HSPA has scrambled to keep up with the state legislature during its first month of activity.

Steve Key, executive director and general counsel, and the three law school students assisting him are working at a fast pace to read all of the introduced bills, prioritize them, contact legislators with questions or concerns, testify before committees, and work on amendments.

Presently, HSPA has earmarked 197 bills for at least a minimal level of monitoring.

Highlights among them include:

• Rep. Matt Leh­man, R-Berne, is carrying a bill for the Indiana Department of Insurance.  Read more »

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The Indiana House passed H.B. 1093, which would allow fines for deliberate violations of the state’s public access laws, by a vote of 90-4.

The bill, authored by Rep. Kevin Mahan, R-Hartford City, now moves to the Senate for consideration.

About the legislation

Government transparency legislation supported by HSPA has several goals. Among them:

• Allow a judge to levy a civil fine against public officials for failing to give proper notice of a meeting, taking final action outside of a public meeting and participating in a sec­ret ballot during a meeting.

• Allow Hoosiers to request email notice of public meetings. The bill would allow government units to post meeting notices on their websites instead.

Meanwhile, the full Senate held S.B. 92, which was nearly identical to H.B. 1093.

Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield, author­ed S.B. 92. Gard has supported strengthening public access laws for the past five legislative sessions.  Read more »

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