Indiana's Republican-dominated Senate rejected a push by conservative lawmakers Thursday night to strip exceptions for rape and incest victims in a proposal that would ban most abortions in the state.

A wide-ranging bill to restrict what teachers could say about race and racism stalled and died last week after vocal opposition from a broad coalition, a series of gaffes by lawmakers, and ultimately, an ideological split in the supermajority.

Republican Sen. Erin Houchin of Salem's resignation from the state Senate was announced Thursday and is effective Feb. 4.

The Indiana Senate will no longer consider a controversial school curriculum and transparency bill.

State Sen. Ron Grooms (R-Jeffersonville) was first elected to his southern Indiana district in 2010. The Jeffersonville pharmacist authored legislation to address overprescribing of controlled substances and has been a leader in promoting the arts throughout the state.

Indiana Sen. Scott Baldwin (R-Noblesville) has been linked to the anti-government extremist group the Oath Keepers.

Indiana Senate Republicans rejected all proposed changes to their redistricting map Thursday that had been prompted by public concerns.

Boots becomes the fifth GOP lawmaker to announce their retirement this year, joining Rep. Tim Brown (R-Crawfordsville), Rep. Tony Cook (R-Cicero), Sen. Ron Grooms (R-Jeffersonville) and Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn)

State Sen. Dennis Kruse of Auburn said his years of service have been the "opportunity of a lifetime" and that he was retiring to spend more time with his wife and family.

A proposed expansion of Indiana's private school voucher program would be scaled back under the new state budget plan from state Senate Republicans, while still boosting the program's spending by about 25 percent.