The Indiana Senate approved a bill Tuesday setting guidelines for ILEARN, a new standardized test that will replace the troubled ISTEP exam in 2019.

Synthetic urine can be used to fraudulently pass a drug test.

Under the bill, employees of the Senate, House, Legislative Services Agency and Indiana Lobby Registration Commission may be armed.

The full Senate Tuesday approved a bill that would make the state school superintendent a political appointee by the governor.

The House passed SB 309 by a vote of 56-43, despite intense public opposition.

After a more than hour-long debate, the Senate advanced legislation that raises taxes and creates new fees to fund the state's road and bridge maintenance.

The House Ways and Means committee voted Monday to include Muncie schools in a bill that provides financial assistance for struggling districts.

The measure moving to the House floor would put in jeopardy the status of the state's two existing devices.

A House committee amendment would let Ricker's keep its two permits. But when those permits are up for renewal at year's end, the rules would be different.

The Senate GOP budget leaves out key priorities of Gov. Eric Holcomb's. But the Senate budget did include two Holcomb initiatives dismissed by the House.