Lawmakers working into the night on last day of legislative session

Today is the last day of this year’s state General Assembly session. Lawmakers have a state law-imposed deadline of 11:59 PM tonight to pass the state’s next two-year budget and send bills to Governor Mike Pence’s desk for a signature.

Lawmakers have already passed a number of bills, including an ethics reform measure, bills aiming to prevent instances of human trafficking, and the much talked-about Religious Freedom Restoration Act and its additional amendment.

Yesterday, legislative leaders published details about the proposed 2016-2017 state budget, including a proposed 2.3 percent increase in K-12 school funding. Lawmakers have not finished crafting a version that can be approved by both houses.