indiana budget passed by the Indiana General Assembly is honestly balanced, focused on funding Indiana’s most important needs and creating a strong foundation for our economic …read more.

By LAURA BETH CLYMER Press Secretary, Indiana Senate Republicans The Indiana Senate will recognize Hoosier members of the First Special Service Force of World War II with Senate Concurrent Resolution 30 on Tuesday, March 31. Surviving members and their families and any relatives of deceased members are invited to the Statehouse to be honored. The …read more.

By ADAM TALBOT Human Rights Campaign The Human Rights Campaign is sounding the alarm on a bill under consideration in Indianapolis. Senate Bill 101, now before a committee in the state House of Representatives, is part of a wave of anti-LGBT legislation (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) emerging across the country that threatens to undermine …read more.

By MALLORY QUIGLEY Communications Director, Susan B. Anthony List This morning Dr. David Prentice, vice president and research director of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, will testify before the Indiana Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services in support of SB 334 – legislation to prohibit prenatal discrimination by banning abortions based on sex selection or …read more.

By LINDSAY JANCEK Communications Director, Office of Jackie Walorski Rep. Jackie Walorski thanked her Senate colleagues for passing House legislation that will reduce the number of veterans and troops who commit suicide. The bill, H.R. 203, which she co-sponsored, provides greater access to mental health care. According to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), 22 …read more.

A bill that will allow the distribution of alcohol at the Indiana State Fair has officially passed through the House Public Policy Committee and Senate and will now go before the Indiana House. According to Inside INdiana Business, alcohol sales have been banned since 1947 and could potentially add an additional revenue stream of approximately …read more.

The Indiana Senate has passed the one-sentence version of a proposed amendment to further define marriage in the state Constitution. According to Inside INdiana Business, the measure does not include any much-debated language involving domestic partner benefits and civil unions. State Senator Mike Delph (R-29) had hoped the Senate would return the measure to second …read more.

The Senate Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee has passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would further define marriage. The measure now moves to the full Indiana Senate, where language involving domestic partner benefits and civil unions could be restored. Inside INdiana Business says HJR-3 could hit the Senate floor Thursday. Proponents in the Senate are …read more.

State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen) recently welcomed the following local students to the Statehouse, where they served as Senate pages: Michal Scherer-Berry, from Bourbon, attends Triton Jr./Sr. High School. Leanna Chan, from Warsaw, attends Warsaw Community High School. Hanna Hopple, from Plymouth, attends Lincoln Junior High School. Carrie Avery, from Wakarusa, attends NorthWood High School. …read more.

The Indiana Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution authored by State Rep. Kathy Heuer (R-Columbia City) and sponsored by State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen) urging the federal government to repeal a new excise tax on the sale of medical devices in the United States. The tax is a provision of the Affordable Care Act. The …read more.

The Indiana House and Senate are expected to hold votes today on a new two-year state budget package. The compromise financial blueprint includes a 5 percent income tax cut, even though Gov. Mike Pence had sought a 10 percent reduction. The budget also contains a repeal of the inheritance tax while increasing funding for education. …read more.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer is headed to Indianapolis today to testify in a legislative hearing regarding the continued fight to curb the production of methamphetamine. Thallemer is among a group of Indiana mayors who want lawmakers to put more restrictions on ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient needed to manufacture the drug. Senate Bill 496 …read more.

By a 97-0 vote, the Indiana House today passed House Bill 1524 relating to synthetic drugs. It is the second proposal this week dealing with the topic and the second to received approval. On Tuesday, the state Senate approved a bill that would make it illegal to possess or deal “look-alike” synthetic drugs. The bill, …read more.

The Indiana Senate voted Monday to set more stringent restrictions on how much ephedrine and pseudoephedrine a person would be able to purchase. The 44-4 vote in favor of Senate Bill 496 would restrict consumers to no more than 61 grams of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine per year – or about 500 pills. SB 496 is …read more.