Rep. Hunter Smith

Provides a credit against state tax liability for expenses incurred in the manufacture of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in Indiana. Establishes procedures under which certain energy utilities may request approval for one or more of the following from the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC): (1) An expedited generation resource plan (EGR plan) to meet customer load growth that exceeds a specified threshold. (2) A generation resource submittal for the acquisition of a specific generation resource in accordance with an approved EGR plan. (3) A project to serve one or more large load customers. Sets forth: (1) the requirements for approval of each of these types of requests; (2) standards for financial assurances by large load customers; and (3) cost recovery mechanisms for certain acquisition costs or project costs incurred by energy utilities. Amends the statute concerning public utilities' annual electric resource planning reports to the IURC to provide that for an annual report submitted after December 31, 2025, a public utility must include information as to the amount of generating resource capacity or energy that the public utility plans to retire or refuel with respect to any electric generation resource of at least 125 megawatts. Provides that for any planned retirement or refueling, the public utility must include, along with other specified information, information as to the public utility's plans with respect to the following: (1) For a retirement, the amount of replacement capacity identified to provide approximately the same accredited capacity within the appropriate regional transmission organization (RTO) as the capacity of the facility to be retired. (2) For a refueling, the extent to which the refueling will maintain or increase the current generating resource accredited capacity or energy that the electric generating facility provides, so as to provide approximately the same accredited capacity within the appropriate RTO. Requires IURC staff to prepare a staff report for each public utility report that includes a planned electric generation resource retirement. Provides that if, after reviewing a public utility's report and any related staff report, the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statute's prescribed reliability adequacy metrics, the IURC shall conduct an investigation into the reasons for the public utility's inability to meet these requirements. Provides that if the public utility's report indicates that the public utility plans to retire an electric generating facility within one year of the date of the report, the IURC must conduct such an investigation. Provides that: (1) a public utility may request, not earlier than three years before the planned retirement date of an electric generation facility, that the IURC conduct an investigation into the planned retirement; and (2) if the IURC conducts an investigation at the request of the public utility within that three year period, the IURC may not conduct a subsequent investigation that would otherwise be required under the bill's provisions unless the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statutory reliability adequacy metrics as of the time the investigation would otherwise be required. Provides that if a CPCN is granted by the IURC for a facility intended to repower or replace a generation unit that is planned for retirement, and the CPCN includes findings that the project will result in at least equivalent accredited capacity and will provide economic benefit to ratepayers as compared to the continued operation of the generating unit to be retired, the CPCN constitutes approval by the IURC for purposes of an investigation that would otherwise be required. Provides that if, after an investigation, the IURC determines that the capacity resources available to the public utility will not be adequate to allow the public utility to satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirements and the statute's prescribed reliability adequacy metrics, the IURC shall issue an order: (1) directing the public utility to acquire or construct; or (2) prohibiting the retirement or refueling of; such capacity resources that are reasonable and necessary to enable the public utility to meet these requirements. Provides that if the IURC does not issue an order in an investigation within 120 days after the initiation of the investigation, the public utility is considered to be able to satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statutory reliability adequacy metrics with respect to the retirement of the facility under investigation. Provides that if the IURC issues an order to prohibit the retirement or refueling of an electric generation resource, the IURC shall create a sub-docket to authorize the public utility to recover in rates the costs of the continued operation of the electric generation resource proposed to be retired or refueled, subject to a finding by the IURC that the continued costs of operation are just and reasonable. Makes a technical change to another Indiana Code section to recognize the redesignation of subsections within the section containing these provisions.

