Democratic Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon of Munster announced Friday a bill proposing a 12-member oversight commission with the power to oust the attorney general for sexual misconduct.

The work of the 2019 legislative session began in earnest this week as the governor unveiled his budget, lawmakers debated a revenge porn bill, and hate crimes bill advocates launched a new coalition.

Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-Munster) says her legislation aims to close loopholes in a system she believes should better protect men and women from sexual harassment in the workplace.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's administration is releasing its recommendations for the new state budget, including how much more money could go toward public schools.

The difference comes from what's essentially a calculation error - the original estimate didn't consider the current fiscal year.

The policy would require the House Ethics Committee - made up of three Republican and three Democratic lawmakers - to investigate any sexual harassment claims against fellow legislators.

Gov. Eric Holcomb's budget includes a 2 percent funding increase for schools, per year of the biennium. It also cuts the state's Teacher Appreciation Grants, which provide bonus money to highly rated teachers.

There's nothing currently in Indiana law that deals with the distribution of pornographic images or videos without someone's consent, commonly referred to as "revenge porn."

House Bill 1003 would allow school districts to move just 15 percent of funding in their budgets away from "education" expenses - things like teacher pay - toward operation costs.

Smoking rates in Indiana ticked up slightly in 2018, to 21.8 percent. But out of 600 Hoosiers polled last month, 7 in 10 say they support a $2 cigarette tax increase.