The House Elections and Apportionment Committee heard HB 1377 on straight ticket voting authored by Rep. Payne. The bill repeals provisions that prohibit counting straight party votes for candidates for election to an at-large district to which more than one person may be elected. The bill also provides that if a voter votes a straight party ticket and also selects one or more … [Read more...] about Straight ticket voting
Death sentence and intellectual disabilities
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard HB 1432 on death sentence and intellectual disabilities authored by Rep. Bascom. The bill prohibits the State from seeking the death penalty against a defendant if a court determines at any time before trial that the defendant has an intellectual disability. (Under current law, the court must make this determination at … [Read more...] about Death sentence and intellectual disabilities
Jury duty exemption for women breastfeeding
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 139 authored by Sens. Donato and Dorioton jury duty exemption for women breastfeeding. The bill allows a woman to claim an exemption from jury service if she gave birth in the preceding 365 days and is currently breastfeeding. Supporting testimony was received from a former juror, a non-profit public health coalition, and the bill’s c … [Read more...] about Jury duty exemption for women breastfeeding
Constitutional amendment ballot question
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard HB 1019 authored by Rep. Aylesworth on constitutional amendment ballot question. The bill prescribes the ballot language for the proposed constitutional amendment concerning the residency of a city or town court judge, which states: Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to permit the judge of a … [Read more...] about Constitutional amendment ballot question
Residency of prosecutors and public defenders
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard HB 1025 by Rep. Zimmerman on residency of prosecutors and public defenders. The bill provides that a public defender and an employee of a public defender agency may not be subject to a county residency requirement, unless the residency requirement includes all counties contiguous to the county in which the individual … [Read more...] about Residency of prosecutors and public defenders