Sen. Sue Glick

Maddy summarySB 22 establishes standardized procedures for law enforcement agencies to conduct eyewitness lineups, directly affecting police departments and criminal justice processes. The bill requires specific steps during lineup identification, such as ensuring officers do not suggest a suspect, to reduce misidentification risks. It also makes minor adjustments to existing laws to align with these new procedures. The bill is currently under review by the Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.

Allows the fiscal body of the town of Shipshewana to increase its food and beverage tax from 1% to not more than 2% of the gross retail income received by a retail merchant from a taxable transaction.

Requires each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic elementary school to include print handwriting, cursive handwriting, and spelling in its curriculum.

Provides that, for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, a school shall ensure that at least 60% of a school counselor's aggregate time performing the counselor's job duties is devoted to providing direct services to students. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, a school shall ensure that at least 80% of a school counselor's aggregate time performing the counselor's job duties is devoted to providing direct services to students. Exempts schools that have a school counselor/student ratio that is not more than one school counselor to 350 students from the school counselor time requirement provisions.

Creates a procedure to bifurcate a trial of a civil action filed against the operator of a commercial motor vehicle and the employer of the operator or the owner of the commercial motor vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident. Allows a defendant to file a motion to bifurcate within a specified period of time. Provides that certain evidence may be presented in the first phase of a bifurcated trial. Allows a plaintiff to pursue punitive damages in the second phase of a bifurcated trial.

Repeals a provision allowing the judges of the Steuben circuit and superior courts to appoint a full-time magistrate. Establishes a second Steuben superior court.

Provides that an applicant that seeks: (1) the installation or extension of electric or natural gas utility infrastructure; (2) electric or natural gas utility service; or (3) both; in connection with certain development projects is entitled to request and convene, before commencing construction on the project, at least one technical advisory meeting with each utility whose service area includes the project site. Defines a "technical advisory meeting" as a meeting that: (1) includes as participants the applicant and one or more utilities: (A) whose service area includes the project site; and (B) from whom utility infrastructure, utility service, or both, will be required for the project; and (2) is held: (A) in preparation for, or in connection with, certain advance planning activities related to the project; and (B) for the purpose of: (i) sharing planning documents and drawings; (ii) determining the utility infrastructure, utility service, or both, required to serve the project; and (iii) discussing the terms of a potential extension agreement between the utility and the applicant. Sets forth the procedures and time frame for requesting and holding a technical advisory meeting. Requires an applicant and a utility to enter into an extension agreement before construction commences on a project, regardless of whether a technical advisory meeting is requested or held. Defines an "extension agreement" as an agreement that: (1) is entered into between an applicant and a utility whose service area includes the project site of the applicant's project; and (2) sets forth the obligations and commitments of: (A) the utility and the applicant with respect to the extension of utility infrastructure to the project site; and (B) the utility and the customers to be initially served by the extension upon its installation. Sets forth the required elements of an extension agreement. Provides that before agreeing to extend utility infrastructure to a project site in connection with the project, a natural gas utility must provide the applicant with a written summary that explains the obligations and commitments that apply to: (1) the utility; (2) the applicant; and (3) the customers to be initially served by the extension of the utility infrastructure upon its installation; under the Indiana utility regulatory commission's (IURC) rule on the extension of gas distribution mains. Sets forth the information required to be included in the summary. Provides that an applicant or a utility may submit an informal complaint to the IURC's consumer affairs division in connection with the bill's provisions concerning technical advisory meetings and extension agreements. Provides that if the IURC determines that it requires additional staff to handle the volume of informal complaints submitted, the IURC may impose a fee on a party against whom a decision is rendered. Provides that the fee may not exceed the lesser of: (1) the IURC's actual costs in handling the informal complaint; or (2) $750. Authorizes the IURC to adopt rules to implement the bill's provisions.

Maddy summarySB 32 requires the Department of Natural Resources to create a pilot program aimed at preventing chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer populations. The bill directly affects deer management practices and potentially hunters or landowners in areas where CWD is present. Key provisions include establishing this pilot program to test methods for controlling the disease, though specific strategies are not detailed in the abstract. The bill is currently in committee referral after its introduction by Senator Glick on January 8, 2025.

Provides that the department of agriculture (department) is established as an executive agency. Provides that the lieutenant governor serves as the secretary of rural development. Provides that the lieutenant governor is not the secretary of agriculture and rural development. Removes the requirement that the lieutenant governor is responsible for the implementation of the department. Provides that the governor shall appoint the members of certain boards. Provides that the director of the department or the director's designee serves as an ex officio member of the corn marketing council.

Provides that the department of education may not renew a practitioner license or an accomplished practitioner license issued to an individual unless the individual receives a literacy endorsement by completing 40 (instead of 80) hours of evidence based professional development. Removes written examination requirements to receive a literacy endorsement for individuals renewing a practitioner license or an accomplished practitioner license. Provides that the state board of education may not require certain individuals to take or pass a written examination to be eligible to receive a literacy endorsement.