Statehouse Update: New Revenue Outlook, Abortion Bill To Governor

A bill advanced by the House this week would allow governments to charge people up to $20 an hour for public records searches that take longer than two hours. Critics argue that the public shouldn’t have to pay to access public records. Former Gov. Mike Pence vetoed a similar measure two years ago.

A new revenue forecast delivered to the State Budget Committee this week projects about $200 million more over the next two years than the forecast from December. House and Senate budget authors argue that number – less than 1 percent of the overall budget – doesn’t change ongoing debate between the two chambers over budget priorities and road funding.

And the Senate sent a bill to the governor’s desk this week dealing with parental notification of abortion. The legislation originally required parents to be notified when their underage daughter goes to court to seek consent for an abortion, raising confidentiality concerns. The bill’s final form allows the judge to decide whether parents should be notified, and only after the judge grants or declines that consent.