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Friday, February 03, 2006

Ind. Law - Headlines pretty much tell the story of House actions yesterday ...

Canned Deer Hunting. "Reprieve for high-fenced hunts clears House" - HB 1349 guarantees facilities may stay open another seven years and, in a log-rolling move (via Fort Wayne Journal Gazette):

House members earlier this week added a provision to the bill giving free lifetime fishing, hunting and trapping licenses to honorably discharged veterans – something Dickinson said was by design. “Nobody wants to vote against veterans.”
Wine Shipping. "Wine bill moves on despite opposition" - HB 1190 may devastate Indiana wineries (via Fort Wayne Journal Gazette):
The legislation also contains language ordering judges to strictly construe Indiana alcohol law – something the wineries believe is meant to protect the wholesalers and retailers in the current lawsuit. Rep. Bill Cochran, D-New Albany, said he spoke to two wineries who said the legislation would devastate their business. “They don’t even want this bill to go forward,” he said. “They’d rather have nothing.” The Indiana Farm Bureau came out against the bill, saying the solution in the legislation is “awkward, cumbersome and will prove unworkable. The victims of this bill will be the newest and smallest of Indiana’s wineries.”
Legal Fireworks. "Legalized fireworks fly over to Senate" - HB 1099, said to be favored by the adminstration, would "allow Hoosiers to legally buy and shoot fireworks from their own yards. ... But others were concerned about the safety aspects of fireworks as well as neighbors using the devices without time limits or restrictions in close urban quarters." (from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.)

"Rockets' red glare could be legalized" is the headline to the Evansville Courier& Press coverage.

"Fireworks restrictions may end: House OKs bill letting people shoot off most devices in their yards" (from the Indianapolis Star):

Critics lashed out at the bill. Rep. Phyllis Pond, R-New Haven, called the money for the fire academies a carrot meant to lure people to support the worst bill she'd seen relating to fireworks.

"Remember, when people in your neighborhood have fireworks go off and someone is injured, you had the chance on February 2nd, Groundhog Day, to stop this ridiculous bill.''

For the past two decades, those in the fireworks industry have lobbied aggressively for changes to Indiana's law. They predicted their efforts would bear fruit this year.

Abortion Clinics. "Abortion clinics may have to close: Providers say state bill regulating facilities, with no 'grandfather' clause, leaves no time to comply" - According to the Indianapolis Star:
HB 1080 would require Indiana abortion providers to adhere to certain standards by Jan. 1 ... The latest proposal is a stark turnaround from last year, when the General Assembly ordered the State Department of Health to issue standards for abortion clinics and birthing centers but allowed existing facilities to be "grandfathered" in, meaning they wouldn't be subject to the new regulations.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 3, 2006 08:34 AM
Posted to Indiana Law