Indianapolis Councilor Jeff Miller has plead guilty to four felony counts of battery on a person less than 14 years old.

The plea deal triggers Miller’s resignation from the City-County Council.

A special election is not required as the Republican Party will call a caucus and choose Miller’s replacement.

The Fort Wayne City Council passed another bill related to pay-to-play practices.

Similar to last year’s pay-to-play ordinance, the City Council overrode Mayor Tom Henry’s veto in a 7-2 vote.

The newly passed measure, prohibits business entities, with any officer, partner, or principal with more than 10 percent ownership who have donated more than $2,000 to a campaign of someone with ultimate responsibility for awarding city contracts, from bidding on city contracts.

The Indiana special session convened and adjourned on May 14, as expected.

The special session had a limited agenda and the bills considered could not be amended.

The Legislature passed bills related to taxes, school safety, and the takeover of Muncie and Gary schools.

Gov. Eric Holcomb called a special session for May 14, 2018.

On the top of Holcomb’s list is a school safety spending bill and a bill needed to harmonize state tax code with federal tax code.

The special session is expected to last one day.

On March 14, the second regular session of the 120^th Indiana General Assembly adjourned with several bills pending on the floor.

As a result, Gov. Eric Holcomb plans to call a special session for May. On top of the Holcomb’s list is a school safety spending bill and a bill needed to harmonize state tax code with federal tax code.

Holcomb plans to set an agenda with Republican legislators before he officially calls a special session.

The second regular session of the 120^th Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die very late on March 14, 2018.

The final minutes of the session were hectic as lawmakers rushed through bills.

Despite the rush, several bills were left pending on the floor at the time of adjournment.

As a result, Gov. Eric Holcomb may call a special session to complete unfinished business.

The Fort Wayne City Council overrode Mayor Tom Henry’s veto of pay-to-play ordinance. Opponents of the ordinance are concerned about the constitutionality of the new law.

The ordinance will prohibit contractors who have donated more than $2,000 a year to an elected official’s campaign from bidding on city projects.

The restriction includes natural or legal persons with a 7.5 percent or more interest in the bidding entity and extends to a bidder’s spouse and any children living in the same household.

The ordinance will become effective on January 1, 2018.

The Fort Wayne City Council approved a pay-to-play ordinance on November 28. The ordinance will prohibit contractors who have donated more than $2,000 a year to an elected official’s campaign from bidding on city projects.

The restriction includes natural or legal persons with a 7.5 percent or more interest in the bidding entity and  extends to a bidder’s spouse and any children living in the same household.

Mayor Tom Henry has 10 days to sign or veto the legislation.

If approved, the ordinance will become effective on January 1, 2018.

The Fort Wayne City Council approved a pay-to-play ordinance on November 28. The ordinance will prohibit contractors who have donated more than $2,000 a year to an elected official’s campaign from bidding on city projects.

The restriction includes natural or legal persons with a 7.5 percent or more interest in the bidding entity and  extends to a bidder’s spouse and any children living in the same household.

Mayor Tom Henry has 10 days to sign or veto the legislation.

If approved, the ordinance will become effective on January 1, 2018.

Indiana State Sen. Luke Kenley is retiring effective September 30. He represented Senate District 20 for 25 years, and was re-elected in November 2016.

On September 6, a Republican caucus selected Victoria Spartz, current chief financial officer of the Attorney General’s Office, to replace Kenley and serve the remaining three years of his term.

Senate District 20 covers portions of Grant, Hamilton, Madison, and Tipton counties.

The 2017 Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 22, 2017.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has until April 29 to take action on any bills presented to him. In Indiana, if no action is taken within seven days of presentment, bills automatically become law.

Photo of the Indiana Statehouse by HstryQT on Wikimedia Commons.

Chuck Harris is retiring as the executive director and general counsel of the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission (ILRC).

Harris has served as the executive director and general counsel of the ILRC since January 2011.

Harris will retire at the end of May 2017.

Sen. Mike Delph introduced a bill prohibiting Indiana legislators from accepting gifts from lobbyists. The gift ban would include any property with value, including sporting event tickets and anything classified as entertainment.

Along with the gift ban, the bill would require lobbyists to keep a log of all communication between a lobbyist and legislator, or employees of the general assembly, about a legislative matter. The log would be public record and filed weekly. If passed, the bill would be effective January 1, 2018.

Republican Eric Holcomb defeated Democrat John R. Gregg to become the new governor of Indiana. Holcomb, currently serving as the Lt. Gov., replaced Vice President-elect Mike Pence as the Republican gubernatorial nominee on July 27, 2016.

Additionally, Indiana voters approved the only ballot measure on the November ballot. Public Question 1, also known as the Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment, made it a constitutional right to hunt and fish. Indiana is the 20th state to establish hunting and fishing as a constitutional right.