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 fifth week of session. The House Ways and Means Committee took public testimony on the Governor’s proposed budget yesterday, so we are getting closer to seeing the House’s proposed budget before the House committee report deadline of Feb. 17th.
House Bills
House Ways and Means took public testimony on the Governor’s proposed budget on Feb. 6th. Next week, we anticipate seeing the House’s proposed biennial budget for the first time.
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 1172: Office of entrepreneurship and innovation
Passed House Ways and Means 22-1.
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.
This is a Governor’s Office/Indiana Department of Education priority bill. Passed House Education 11-0.
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
This is a Governor’s Office/Indiana Department of Education priority bill. Passed Senate 50-0.
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 285: Comparative college and career information
Passed Senate Appropriations 13-0.
The bill authorizes 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 authorizes 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 34-13.
The bill establishes prohibitions and requirements on state agencies, state educational institutions, and health profession licensing boards regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. The bill provides that certain civil actions for noncompliance may be filed against a state educational institution. The bill establishes requirements regarding a standardized admissions test for state educational institutions that offer certain health education programs. 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.
SB 448: Higher education and workforce development matters
This is the CHE Agency/Governor’s Office priority bill. Passed Senate Education and Career Development 13-0 and recommitted to Senate Appropriations.
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 mandates CHE report student enrollment data to the Legislative Council by November 1 each year.
SB 503: Pharmacy benefit administration
Passed Senate Health and Provider Services 11-0 and recommitted to Senate Appropriations.
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 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.