Recently, the Office of the Indiana Attorney General issued an advisory opinion addressing the legal implications of the Office of the Indiana State Chemist using drone technology in an administrative inspection.

On May 21, the Legislative Council announced its study committee topics and assignments for the 2019 interim season. Many topics pertain to government practice this year, including the following.

The IndyBar Government Practice Section is pleased to offer two tickets to Bingham Greenebaum Doll's 28th annual Legislative Conference (LegCon) to section members. LegCon will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Indiana Convention Center.

A city of Fort Wayne “pay-to-play” ordinance causing widespread apprehension to government contractors across the state was recently ruled unenforceable by an Allen County judge.

After receiving her fifteenth parking ticket as a result of having her tires “chalked,” Alison Taylor had enough and filed a lawsuit against the city of Saginaw, MI, for violation of her Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches. After the district court granted the city’s motion to dismiss, Taylor appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

On July 1, most of the legislation passed by the General Assembly during the 2019 session will become law. If you have municipal clients or work frequently with local government entities, check out Aim’s 2019 Statehouse Report for information on all the new laws with municipal impact.

When is a tax cut not really a tax cut? An issue currently contemplated by Congress might make Hoosiers’ tax burden a little “SALTier” come next April.

The Indiana Supreme Court recently granted transfer to review a case that will dictate when increased compensation is owed for the condemnation of residential or agricultural property. When taking property, Indiana government entities typically must pay the full value of property condemned for public use. In 2006, the General Assembly passed a statute that required governments to go further and pay additional compensation for condemnation of residential or agricultural property. 

In the wake of a record number of school shootings in 2018, school districts are looking to improve threat assessment measures and enhance school safety. The ability to share information is a critical tool to further these efforts but can be difficult to do in an environment where the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) applies.

On February 20, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled unanimously in the case of Timbs v. Indiana that the Constitution’s prohibition on excessive fines applies to state and local governments, limiting their ability to impose fines and seize property.