State Update
The IU State Relations team has reviewed every bill that has been introduced at the Statehouse anddetermined if and how the bill could impactthe university. This Statehouse Update provides a summary of bills the team is tracking that have had activity up to this point during the first three weeks of session.
House Bills
The Governor's Office presented the introduced version of the bill to the State Budget Committee on Jan. 16. The House Ways and Means Committee will continue to hear requests from executive branch cabinet verticals/agencies before putting together their version of the budget in mid-February (IU President Pamela Whitten presented IU's budget request, along with the six other state educational institutions, on Jan. 14 and the separately elected executive branch offices presented their requests on Jan. 15).
The governor's proposed biennial budget did not include any of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s funding recommendations. It holds the operating appropriations funding flat for all state educational institutions at FY25 levels, without outcomes-based performance funding (OBPF) included. It does not include additional funding for OBPF, repair & rehabilitation funding, or any funding for capital projects (either cash or debt financed). Current line items are held flat and no new line item funding requests are included.
HB 1049: Public service attorney scholarships
Indiana University testified in support of the bill. Passed House Education 13-0
The bill establishes the county deputy prosecuting attorney and public defender scholarship program; and county deputy prosecuting attorney and public defender scholarship fund. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education shall administer the program and fund.
HB 1299: Funding for breast cancer research
Indiana University testified in support of the bill. Passed House Public Health 13-0 and recommitted to House Ways and Means.
The bill requires the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to establish a program to provide grants to cancer centers in Indiana to increase breast cancer research projects or breast cancer clinical trials and sets forth IDOH’s duties under the program. It also establishes the breast cancer research fund.
HB 1453: Pediatric cancer research and treatment grant
Passed House Public Health 11-0.
The bill establishes the pediatric cancer research and treatment grant program to be administered by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) and establishes the pediatric cancer research and treatment fund. It sets forth requirements for an entity to receive a grant and requires IDOH to develop criteria, policies, procedures, and a plan concerning awarding of the grants. The bill prioritizes use of the funds to be on innovative research and treatments with the potential of resulting in novel therapies for pediatric cancer.
Senate Bills
SB 74: Extension of lifeline law immunity
Indiana University testified in support of the bill. Passed Senate Corrections and Criminal Law 9-0 and eligible for second reading amendments.
The bill provides that an individual who is: (1) reasonably believed to be suffering from a health condition which is the direct result of alcohol consumption; and (2) assisted by a person who requested emergency medical assistance for the individual; is immune from prosecution for certain crimes.
This is an Indiana Department of Education/Governor’s Office priority bill. Passed Senate Education and Career Development 11-0.
The bill, among other provisions, removes a prohibition on ranking teacher preparation programs. Beginning June 30, 2025: (1) increases the minimum salary for a teacher employed by a school corporation to $45,000 (current law requires $40,000); and (2) requires a school corporation to expend an amount for teacher compensation that is not less than 65% of state tuition support (current law requires 62%).
SB 235: Limitations on diversity, equity and inclusion
Indiana University testified with concerns on the bill. Passed Senate Judiciary 8-2.
The bill establishes prohibitions and requirements on state agencies, recipients of state contracts or grants, state educational institutions, and health profession licensing boards regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. It allows the attorney general to bring an action concerning noncompliance against a state educational institution. The bill establishes: (1) requirements regarding a standardized admissions test; and (2) requirements regarding altering academic standards; for postsecondary educational institutions that offer certain health education programs.
SB 285: Comparative college and career information
Heard in Senate Education and Career Development on Jan. 15 and held for committee amendments and vote.
The bill tasks the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development with collecting and compiling certain information concerning: (1) postsecondary education; (2) career and technical education; (3) workforce qualifications; (4) workforce earnings; and (5) workforce debt. It requires CHE to create an interactive website known as the student horizon dashboard to provide public access to certain collected and compiled information.
SB 289: Nondiscrimination in employment and education
Passed Senate Judiciary 7-3.
The bill requires a school corporation, charter school, state agency, and political subdivision to post on its website certain training and curricular materials concerning nondiscrimination, diversity, equity, inclusion, race, ethnicity, sex, and bias. It provides that a school corporation, charter school, state agency, or political subdivision may not: (1) require or otherwise compel a student of the school corporation or charter school or an employee to affirm, adopt, or adhere to certain beliefs or concepts; or (2) use public funds to contract with, hire, or otherwise engage consultants, trainers, or other persons to take certain actions to promote the beliefs or concepts.
SB 377: Funding for regional economic development
Heard in Senate Appropriations Jan. 23 and held for amendments and committee vote.
The bill specifies regional economic development funding commitments shall be made by the state agency with the advice of and in consultation with the Indiana Applied Research Institute and based on Endless Frontier priorities: (1) one health life sciences; (2) emerging biotechnology; (3) microelectronics; (4) quantum physics; (5) artificial intelligence; (6) cybersecurity; or (7) defense development.
SB 448: Higher education and workforce development matters
This is the CHE Agency/Governor’s Office priority bill. Heard in Senate Education and Career Development on Jan. 15 and held for committee amendments and vote.
The bill provides that before the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) approves or disapproves a degree or program, a state educational institution shall provide, and the commission shall consider, certain information regarding the degree or program. It requires CHE to: (1) review each degree or program for approval or disapproval at least one time every 10 years; (2) outline a process for degree and program monitoring, improvement, suspension, and closure; and (3) publish certain information. It requires that, beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, at least 50% of the students in a freshman class at a state educational institution must be residents of Indiana.
Passed Senate Health and Provider Services 12-0.
The bill provides that a utilization review entity may only impose prior authorization requirements on less than 1% of any given specialty or health care service and 1% of health care providers overall in a calendar year. The bill also sets forth requirements for utilization review entities.