Bills & Legislation

Absenteeism and student discipline.

Defines "chronically absent". Requires the department of education (department) to do the following: (1) Create a list of best practices to reduce student discipline and absenteeism. (2) Study and prepare a report regarding the basis for the categorization of certain suspensions and expulsions. (3) Establish a categorization framework for excused absences based on the reason for the absence. (4) Collect certain information regarding absences from school corporations and charter schools and prepare and post a report regarding the information on the department's website. Provides that the absence policy adopted by the governing body of a school corporation must provide for the categorization of excused absences in accordance with the categorization framework established by the department. Allows a prosecuting attorney to conduct a meeting, collaborate, and make reasonable efforts to secure appropriate support services for a child and the child's family before filing an affidavit with regard to a violation of compulsory school attendance requirements. Amends the definition of "absent student" for purposes of the truancy prevention policy provisions. Requires a public school to hold an attendance conference not later than 10 instructional days (instead of five instructional days) after the student's fifth absence. Prohibits a public school from expelling or suspending a student solely because the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant.

Stacey DonatoRepublican

Instruction on human sexuality.

Provides that, if a school provides instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted infections, the instruction must include instruction concerning consent to sexual activity and a presentation on human growth and development during pregnancy. Provides that a school maintained by a school corporation may not use curricular materials to provide instruction on human sexuality that have not been approved by the governing body of a school corporation. Requires a school corporation to include certain information concerning instruction on human sexuality in the written consent forms provided to a parent of a student or a student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, before the student may receive instruction on human sexuality. Requires the governing body of a school corporation to publish a list of materials used in connection with instruction on human sexuality on the school's website and to include a link to the list of materials on electronically formatted written consent forms. Replaces references to "sexually transmitted diseases" with "sexually transmitted infections". Makes conforming changes.

Gary ByrneRepublican

Annexation.

Allows the Town of Plainfield in Hendricks County (town) to annex a noncontiguous residential development that meets certain requirements. Provides that the annexation is initiated by: (1) the homeowner's association board petitioning the town legislative body for annexation of the residential development; and (2) the town legislative body adopting a resolution approving initiation of the annexation process. Provides that the town may not do the following: (1) Use the annexation territory to annex additional territory. (2) Annex additional territory within the unincorporated area extending 1/2 mile from the boundaries of the annexation territory, unless the annexation is with the consent of all of the landowners within the area to be annexed. (3) Annex, under any type of annexation, within the area that extends from the boundary of the 1/2 mile area to the town. Provides that the town's redevelopment commission may only enact a housing tax increment financing district in Liberty Township in Hendricks County if the district is approved by a resolution passed by the Mill Creek School Corporation.

Cyndi CarrascoRepublican

Energy production zones.

Provides that a project owner is not required to apply for or receive a zoning permit (permit), or any other land use or zoning approval, from a local authority for the construction of a facility, other than a wind power device or commercial solar energy system, for the generation of electricity (electric generation facility) if: (1) the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission): (A) grants the project owner a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction; or (B) declines jurisdiction over the construction; (2) the electric generation facility will be located on a premise of land on which there was located as of January 1, 2025: (A) an existing electric generation facility with a generating capacity of at least 80 megawatts, regardless of whether the electric generation facility is operational; or (B) a former surface or underground mine; and (3) the project owner complies with specified notice and hearing requirements. Requires an applicant for a permit from a local authority to be given an extension of time if the applicant's failure to meet the application deadline was caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the applicant's control. Provides that a deadline in an ordinance for commencing or completing a permitted use is tolled until two years after the conclusion of any litigation or regulatory proceeding regarding the granting of the permit. Sets deadlines for review of permit applications. Establishes requirements for development agreements. Provides that certain legal restrictions in effect at the time a permit is issued continue to apply unless the development is not completed within 10 years. Specifies that certain legal restrictions in effect at the time a development agreement is entered into apply for the period specified in the development agreement. Provides that the statute governing the approval of permits concerning zoning does not authorize the impairment of any vested right or abrogate any rights vested under common law. Specifies when land use rights are considered vested. Imposes other requirements upon the permit approval process. Authorizes a political subdivision or a local authority to prohibit, for a period of not more than one year, the siting, construction, installation, permitting, or deployment of a project (other than a project undertaken by specified entities) that involves the siting, construction, or deployment of facilities, equipment, or infrastructure used in the generation of electricity. Provides that a prohibition may not be extended or renewed for any length of time, regardless of when the prohibition first takes effect. Provides that after an advisory plan commission certifies a proposal to adopt, amend, or partially repeal the text of a zoning ordinance, the legislative body must take final action to adopt, amend, or reject the proposal. (Current law provides that after the legislative body acts on the proposal, the proposal returns to the plan commission for further proceedings.)

