This Statehouse Update provides a summary of bills the IU State Relations team is tracking and that moved during the sixth week of session. Lawmakers raced to meet the deadline to move bills out of committee and to the floor before Monday’s deadline. Additionally, many important bills hit the floor of the House and the Senate for second reading, which is the opportunity for the whole chamber to offer amendments on the bill. By the middle of next week, we will know all the bills that passed out of their originating chamber and are still eligible to become law.
House Bills
House Ways and Means Chair Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) indicated the House Republican Caucus’ version of the state budget will be posted by 5pm today. House Ways and Means will meet at 9am on Monday, Feb. 17 to consider amendments and vote the bill out of committee.
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.
Passed House Public Health 9-2 andHouse Ways and Means 16-7.
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 300% of Medicare reimbursement rate at time of charge or otherwise lose status as a nonprofit hospital.
Passed House Judiciary 12-0 and Passed House Ways and Means 16-7.
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 requires public and private postsecondary educational institutions in Indiana to disclose certain foreign gifts and contracts.
HB 1041: Student eligibility in interscholastic sports
Passed House Education 12-1.
The bill prohibits a male, based on the student's biological sex at birth in accordance with the student's genetics and reproductive biology, from participating on an Indiana public and private colleges’ athletic team or sport designated as being a female, women's, or girls' athletic team/sport. It requires public and private colleges to establish grievance procedures for a violation of the law.
HB 1049: Public service attorney scholarships
Passed House Ways and Means 19-0.
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 1172: Office of entrepreneurship and innovation
Passed House 85-7.
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 1453: Pediatric cancer research and treatment grant
Passed House Ways and Means 22-0.
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.
This is a Governor’s Office/Indiana Department of Education priority bill. Passed House 90-0.
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
SB 285: Comparative college and career information
Passed Senate 49-0.
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 448: Higher education and workforce development matters
This is the CHE Agency/Governor’s Office priority bill. Passed Senate Appropriations 12-0.
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.
Passed Senate Appropriations 11-0.
The bill sets forth requirements for a utilization review entity that requires prior authorization of a health care service. It prohibits a health plan from imposing or enforcing a step therapy protocol requirement for prescription drugs.