Conference committee reports on the bill were approved late in the afternoon by the house, 83-5 (11 excused and 1 not voting), and the senate, 45-4. Pulaski County Rep. Kendell Culp and Sen. Ed Charbonneau voted for the measure. Rep. Jack Jordan was excused.

Along with Pulaski, courts in Carroll, Gibson, Greene, Newton, Owen, Rush and Scott counties will also remain open if the governor signs the bill. Earlier this month, an unanticipated proposal approved by the senate would have closed these courts to facilitate additional judges and courts in more populous counties.

The compromise reached Thursday calls for a reduction in the number of magistrate positions in Marion County juvenile courts from 17 to 11. It would also eliminate the Blackford County Superior Court, Jennings County Superior Court and a Monroe County Circuit Court. In addition, two superior courts would be added in Hamilton County, plus two additional magistrates. Also added would be two more full-time magistrates in Elkhart County, one magistrate in Vigo County and one in Lawrence County juvenile court.