Eric KochRepublican

Attachments to utility poles.

Defines an "attachment request" as a request made: (1) by an attaching entity, other than an electricity supplier, to the owner (pole owner) of an electric distribution pole (pole) for authorization to install, within a period of not more than 30 days, communications service equipment on 300 or more poles owned by the pole owner; and (2) in connection with, and using funds obtained from, a state or federal program directly related to the expansion of communications services to unserved, underserved, or rural areas (program). Defines a "process management agreement" as a written agreement entered into by: (1) an attaching entity that has been awarded funding under a program; and (2) a pole owner that owns at least 300 poles with respect to which the attaching entity intends to submit an attachment request in connection with a project under the program; for the purpose of establishing processes, timelines, mutual performance obligations, and conflict resolution options for timely completing attachment requests. Provides that not later than five business days after the execution of a contract that: (1) is entered into by an attaching entity and a governmental agency; and (2) sets forth the terms and conditions for a project for which funding has been awarded under a program; the Indiana broadband office (office) shall publish the contract on the office's website. Provides that not later than 60 days after a contract is executed: (1) the attaching entity that executed the contract; and (2) each pole owner that owns at least 300 poles with respect to which the attaching entity intends to submit an attachment request in connection with a project under the program; shall hold a meeting for the purpose of discussing general project plans. Provides that not later than four months after the National Telecommunications Information Administration approves the office's final proposal for funding under the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, if an attaching entity that has been awarded funding under a program does not have a process management agreement in effect with a pole owner that owns at least 300 poles with respect to which the attaching entity intends to submit an attachment request in connection with a project under the program, the attaching entity and the pole owner shall negotiate an agreement that sets forth specified processes, timelines, mutual performance obligations, and conflict resolution options. Provides that if the attaching entity and a pole owner do not reach an agreement as to the terms, conditions, and timelines for a process management agreement, or otherwise have the prescribed negotiated agreement in effect, within the required four month period, certain conditions apply with respect to the dealings between the attaching entity and the pole owner with respect to any application for a pole attachment permit that does not seek the attachment of more than 3,000 poles within a period of not more than 30 days. Authorizes the office to adopt a rapid response mediation process to be followed if a dispute arises between an attaching entity and a pole owner regarding the processes and timelines for the timely completion of an attachment request. Provides that these provisions expire July 1, 2030.

Andy Zay

Physician noncompete agreements.

Provides that a physician and a hospital, a parent company of a hospital, an affiliated manager of a hospital, or a hospital system may not enter into a noncompete agreement on or after July 1, 2025.

Justin BuschRepublican

Inspection of CFOs.

Requires the department of environmental management (department) to conduct an onsite inspection of a confined feeding operation (CFO) once within 45 days of an initial approval and once within 90 days of a renewal of an approval to verify compliance with certain requirements. Allows the department to conduct complaint based onsite inspections of a confined feeding operation at the department's discretion without providing notice. Provides that the department may delay an inspection of a CFO if the department determines that the additional time is needed to comply with the biosecurity procedures developed by the department. Provides that additional onsite inspections of a CFO may be conducted if there is a substantial need for the inspection. Provides that an onsite inspection of a CFO must be conducted in compliance with certain rules and procedures. Makes conforming amendments.

Rick NiemeyerRepublican

Study of location of gambling operations.

