State Sen. Dennis Kruse of Auburn said his years of service have been the "opportunity of a lifetime" and that he was retiring to spend more time with his wife and family.

A proposed expansion of Indiana's private school voucher program would be scaled back under the new state budget plan from state Senate Republicans, while still boosting the program's spending by about 25 percent.

Many of the House GOP's top priorities stem from needs that either arose or were intensified over the last year. Topping the Senate GOP's list is liability protections for Hoosier businesses and health care providers.

The Indiana Senate has a new member. A private Republican caucus chose Kyle Walker Sunday evening to replace Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis), whos retiring after a 30-year career.

State Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) announced Monday he is retiring after 30 years in the legislature. He said he will step down on Nov. 4.

Sen. Jim Merritt said in a statement he would resign Nov. 4 from the seat to which he was first elected in 1990.

The hate crimes bill had included a list of victim characteristics, including race, sexual orientation and gender identity. But an amendment from Senate Republicans deletes that list.

Long announced in February he would retire after 22 years in the state Senate - including 12 as its leader. His retirement takes effect Nov. 6.

Republican Sen. Andy Zay of Huntington says he should've "been more careful with my words."

The Indiana Senate GOP caucus voted Monday to make Martinsville Sen. Rod Bray the new Senate President Pro Tem.