The IU State Relations team has reviewed every bill that has been introduced at the Statehouse and determined if and how the bill could impact the university. This Statehouse Update provides a summary of bills the team is tracking and that moved during the fourth week of session.
House Bills
The Governor's Office presented the introduced version of the bill to House Ways and Means Committee. Additionally, Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner presented the Office of Education’s budget request (which now includes the Indiana Commission for Higher Education) to House Ways and Means.
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.
Heard in House Public Health andheld for committee amendments and vote.
The bill, among other provisions, changes the definition of community benefit which could impact local nonprofit partners. The bill provides that nonprofit hospitals must charge under 200% of Medicare reimbursement rate at time of charge or otherwise lose status as a nonprofit hospital.
Heard in House Judiciary and held for committee amendments and vote.
The bill prevents a prohibited person from entering a contract for the provision of goods or services with the state, a state agency, and a political subdivision and requires agents acting on behalf of certain countries of concern to register with the attorney general. It establishes the foreign adversary enforcement fund and requires public and private postsecondary educational institutions in Indiana to disclose certain foreign gifts and contracts.
HB 1049: Public service attorney scholarships
Recommitted to House Ways and Means.
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 1172: Office of entrepreneurship and innovation
Passed House Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development 10-2 and recommitted to House Ways and Means.
The bill establishes the Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (under the Office of Commerce cabinet vertical) and requires it to (1) develop and administer programs to support the growth of small business, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Indiana; and eight other objectives.
HB 1326: Student and teaching scholarships
Passed House Education 6-4 and recommitted to House Ways and Means.
The bill, among other provisions, provides that applicants enrolled in a transition to teaching program after June 30, 2024, may qualify for certain scholarships if the applicant is a member of a household with an annual income of not more than 400% of the amount required for the applicant to qualify for the federal free or reduced price lunch program (Currently, the annual income threshold is $100,000 or less). The bill permits CHE to use the remaining balance allocated to certain teaching scholarships to fund additional specified teaching scholarships.
HB 1453: Pediatric cancer research and treatment grant
Recommitted to House Ways and Means.
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.
This is a Governor’s Office/Indiana Department of Education priority bill. Heard in House Education and held for committee amendments and vote.
The bill, among other provisions, establishes requirements regarding: (1) mathematics screening, evaluation, and intervention; and (2) teacher preparation program math curriculum and content.
Senate Bills
SB 74: Extension of lifeline law immunity
Passed Senate 43-6.
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 a Governor’s Office/Indiana Department of Education priority bill. Passed Senate Appropriations 13-0.
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
Eligible for 2nd Reading amendments in Senate.
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
Passed Senate Education and Career Development 12-1 and recommitted to Senate Appropriations.
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
Eligible for 2nd Reading amendments in Senate.
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 503: Pharmacy benefit administration
Heard in Senate Health and Provider Servicesand held for committee amendments and vote.
The bill requires the Attorney General to designate or appoint a Pharmacy Benefit Compliance Officer and establishes the pharmacy benefit compliance fund. The bill requires: (1) the State Personnel Department to issue a request for proposal to enter into a public-private partnership to administer prescription drug benefits on behalf of a state employee health plan; and (2) the the Secretary of Family and Social Services Administration to issue a request for proposal to enter into a public-private partnership to administer prescription drug benefits on behalf of the Medicaid program.