IndianaSB 289First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)SenateWALLET

Unlawful discrimination.

Sponsored By: Gary Byrne (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Repeals provisions concerning university diversity committees. Prohibits unlawful discrimination in education, public employment, and licensure. Allows participation in public contracts by a minority business enterprise, women's business enterprise, and veteran business enterprise, as currently authorized by law. Permits scholarships based on a personal characteristic of the recipient if the scholarship is not funded by state funds or resources, and permits the renewal of specified state funded minority teaching scholarships for those recipients who were initially awarded the scholarship before July 1, 2025. Changes the criteria for certain state funded teaching scholarships from minority status to residence in an underserved county and an agreement to teach in an underserved county. Prohibits requiring as a condition of licensure that a person affirm that a person with a certain personal characteristic: (1) is inherently superior or inferior to a person with a different personal characteristic; (2) should be blamed for actions committed in the past; or (3) has a moral character that is determined by a personal characteristic of the person. Prohibits a public employer from requiring training asserting that, or implementing the theory that, a person with a certain personal characteristic: (1) is inherently superior or inferior to a person with a different personal characteristic; (2) should be blamed for actions committed in the past; or (3) has a moral character that is determined by a personal characteristic of the person. Permits a person injured by a violation to bring a civil action for actual damages, court costs, and injunctive relief.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Teacher scholarships expand with county limits

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship is no longer limited to minority applicants. Applicants must graduate from a qualifying high school in Allen, Marion, Lake, St. Joseph, or Vanderburgh County. They must enroll at an approved accredited college, show school and community participation, and meet application and admission requirements. Academic options are the top 20% of their class, top 20th percentile SAT/ACT scores, or a 3.0 cumulative grades 9–12 GPA. Graduates of nonaccredited nonpublic schools must qualify through test scores. Recipients must commit in writing to get a teaching license and teach five consecutive years in those counties.

Two teacher scholarships expand with county limits

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Crawford and Earline S. Rogers teacher scholarships are no longer limited to minority students. Both target Allen, Marion, Lake, St. Joseph, and Vanderburgh counties. Crawford applicants must live there, study full time at an eligible institution, and take coursework leading to teaching; renewals require continued eligibility and the applicable GPA. Rogers applicants must live there now or immediately before college enrollment, meet GPA standards, and undertake required student teaching or a qualifying school-administration internship. Crawford recipients and Rogers students entering student teaching must agree in writing to apply for teaching jobs in those counties and, if hired, teach there at least three years.

License applicants gain discrimination and statement protections

Beginning July 1, 2025, licensing decisions cannot depend on race, religion, color, sex, national origin, or ancestry. Covered licenses include permits, certifications, registrations, franchises, approvals, charters, and similar legal authorizations. Applicants seeking a new license or renewal cannot be forced to affirm that a group is inherently superior or inferior. They also cannot be forced to affirm that those traits determine moral character or make someone blameworthy for past actions.

People harmed by discrimination can sue

People injured by violations of the new discrimination article can bring a civil lawsuit for damages and court orders. Winning plaintiffs may receive actual damages, court costs, and reasonable lawyer fees. Courts may also declare their rights or order violations to stop. The law sets no fixed damages amount.

Public workers gain job discrimination protections

Beginning July 1, 2025, Indiana public employers cannot base job decisions on race, religion, color, sex, national origin, or ancestry. This covers state agencies, public schools, and public colleges, including hiring, firing, promotion, demotion, rewards, and penalties. Exceptions allow genuine occupational qualifications. Another exception covers legally authorized employment actions involving minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned businesses participating in public contracts.

Students gain public school discrimination protections

Beginning July 1, 2025, public schools and colleges cannot base education decisions on race, religion, color, sex, national origin, or ancestry. This covers enrollment, admission, aid, and other educational opportunities. Exceptions cover postsecondary grants, scholarships, and fee waivers funded without state money or resources. Renewals and continuations of specified teacher scholarships first awarded before July 1, 2025, are also exempt.

Workers and students gain training protections

Beginning July 1, 2025, subject to a statutory exception, licensing authorities and public employers cannot require training asserting specified claims. The claims link race, religion, color, sex, national origin, or ancestry to inherent superiority, inferiority, blame, or moral character. Covered training includes seminars, continuing education, orientation, and therapy programs required for licensing or public employment. Public employers and employees also cannot put those claims into practice during official duties or force students to do so.

Teacher scholarship repayment shrinks with service

Beginning July 1, 2025, Next Generation Hoosier Educators recipients must repay scholarships if they miss the five-consecutive-year teaching requirement. Repayment falls by 20% for each consecutive qualifying teaching year. Recipients can switch public or eligible schools, but every school must be in Allen, Marion, Lake, St. Joseph, or Vanderburgh County. The commission can extend the deadline for extenuating circumstances. It can also waive repayment for recipients declared totally and permanently disabled under the federal standard.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Gary Byrne

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Blake Doriot

    Republican • Senate

  • Chris Jeter

    Republican • House

  • James Tomes

    Republican • Senate

  • Michael Young

    Republican • Senate

  • Randy Maxwell

    Republican • Senate

  • Scott Alexander

    Republican • Senate

  • Shane Lindauer

    Republican • House

  • Tyler Johnson

    Republican • Senate

  • Wendy McNamara

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 209 • No: 121

House vote • 4/24/2025

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House

Yes: 64 • No: 26

Senate vote • 4/24/2025

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate

Yes: 34 • No: 16

House vote • 4/14/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 67 • No: 27

Senate vote • 2/6/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 34 • No: 13

Senate vote • 2/4/2025

Amendment #5 (Hunley) failed

Yes: 10 • No: 39

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 196

    5/6/2025Senate
  2. Signed by the Governor

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

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

    4/25/2025House
  5. Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 548: yeas 64, nays 26

    4/24/2025House
  6. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    4/24/2025Senate
  7. Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 506: yeas 34, nays 16

    4/24/2025Senate
  8. Representative Steuerwald removed as advisor

    4/23/2025House
  9. Senator Johnson T added as conferee

    4/23/2025Senate
  10. Senator Johnson T removed as advisor

    4/23/2025Senate
  11. CCR # 1 filed in the House

    4/23/2025House
  12. CCR # 1 filed in the Senate

    4/23/2025Senate
  13. Representative Steuerwald added as conferee

    4/23/2025House
  14. Representative Garcia Wilburn removed as conferee

    4/23/2025House
  15. Senator Pol removed as conferee

    4/23/2025Senate
  16. House advisors appointed: McNamara, Steuerwald, DeLaney and Harris

    4/17/2025House
  17. Senate conferees appointed: Byrne and Pol

    4/17/2025Senate
  18. Motion to dissent filed

    4/17/2025Senate
  19. Senate dissented from House amendments

    4/17/2025Senate
  20. Senate advisors appointed: Yoder and Johnson T

    4/17/2025Senate
  21. House conferees appointed: Jeter and Garcia Wilburn

    4/17/2025House
  22. Returned to the Senate with amendments

    4/15/2025House
  23. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 441: yeas 67, nays 27

    4/14/2025House
  24. Amendment #17 (Harris) prevailed; voice vote

    4/10/2025House
  25. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    4/10/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (H)

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (S)

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (H)

  • Senate Bill (S)

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