Statehouse Update
February 17, 2023
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 sixth week of session. Bills must move out of committee by next week’s deadlines to remain eligible to still become law.
House Bills
HB 1001: State budget
It is anticipated the House will release their proposed budget by the close of business today (Friday, Feb. 17th). House Ways and Means will amend and vote the bill out of committee on Monday, Feb. 20th.
The governor's proposed biennial budget includes the Indiana Commission for Higher Education's operating funding recommendations for a 6% increase in FY24 and 8% increase in FY25 (equaling $184 million new higher education operating funding over the biennium) and follows the commission's recommendation of the funding split between the old outcomes-based funding model, new outcomes-based funding model and a base support increase.
HB 1002: Education and workforce matters
Passed House Ways and Means Committee 15-7
The bill aims to "reinvent" high school by providing more job training to students in order to address skills gaps and employee shortages. The legislation would create career scholarship accounts to pay for students in grades 10-12 to take apprenticeships directly from employers. It would also change graduation requirements and allow students to use money from the 21st Century Scholars and Frank O'Bannon Grant programs on job training instead.
HB 1201: Rare disease advisory council
Passed House Public Health 12-0 and recommitted to House Ways and Means
The bill establishes the rare disease advisory council, to be administratively managed by the Indiana Department of Health, to address various issues concerning the needs of patients in Indiana with rare diseases and their caregivers and providers. Additionally, it establishes the rare disease fund to provide funding for both publications and grants for studies and research concerning rare diseases.
HB 1281: Financial literacy
Passed House Education 7-4
Thebill provides that, beginning with the cohort of students who are expected to graduate from a public school, a charter school or a state-accredited non-public school in 2027, an individual must successfully complete a personal financial responsibility course before graduating high school. The bill also creates requirements for content that must be covered in the course.
HB 1449: Twenty-first century scholars program enrollment
Passed House 92-0
The bill allows the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Indiana Department of Education to identify eligible students for automatic enrollment in the 21st Century Scholars program with an opt-out provision.
HB 1528: Transition to teaching
Passed House 92-0
The bill allows an individual enrolled in a transition to teaching program to apply for a one-time $10,000 scholarship under the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship program. It requires an applicant to possess a baccalaureate degree, agree to obtain an initial practitioner license and teach at a qualifying school for five years.
HB 1637: Teacher education programs
Passed House Ways and Means Committee20-1
The bill increases the annual Next Generation Hoosier Educators (NextGen) Scholarship amount, from $7,500 to $10,000; the William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship amount, from $4,000 to $10,000; and the Earline S. Rogers Student Teaching Scholarship for Minority Students, from $4,000 to $5,000. It adds requirements that a William A. Crawford minority teacher scholarship recipient must maintain for eligibility, and it removes the 200 new applicant per year limit on the NextGen scholarship.
Senate Bills
SB 167: FAFSA
Passed Senate Education and Career Development 12-0
The bill requires all students in their senior year of high school to complete and submit the FAFSA unless certain conditions are met.
SB 338: Art and music therapy
Passed Senate 47-2
The bill provides for the licensure of music therapists, art therapists, and art therapist associates by the medical licensing board of Indiana and Establishes requirements and procedures for an individual to be licensed. Additionally, it establishes an art therapy advisory council and a music therapy advisory council.
SB 404: Access to transcripts
Passed Senate 47-2
The bill provides that if a current or former student owes $1,000 or less to a state educational institution or private for-profit postsecondary educational institution operated in Indiana must provide a transcript if the student has paid to the institution in the past year at least $100 or the total debt owed by the student to the institution, whichever is less. If a current or former student owes more than $1,000, the institution must provide a transcript if the student has paid to the institution in the past year at least ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the debt owed to the institution or three hundred dollars ($300), whichever is less.
SB 402: Reading Standards and Curriculum
Passed Senate Education and Career Development 11-1
The bill defines "science of reading" and requires the Indiana State Board of Education to adopt academic standards that use the science of reading. Beginning July 1, 2024, it requires the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to review teacher preparation programs for science of reading integration. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, it requires local school corporations to adopt curriculum that is based on the science of reading. After June 30, 2025, IDOE may not grant an initial practitioner license as an elementary school teacher to certain individuals unless the individuals successfully pass a foundation of reading exam.
SB 435: Twenty-first scholars program enrollment
Passed Senate Education and Career Development 12-0 and recommitted to Senate Appropriations
The bill now mirrors the language in HB 1449 which allows the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Indiana Department of Education to identify eligible students for automatic enrollment in the 21st Century Scholars program with an opt-out provision.
SB 486: Education matters
Passed Senate Appropriations 10-4
The bill (among other provisions) repeals teacher training requirements regarding: (1) criminal gang organizations awareness; (2) identifying and reporting human trafficking; (3) use of bleeding control kits; (4) the appropriate use of effective alternatives to physical restraint and seclusion; (5) certain information concerning homeless students; and (6) recognizing the signs and symptoms of seizures and the appropriate steps to be taken to respond to the symptoms; and requires that information concerning these subjects be included within the curriculum of teacher preparation programs. The bill requires the Indiana Department of Education to establish or license for use an online platform to provide information and training concerning these and other subjects.