IndianaSB 287First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)SenateWALLET

School board matters.

Sponsored By: Gary Byrne (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Requires a petition of nomination for a school board office to state one of the following: (1) The candidate's political party affiliation. (2) That the candidate is an independent candidate. (3) That the candidate elects not to disclose any affiliation with a political party or that the candidate is not affiliated with a political party and does not identify as an independent candidate. Specifies that unless a candidate who states a political party affiliation is challenged, the candidate's statement must be indicated on the ballot. Provides that the name of a candidate for school board office who does not run in affiliation with a political party or as an independent candidate must be printed with a blank space after the candidate's name signifying that the candidate elects not to disclose any affiliation with a political party or that the candidate is not affiliated with a political party and does not identify as an independent candidate. Specifies that a straight party vote does not count for any candidate for a school board office. Requires a school board vacancy to be filled by: (1) a caucus if the vacating member stated an affiliation with a major political party; and (2) the remaining members of the governing body if the vacating member did not state an affiliation with a major political party. Modifies the annual amount that the governing body of a school corporation may pay a member of the governing body from $2,000 (under current law) to an amount not to exceed 10% of the lowest starting salary of a teacher employed by the school corporation.

electionsthe houseelections and apportionmenteducation pursuant to house rule 126

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

School board pay gets salary-based cap

Beginning July 1, 2025, the former $2,000 annual school board payment cap is replaced by a teacher-salary-based limit. Boards can approve reasonable annual payments by resolution, capped at 10% of their school corporation's lowest starting teacher salary. Payment is not automatic, and the cap prevents payments above that amount. Separate per-day payments remain limited to the rate allowed for boards of school commissioners. If all board members are appointed, the appointing authority must approve the per-day rate before payment.

Party affiliation shapes school board replacements

Beginning July 1, 2025, covered school board vacancies follow a shared appointment process as soon as practicable. After the first board takes office, a party caucus fills vacancies left by members who stated a major-party affiliation. Otherwise, remaining members appoint a qualified school-corporation resident by majority vote, even when fewer than a majority of all members vote. A circuit court judge appoints a replacement if the caucus or board ties or fails to act within 30 days. Applicable term limits and same-district residency rules remain; appointments cover the term or its balance. Ex officio seats are excluded, and designated appointing authorities retain their vacancy powers where the governing rules preserve them.

School board candidates disclose party choices

Beginning July 1, 2025, school board candidates must state a party affiliation, identify as independent, or choose not to disclose. Candidates claiming a major party must have voted in its last two Indiana primaries or get written county party-chair certification. That certification defeats an affiliation challenge; this process does not allow challenges to nonmajor-party, independent, or nondisclosure claims. The law removes nonpartisan requirements in covered elections and allows party labels, with stated affiliations displayed unless challenged. Under the applicable ballot-order rules, nondisclosing candidates appear after the earlier candidate categories, with a blank after their names. Nomination petitions must include the required candidate information and any required certification; community school elections follow general-election voting and counting rules.

Townships resolve certain school board deadlocks

Beginning July 1, 2025, a special vacancy rule covers school corporations with territory in counties above 185,000 but below 200,000 people. If the board or caucus ties or fails to act within 30 days after the election or vacancy, township officials decide. The township fiscal body covering the largest share of the school district's population breaks the tie or makes the appointment. Its executive breaks any further tie, and a fiscal-body member who was a candidate involved in the tie cannot vote.

Voters must mark school board choices

Beginning July 1, 2025, voters must mark each school board candidate they support; straight-party votes do not count. Ballots must explain this, and electronic systems must require separate candidate marks. At-large candidates appear alphabetically by last name, not by party, and ballots must state how many voters may select. Straight-party controls are omitted when a party has no candidates or only candidates for school board or qualifying multi-seat offices. Straight-party votes also do not transfer to replacement school board nominees selected under the law's successor procedures. For the covered board's two at-large seats, elections occur in 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, and every four years afterward; the schedule removes 2024.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Gary Byrne

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Blake Doriot

    Republican • Senate

  • Chris Garten

    Republican • Senate

  • J.D. Prescott

    Republican • House

  • Michelle Davis

    Republican • House

  • Mike Gaskill

    Republican • Senate

  • Robert Heaton

    Republican • House

  • Timothy Wesco

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 199 • No: 301

Senate vote • 4/24/2025

Senate concurred with House amendments

Yes: 26 • No: 24

House vote • 3/31/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 54 • No: 40

House vote • 3/20/2025

Amendment #1 (Boy) failed

Yes: 29 • No: 62

House vote • 3/20/2025

Amendment #2 (Errington) failed

Yes: 27 • No: 63

House vote • 3/13/2025

Referred to Committee on Education pursuant to House Rule 126.4

Yes: 26 • No: 58

Senate vote • 2/17/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 26 • No: 20

Senate vote • 2/13/2025

Amendment #1 (Ford J.D.) failed

Yes: 11 • No: 34

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    5/6/2025Senate
  2. Public Law 195

    5/6/2025Senate
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/29/2025Senate
  4. Signed by the Speaker

    4/25/2025House
  5. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    4/24/2025Senate
  6. Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 504: yeas 26, nays 24

    4/24/2025Senate
  7. Dissent rescinded

    4/22/2025Senate
  8. Motion to concur filed

    4/22/2025Senate
  9. House conferees appointed: Prescott and Jackson C

    4/15/2025House
  10. House advisors appointed: Wesco, Davis, Heaton, Boy, Errington and Pryor

    4/15/2025House
  11. Senate advisors appointed: Hunley, Garten and Gaskill

    4/14/2025Senate
  12. Senate conferees appointed: Byrne and Ford J.D.

    4/14/2025Senate
  13. Senate dissented from House amendments

    4/10/2025Senate
  14. Motion to dissent filed

    4/10/2025Senate
  15. Concurrence withdrawn

    4/10/2025Senate
  16. Motion to concur filed

    4/1/2025Senate
  17. Returned to the Senate with amendments

    4/1/2025House
  18. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 335: yeas 54, nays 40

    3/31/2025House
  19. Amendment #3 (Prescott) prevailed; Division of the House: yeas 63, nays 27

    3/20/2025House
  20. Amendment #1 (Boy) failed; Roll Call 277: yeas 29, nays 62

    3/20/2025House
  21. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    3/20/2025House
  22. Amendment #2 (Errington) failed; Roll Call 278: yeas 27, nays 63

    3/20/2025House
  23. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    3/13/2025House
  24. Referred to Committee on Education pursuant to House Rule 126.4; Failed, Roll Call 258: yeas 26, nays 58

    3/13/2025House
  25. First reading: referred to Committee on Elections and Apportionment

    3/3/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (S)

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (H)

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