Removes and repeals various education provisions and expired education provisions, including provisions concerning the following: (1) Secretary of education criteria. (2) Certain department of education (department) requirements. (3) The advisory committee on career and technical education. (4) Use of hearing examiners by the state board of education (state board). (5) Credit for retaking a virtual course during certain time periods. (6) Children's social, emotional, and behavioral health plans. (7) Family friendly school designations. (8) The Indiana civic education commission. (9) Discretionary directives to the department. (10) The program for the advancement of math and science. (11) Access to telecommunication services. (12) Elementary school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists program and fund. (13) Grants for mental health counselor licenses for school counselors. (14) The arts education program. (15) The geothermal conversion revolving fund. (16) Clause requirements for certain charter school organizer documents. (17) Required acknowledgment by a current authorizer regarding a proposal by an existing charter school to another authorizer. (18) Requirements regarding a governing body of a school corporation (governing body) providing a noncharter school. (19) Charter requirements, including minimum year and annual performance target requirements. (20) Certain notice requirements from an authorizer to an organizer that is not in compliance. (21) Indiana school for the arts. (22) Allowing the board of trustees of Vincennes University to establish a grammar school. (23) Designation of certain committees by a governing body. (24) Governing body use of funds for associations. (25) Developing and reviewing evidence based plans with parents for improving student behavior and discipline. (26) Township trustees and the sale of schoolhouses. (27) School health advisory councils and adoption of a school corporation policy on child nutrition and physical activity. (28) Certain agreement requirements regarding joint programs. (29) Certain requirements regarding the transfer of a student to another school. (30) Freeway school corporation and freeway school program. (31) Policies, programs, and reports regarding criminal organization activity. (32) Transportation program discretion. (33) Recommendations regarding certain powers and duties of the department. (34) Culturally responsive methods. (35) Certain training and professional development requirements. (36) Certain teacher leave requirements. (37) Ineligibility for state funds for adopting residence requirements. (38) Certain compensation included in computing a teacher's retirement benefit. (39) Penalty for failing to comply with working schedule requirements. (40) Discretionary modification of graduation plan. (41) Required course on safety education. (42) Compilation of leaflets regarding hygiene, sanitary science, and disease prevention. (43) Making a violation regarding teaching certain disease information an infraction. (44) Certain elective courses and teachings. (45) Voluntary summer school program and joint summer school program requirements. (46) Technology preparation curriculum. (47) Community or volunteer service programs. (48) Nonsession school activities. (49) Requirements regarding Indiana academic standards. (50) Strategic and continuous improvement and achievement plans. (51) Cultural competency. (52) Student educational achievement grants. (53) Remediation grant program. (54) Postsecondary workforce training program remediation reduction. (55) Requirement to provide an enrollment form for the twenty-first century scholars program to certain students. (56) Governor's scholars academy. (57) Seminary township school fund. (58) Dual credit teacher stipend matching grant fund. (59) Student enrichment grants. (60) The study of ethnic and racial groups as a semester elective course. (61) Requirements regarding proposed charter school economic interest statements. (62) Certain charter requirements for adult high schools. (63) Required policies on contacting employment references. (64) Certain requirements concerning staff performance evaluations. (65) Authorizer responsibility for charter school compliance with applicable legal standards. (66) Certain nondiscrimination provisions regarding students who transfer from charter schools to public noncharter schools. Merges and amends provisions regarding fund distribution upon the termination of a charter and the cessation of a charter school. Amends the age eligibility for a member of a governing body. Amends the time period by which a governing body must organize by electing officers. Establishes information that must be included in a consolidated audit by an organizer. Provides adult high schools are excluded from all cohort based graduation rate calculations except to the extent required under federal law. Amends the termination and notice requirements with regard to terminating a transportation program. Relocates and amends a provision regarding classroom instruction curriculum in teacher preparation programs. Provides that the secretary of education (instead of the governor) shall appoint the director of special education. Amends required frequency of child abuse and neglect training. Requires the department to make a list of best practices and guidelines regarding classroom behavioral management strategies and a list of best practices to reduce student discipline. Permits the governing body of a school corporation or an organizer of a charter school to assess and collect a reasonable fee for certain supplies and materials. Amends certain financial statement filing requirements regarding school trusts to pool assets for insurance coverage. Repeals a provision regarding requiring certain CSA participating entities to provide evidence of certain unencumbered assets. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Requires, not later than October 1, 2025, the secretary of education to compile and prepare a report concerning school bus driver safety education training. Makes certain changes concerning the process of filling a school board vacancy. Provides that a superintendent is preferred (current law says required) to hold a master's degree from certain institutions. Provides that certain covered school buildings are not required to revert to a school corporation if the building is subject to ongoing renovations. Provides that a superintendent must discuss a plan for annual performance evaluations with teachers (instead of teachers or the teachers' representative). Requires, not later than August 1, 2025, the early learning advisory committee, in coordination with the department of education, to assess certain prekindergarten program matters and submit a report to the legislative council. Removes a provision that contracts with certain superintendents must be in a form of a regular teacher's contract.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating the University of Notre Dame fencing team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship.

Maddy summaryHouse Concurrent Resolution 43 is a non-binding resolution that expresses the Indiana legislature's support for a healthier Indiana. It serves to formally encourage initiatives and efforts aimed at improving the well-being of the state's residents.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Jadin O'Brien for winning her third consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) pentathlon championship.

Maddy summaryHCR 41 is a symbolic concurrent resolution expressing support for shifting education policy authority from the federal U.S. Department of Education to individual states. It does not change existing laws or create new requirements; instead, it formally advocates for states to have greater control over education decisions. The resolution was coauthored by multiple state representatives and referred to the Education Committee for consideration. As a non-binding resolution, it directly affects only the legislative record, not actual education policy implementation.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Christian persecution in the area known as the Artsakh Republic and urging the Indiana federal delegation to stop funding or supporting military countries that are killing Christians in Armenia and Turkey.

Maddy summaryHR 46 is a ceremonial resolution designating Sunday, August 10, 2025, as "Indiana Prayer Walk Your Campus Day." It does not create new laws or affect any policies; it simply recognizes a planned campus prayer event. The bill was introduced by Representative Smith H and co-sponsored by multiple representatives. This is a symbolic gesture with no concrete policy impact or direct effect on constituents.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ban on vented gas cans.