Adam Yahya Rayes

Senators narrowly voted Tuesday to send a bill that advocates argued will free schools from state “micromanagement” to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 486 drew bipartisan opposition from senators who said it will “silence” teachers and endanger students.

Indiana House lawmakers passed their version of a bill Monday to restrict non-compete agreements on physicians. But some lawmakers say they preferred the original version of the bill, which fully banned such agreements.

Indiana is close to creating two laws that aim to draw attention to the risk firefighters face from their own protective gear. These bills won't remove potentially dangerous PFAS chemicals from firefighter clothing, but lawmakers hope it will be a step toward that.

Current pay for juries in Indiana are equivalent to less than the minimum wage, court officials say, making it hard to get enough jurors. Indiana is close to creating a law that would double juror compensation, making them some of the highest paid in the nation.

Indiana lawmakers are close to requiring schools to fire – or not hire – people with certain criminal records. But the bill also opens the door for schools to make exceptions in some cases.

About 1 in 10 Hoosier families face food insecurity. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – also known as SNAP or food stamps – can help them get food on the table. But requirements to repeatedly reapply for SNAP can be difficult. This week, legislators gave the governor the opportunity to sign a bill alleviating that difficulty for a few people, but not all.

Public defenders exist to ensure criminal defendants’ constitutional right to counsel is protected. But officials say Indiana is facing a shortage of lawyers to do that work. A Senate Committee voted to advance House Bill 1605 Wednesday with the aim to help attract and retain talent by bolstering retirement funds for some public defenders.

Lawmakers are hoping Senate Bill 374 will help the boards compete for talent in this tight labor market. The bill would increase the cap on board member pay from $50 to $150. Individual boards can still choose to pay less than that maximum.

Indiana representatives unanimously voted to pass House Bill 1342 last month to create a registry to track direct support professionals who help care for people with disabilities in their homes. That can include direct family members of those receiving care, who are often paid by the state for that work. But the Senate is set to make some changes to the bill.

2022 was a unique year for Indiana’s labor market. New federal estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest a record-high number of Hoosiers were working – but not as many as employers may need. Experts say such employment numbers don’t say much about why 2022’s labor market looked the way it did or about what the future holds.