The Bureau of Motor Vehicles would be required to offer Hoosiers the chance to register to vote more often under legislation approved by a Senate committee.

The BMV will begin introducing the new license plates in January.

Intellectual Technology Incorporated, a firm with operations in Fort Wayne that's responsible for all Indiana license plate production, created the three designs.

The state Ethics Commission unanimously approved a settlement between Inspector General Cynthia Carrasco and Walters in which the former BMV official will pay a $500 fine.

Indiana Inspector General Cynthia Carrasco confirmed Wednesday that her office had reached a settlement agreement with former BMV chief of staff Shawn Walters.

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles will extend hours of operation on Election Day and the day before to issue ID cards and driver's licenses that may be used for identification at polling places.

Hoosiers will once again be able to get a personalized license plate from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, beginning Friday.

The heart of the BMV bill reduces or eliminates 163 fees and cuts the number of ways to register a vehicle from 191 to 23, but that's not what caused the fireworks on the House floor.

General Council for Indiana's BMV Adam Krupp says 163 user fees will be eliminated or reduced, if the bill becomes law, and that an overly complex fee system will be heavily cut down.

Legislation that drastically simplifies the Bureau of Motor Vehicles' complex registration and fee system received positive feedback in Wednesday's initial House committee hearing.