Indiana lawmakers propose new law shielding businesses from COVID-19 liabilities
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the state of Indiana, and with vaccine distribution barely begun, state legislative leaders decided the first order of business in 2021 would be proposing bills in both the Republican-controlled House and Senate granting immunity from COVID-19 liability related lawsuits to businesses, schools, and health care providers.
Similar liability legislation has been pushed for at the national level by Republicans in Congress. If such a measure is passed in Indiana, it will serve as a blueprint for other states, which are also seeking to protect corporations that have kept workers on the job under unsafe conditions throughout the pandemic, contributing to the 24.4 million confirmed infections and nearly 400,000 deaths nationwide.
Lawmakers are debating whether to give the General Assembly more opportunities to cancel a governor’s public emergency order.
The legislation, presented Tuesday in a House committee, is a direct reaction to some lawmakers’ frustration with Gov. Eric Holcomb during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under current law, the governor can declare a public emergency – like the health emergency during the pandemic – for 30 days. There’s no limit on how many times it can be renewed; Holcomb has done it 10 times since March.
Those declarations trigger broad authority for the governor to act. Holcomb has used such powers to, for instance, issue the Stay-At-Home order early in the pandemic, as well as impose restrictions on businesses and limit public gatherings.
Proposed bill brings passenger rail system back to Indiana
Unmute
INDIANA (WPTA21) - The Northern Indiana Passenger Rail Association working to get passenger rail services returned to northern Indiana, including Fort Wayne.
The NIPRA created a draft, known as Senate Bill 9, that would help to promote and coordinate passenger rail service through Indiana.
According to the NIPRA, they are moving forward with returning rail service from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio and stops in Fort Wayne. There are also talks of service be extended to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Nathan Hatfield is from Fort Wayne but lives in Chicago. He says the system would be efficient and cheaper.
Just two weeks into the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers moved quickly to pass high-priority bills despite COVID-19 mitigations and potential security concerns.
Weekly Statehouse Update: Historic Police Reform, Holcomb Unveils Budget Proposal
January 15, 2021
Article origination IPBS-RJC
A “historic” police reform bill clears committee. The Holcomb administration unveils the governor’s state budget proposal. And an education funding guarantee is moving in both chambers.
Here’s what you might have missed this week at the Statehouse.
A House committee unanimously approved legislation this week that makes several police reforms – supported by law enforcement agencies and groups that include the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, the NAACP and the Indiana Black Expo.
Among the changes: banning chokeholds unless deadly force is warranted, requiring de-escalation training and making it easier for the state to de-certify police who commit misconduct (essentially preventing them from remaining employed).