emergency orders

The Indiana governor's office racked up more than $500,000 in legal bills for its successful court fight against an attempt by state legislators to give themselves more power to intervene during public health emergencies.

The Republican-dominated state Legislature started its 2022 session Tuesday and planned to quickly take up actions that GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb says will allow him to drop the emergency declaration that he first issued in March 2020.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the 21st monthlong extension of the public health emergency he first issued in March 2020 along with an executive order continuing a handful of administrative actions but no business or crowd restrictions. Both orders are in effect until Jan. 1.

Lawmakers will return to the Statehouse this month for a one-day session to consider legislation that would allow Indiana's current public health state of emergency to expire.

The Indiana Supreme Court issued an order Wednesday taking over a lawsuit that Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb filed against the GOP-dominated Legislature contending that a law granting the power violates the state constitution.

Gov. Eric Holcomb said Indiana is at a point where he thankfully can contemplate ending the public health emergency around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order, which runs through September, mandates hospitals report to the state when they're diverting patients to other facilities.

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.

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.

Neither the governor nor local officials could ever restrict worship services during a public emergency under a bill approved by a House panel Wednesday.