Religious Freedom and Right to Try bills move onto their next phase at the statehouse..
Republicans in the Indiana House have turned aside attempts by Democrats to make changes to a proposal that would add greater protections for religious objections into state law.
The debate Thursday occurred as about 100 opponents and supporters of the bill filled the House gallery and dozens held signs in the hallway outside the chamber.
Democrats proposed amendments they said were aimed at ensuring the measure couldn’t be used to overturn local civil rights ordinances that protect gays and lesbians or to challenge regulations on church day cares.
The House could vote next week on approving the bill. Supporters say it’s aimed at preventing the government from compelling people to be involved in activities such as same-sex weddings that they consider objectionable.
A proposal to give terminally ill patients easier access to experimental drugs not yet on pharmacy shelves has been forwarded to Gov. Mike Pence for his signature.
The Indiana General Assembly gave final approval Thursday to the measure that would give patients access to treatments that have cleared the first phase of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process.
The so-called right-to-try laws already are in place in eight states, including Michigan, Missouri and Arizona. About two dozen other states are considering similar laws this year.
Supporters say it would help shorten patients’ wait time for potentially lifesaving drugs since the federal process can take about 10 to 15 years to complete.
Indiana state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz has proposed diverting state funds from charter schools and changes to student testing to cut its cost.
Ritz told the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday that nearly $60 million in the proposed House budget could be diverted toward additional funding for local school districts.
Her proposals included eliminating $40 million that’s been proposed in additional grants for charter schools.
Ritz says she would also like to eliminate the IREAD test in 3rd grade and the 11th grade college and career readiness test. Her total testing plan could be delivered for about $75 million over two years, which is almost half of what she originally estimated in December.
Legislators are currently considering a proposal that would replace the ISTEP with a national exam.
