The Indiana Republican Party has a new chair —Lana Keesling was unanimously elected to the position Thursday by the party’s state committee.

The Family and Social Services Administration is giving people 180 days to complete a service plan and several assessments to start receiving services — after they are invited off of the waiver waitlists.

School administrators could be required to earn new literacy endorsements under a measure that advanced in the House Wednesday. In addition to expanding literacy endorsement requirements, the bill also carves out exceptions in the state’s reading retention law for some English language learners.

House Bill 1041 bans Indiana public and private higher education institutions from allowing transgender women to compete in sports.

Hoosiers have an estimated $2.2 billion of medical debt in collections — with even more on payment plans and credit cards. A Senate committee approved legislation Wednesday that introduces a variety of consumer protections against medical debt, including how hospitals create payment plans.

School board candidates would be forced to have a partisan label on the general election ballot under legislation approved by a House committee Wednesday.

Although he didn’t mention it in his letter, Mike Braun co-owns a 220-acre property within the forest’s boundaries, two miles from the restoration site. It’s up for sale and listed for $1,675,000.

The Indiana Senate advanced SB 442 Tuesday. It would require school boards or charter authorizers to approve all instruction materials related to human sexuality and post those materials to the school’s website by July 1.

Medicaid recipients in Indiana could have more access to birth control under legislation passed by a House committee. However, advocates said an amendment limits people’s options to just a few birth control methods.

Senate Bill 497 would create a $500 tax credit per newborn child for eligible taxpayers — or $250 for a married person filing a separate return.