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Indiana lawmakers kicking off 10-week session Tuesday

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana lawmakers are convening their 2016 legislative session with additional funding for the state’s roads among the top issues they’ll be debating.

Lawmakers open their 10-week session on Tuesday at the Indiana Statehouse. Republicans hold supermajorities in both legislative chambers.

Republican Gov. Mike Pence called on lawmakers Monday to pass legislation that would decrease Indiana’s reliance on 2015 ISTEP standardized test scores. Indiana’s teachers and schools could be penalized for low student test scores without changes to the exam.

Pence is also seeking tens of millions in extra money for his Regional Cities initiative.

But the governor’s legislative agenda makes no mention of extending civil rights protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The socially conservative Pence says he’s still studying that issue.