Requires the Indiana gaming commission (commission) to contract with an independent, qualified gaming industry research firm to conduct a study to identify the top two regions in the state where an owner's license for a riverboat could locate gaming operations. Requires the commission to present the results of the study to the state budget committee not later than November 1, 2025.

Andy Zay

Ownership of health care providers.

Requires reporting of certain ownership information by: (1) a hospital to the Indiana department of health (state department); (2) certain health care entities to the secretary of state; and (3) an insurer, a third party administrator, and a pharmacy benefit manager to the department of insurance. Requires the secretary of state and the department of insurance to provide the ownership information to the state department. Requires the state department to annually publish a report concerning the ownership information. Amends the definition of "health care entity" for provisions governing health care entity mergers and acquisitions. Allows the office of the attorney general to investigate the market concentration of a health care entity.

Julie McGuireRepublican

General legislative matters.

Eliminates certain duplicate section headings. Defines "SECTION". Specifies when a SECTION of an act is effective. Repeals a chapter that concerns the effective date of a bill that is passed by the general assembly over the governor's veto. Removes obsolete provisions and conforms certain statutory provisions to the rules of the house and senate. Specifies that a bill passed during a regular or special legislative session must be presented to the governor within seven days of sine die adjournment. Specifies when bills passed over the governor's veto take effect.

Karen EnglemanRepublican

Education matters.

Requires the department of education (department) to grant an initial practitioner license to an individual who: (1) holds a bachelor's degree with a major in any combination of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; (2) successfully completes a total of at least nine academic credits regarding certain instruction in teaching; and (3) meets other specified requirements. Provides that the department may grant a license to teach a high school level course or grades 5 through 9 to an individual who completes a licensure pathway established by the department. Requires a principal to allow a student who is enrolled in a public secondary school to receive religious instruction for a period or periods that do not exceed the amount of time that is equivalent to attending one elective course at the public secondary school during the week. (Current law provides for a period or periods of not more than 120 minutes in total in any week.) Provides that a public secondary school may award academic credit to a student who attends religious instruction if: (1) the religious entity providing the instruction agrees to certain conditions; and (2) the governing body of the school corporation adopts a policy that allows the awarding of credit (current law only provides that a public secondary school may award academic credit to a student who attends religious instruction if the governing body of the school corporation adopts a policy that allows the awarding of credit). Changes certain requirements regarding the reporting of a bullying "incident" to the reporting of a bullying "investigation". Requires discipline rules to include a provision to make a reasonable attempt to notify both the parent of a targeted student and the parent of an alleged perpetrator that the school is investigating a possible incident of bullying or similar misconduct before the end of the next school day after the school becomes aware of the possible incident.

Spencer DeeryRepublican

Fiscal matters.

Extends the expiration of provisions concerning a county with a single voting bloc and the allocation of votes for a local income tax council. Removes provisions enacted in HEA 1001-2025 that treated the local government investment pool as a financial institution and considered the seven day yield published weekly by the treasurer of state to be a quote for purposes of the law governing the deposit and investment of public funds. Provides that money in the Pokagon Band Tribal-state compact fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes of the fund. Extends by five years provisions enacted in HEA 1001-2025 requiring termination of the compact related to the establishment of the Chicago-Gary Regional Airport Authority. Resolves a conflict between SEA 425-2025 and HEA 1005-2025. Makes conforming amendments consistent with changes made to statutes concerning advisory plan commissions in SEA 425-2025.

Jeffrey ThompsonRepublican

Youth, family, and caregiver engagement initiative.

Provides that the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana (CISC) must create and provide staff support to a statewide youth, family, and caregiver engagement initiative to carry out certain duties. Adds that CISC must provide staff to the statewide juvenile justice oversight body.

Dale DeVonRepublican

County coroners.

Requires the coroner where the incident occurred to respond to the coroner where the death occurred not more than 24 hours after being contacted to discuss the need for an autopsy. Provides that if the coroner where the incident occurred does not timely respond, the coroner where the death occurred may conduct an autopsy and bill the coroner where the incident occurred. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a licensed hospital is required to have a blood retention protocol for the preservation of the first sample of blood drawn from an individual after arriving at a hospital for treatment. Specifies the required elements of the blood retention protocol, including how long a laboratory is required to hold a blood sample in storage. Provides for waiver of the blood sample storage requirement in any case where the sample is tested and cannot be retained for reasons of medical necessity in the clinical care of the patient.

