It's going to be a lot harder for local health officials to create and enforce temporary restrictions during a public emergency under legislation approved Wednesday.

Republican supporters say the proposal is meant to provide a "check and balance" protecting the rights of business owners.

Right now, local health officials can impose restrictions that go further than any state orders, like counties keeping mask-wearing mandates in place after the statewide mandate has ended.

The bill bars the government from restricting worship services at all during a public emergency. And other religious activities couldn't be restricted any more than essential services.

Local health officials could no longer impose restrictions that go further than the state's during a public health emergency under legislation approved by a House committee Wednesday.

Legislation approved by the Senate Monday would give more power to local city or county leaders to overturn the actions of local health officials.

A group of about 20 protesters rallied outside the Statehouse Tuesday against Gov. Eric Holcomb's public health emergency orders.

Indiana received low marks for not being accredited, and for having low flu vaccination rates.

The declaration gives the administration access to the Public Health Emergency Fund, but that fund is nearly empty.

Tippecanoe County has become Indiana's ninth with a declared public health emergency - an intermediate step in establishing a needle exchange in the county.