House panel to consider limiting power of state agencies

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – An Indiana House committee is set to consider a bill that would prevent some state agencies from creating their own policies and would eliminate current state regulations not required by state or federal law.

The House government reform committee scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday morning to discuss the bill.

If the General Assembly passes the measure, boards and commissions from agencies including the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health would no longer be able to create statewide policies in their respective fields. And new policy proposals would be approved by a separate division of the Legislative Services Agency.

Opponents say the bill would strip authority from appointed experts in each given field. Supporters say it will prevent policies from becoming stricter than current state or federal laws.