David AbbottRepublican

Sale of utility trailers.

Amends the definition of "motor vehicle" for purposes of dealer services provisions governing unfair practices and the succession to franchise by designated family members. Amends the definition of "trailer" for certain instances. Specifies that the requirement that a dealer have an established place of business does not apply to a dealer selling trailers, unless the dealer is required to be licensed for any other purpose. Provides that a dealer selling trailers does not have to file certain information with the secretary of state.

Dan DernulcRepublican

Signal jamming.

Provides that a signal jammer may be seized. Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally manufactures, offers for sale, imports, markets, sells, possesses, uses, or operates a signal jammer commits unlawful use of a signal jammer, a Level 6 felony. Provides that the offense is a Level 5 felony if a signal jammer is used to disrupt a component of a critical infrastructure facility or the communications of a public safety agency. Provides, for purposes of criminal statutes regarding offenses involving critical infrastructure, that a communications services facility includes wires and equipment used to provide communications service to a customer.

James TomesRepublican

Courts.

Provides that the judges of the Marion County juvenile courts may not appoint more than 11 magistrates. Eliminates a court in Blackford County and Monroe County. Eliminates a magistrate in Jennings County. Allows the judges of the Elkhart circuit and superior courts to appoint four full-time magistrates. (Current law allows for the appointment of two magistrates.) Adds two superior courts to Hamilton County. Provides that the first judges of Hamilton superior courts No. 8 and No. 9 shall: (1) be elected at the November 2026 general election; (2) take office January 1, 2027; and (3) serve a term of six years. Allows the judges of the Hamilton circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint two additional magistrates to serve the Hamilton County courts. Allows the judge of the Lawrence County juvenile court to appoint not more than one full-time magistrate. Allows the judges of the Vigo circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint one magistrate to serve the Vigo County courts.

Chris JeterRepublican

Vehicle emissions.

Requires IDEM to: (1) perform a comprehensive evaluation of ambient air quality within nonattainment areas in Indiana; and (2) identify air pollution reduction or regulatory relief strategies that could accomplish certain goals with respect to the federal Clean Air Act.

Rick NiemeyerRepublican

School accountability.

Repeals certain provisions regarding statewide assessment scores and the establishment of categories or designations of school performance. Requires the state board of education to establish a new methodology for designating school performance. Extends the expiration of certain provisions regarding the posting of school information. Provides that the proposals to align diploma waiver statutes with new diploma requirements may include a proposal to eliminate diploma waivers.

Robert BehningRepublican

Awareness of human trafficking.

Requires safety rest areas, gas stations, and welcome centers to display human trafficking awareness information, and permits massage establishments to display human trafficking awareness information.

John BartlettDemocrat

Protection of property rights.

Defines "squatter" as an individual who occupies the property of another and who does not have and has never had: (1) a rental agreement; (2) permission of the owner; or (3) another legal interest in the property. Permits a property owner to execute an affidavit stating that a squatter is occupying the person's property, and requires a law enforcement agency to dispatch one or more law enforcement officers to remove the squatter within 48 hours (or a later period if necessary for reasons of public safety). Provides that a property owner can execute an affidavit at the time a law enforcement officer responds to a complaint that a squatter is occupying the owner's property. Requires a dispatched law enforcement officer to remove the squatter from the property unless the law enforcement officer discovers credible evidence that the person is not a squatter. Provides that a law enforcement agency may create a form affidavit. Provides certain immunities to a law enforcement agency and a law enforcement officer. Establishes a cause of action for wrongful removal from property.

Mike GaskillRepublican

340B drug program report.

Requires certain entities authorized to participate in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to annually report specified data to the Indiana department of health (state department). Requires the state department to submit a report of the aggregated data to the legislative council and post the report on the state department's website.

Ed CharbonneauRepublican