Sen. Jeff Raatz

Maddy summaryHB 1230 establishes a school safety specialist training program for Indiana schools, requiring annual training on bullying prevention, criminal activity prevention, and threats on school property. It mandates the Department of Education to develop a curriculum covering these topics and creates a certification process for safety specialists. The bill expands anti-bullying rules to include cyberbullying (defined as bullying via digital devices) and requires schools to report off-campus incidents to law enforcement. Additionally, it requires all school staff to complete annual human trafficking identification and reporting training, with resources provided to schools and parents. These provisions apply to all public school corporations, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1242 creates a new provision in Indiana law allowing non-resident military personnel who served at least 180 days on the USS Indiana (SSN-789) submarine to qualify for resident tuition rates at Indiana state educational institutions. Eligible individuals must have received an honorable discharge (if no longer serving) and enroll within 12 months of separation, with the benefit lasting up to four years from initial enrollment. The bill specifically defines the USS Indiana as the Virginia-class submarine named in 2017 and launched June 9, 2017. It directly affects military members who served on this vessel and Indiana public colleges/universities, which must offer this tuition rate to qualifying students.

Maddy summaryHB 1316 clarifies Indiana's tax treatment of software sales and modifies tax exemptions for non-profits. It specifically states that remote access to prewritten computer software (like cloud-based services) is **not** considered a taxable retail transaction, directly affecting software companies and online service providers. The bill also adjusts exemptions for non-profits and libraries selling tangible property (e.g., books) and restricts businesses from claiming multiple tax credits for the same project, requiring them to choose one credit instead. These changes took effect July 1, 2018, with some provisions expiring July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 1) honoring Senator Brandt Hershman for his retirement after serving District 7 in the Indiana State Senate since 2000. The resolution formally expresses the Senate's gratitude for his service, highlighting his leadership roles (including Majority Floor Leader and Committee Chair) and his work on tax policy improvements. The key mechanism is directing the Senate Secretary to send a copy of the resolution to Senator Hershman and his wife. It does not create new laws or affect any policy, as it is purely a symbolic gesture of appreciation.

Requires the department of education (department) to: (1) compile a list of business and industry partners that provide guaranteed incentives to high school students who earn the honors employment plus seal; and (2) publish the list on the department's website. Provides that, in addition to conditions established in current law to convert an existing public elementary or secondary school, an existing public elementary or secondary school may be converted into a charter school if certain other conditions apply. Allows, if the conditions are met, the governing body of a school corporation to: (1) convert more than one existing public elementary or secondary school within the school corporation; and (2) operate two or more conversion charter schools under a single charter. Allows participating innovation network charter schools to enter into an agreement with more than one school corporation. Establishes the following for or with regard to participating innovation network charter schools that entered into an agreement with more than one school corporation: (1) Requirements regarding the location of a participating innovation network charter school. (2) Terms of a participating innovation network charter school agreement. (3) Duties of the department. Amends certain requirements and procedures that apply to the closure and transfer of covered school buildings. Provides that a lease or sale of a covered school building to a charter school or state educational institution includes certain assets. Requires parental notification if a school determines a student is at risk of not achieving grade level proficiency in mathematics.

Provides that certain: (1) indemnity; (2) choice of law; and (3) automatic renewal; provisions contained in contracts entered into, amended, or renewed after June 30, 2026, between the governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent authority for a charter school and a vendor are against public policy and are void and unenforceable. Provides that certain youth organizations may submit a grievance to the department of education if a public school refuses to allow the organization to provide information to students under certain conditions. Provides that, if a public school allows a postsecondary educational institution to provide certain information to students, the public school shall allow military personnel to provide certain information to students.

Makes various changes to education provisions concerning the following: (1) Creating a teaching and learning framework for the implementation of mathematics academic standards. (2) Development of a data science math pathway. (3) Submission of a report to the general assembly concerning recommendations on strategies to support academically and fiscally underperforming schools, and interventions as necessary. (4) Evaluating, approving, and publishing high quality curricular materials time lines. (5) Local board membership for a local centralized school facilities board and local student transportation board. (6) Salary differentiation regarding teachers who possess a literacy endorsement. (7) Amounts expended in participating in an interlocal agreement included in determining amounts school corporations expend on full-time teacher salaries for purposes of teacher salary minimum funding requirements. (8) Summer school program and reimbursement administration. (9) Criteria required for eligibility of a waiver for conducting four day school weeks. (10) Oversight of career and technical education program designation. (11) Uses of teacher appreciation grants. (12) The calculation of operating referendum distributions and school safety referendum distributions to charter schools with regard to virtual instruction. (13) Petitions regarding reconsidering payments of choice scholarships. (14) Membership of the board for proprietary education. (15) The effective date regarding the changes to the definition of "eligible choice scholarship student". (16) Career specialist permit eligibility. Provides that an emergency permit may be renewed up to two times to an individual enrolled in an alternative teacher certification program if the program provides documentation verifying the individual's good standing in the program to the department of education. Creates a new qualification option for a transition to teaching program participant who seeks to obtain a license to teach in grades 5 through 12. Removes a provision that provides that the department may not release less than 10 items per subject matter level per grade level regarding the statewide summative assessment. Removes a requirement that for a parent or student to use a career scholarship account (CSA) annual grant amount for costs related to transportation a CSA participating entity must pay a matching amount for the transportation costs. Requires each state educational institution that offers a two year graduate degree program in mental or behavioral health to evaluate the graduate degree program to determine the feasibility of providing the program in a specifically structured manner to allow full-time students to complete the program within: (1) one year; or (2) five years if the program is combined with a baccalaureate degree program. Requires the Indiana department of education to elect to participate as a covered state in the federal tax credit scholarship program for elementary and secondary education under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code (enacted in Public Law 119-21, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025). Makes conforming changes to the school scholarship tax credit in current law. Requires the governor and the department of workforce development, in consultation with the commission for higher education, to: (1) establish a process to identify eligible workforce training programs; (2) establish a process for institutions and programs to apply for recognition as an eligible workforce training program; (3) coordinate certain workforce training matters; and (4) require eligible workforce training programs to provide certain datasets to the department. Provides that the department of workforce development must maintain alignment with federal rules governing workforce Pell grants. Repeals certain provisions concerning postsecondary career and technical education.

Eliminates a requirement that home health aide competency evaluation program training include at least 75 hours of training and 16 hours of classroom training before supervised practical training. Amends the educational requirements for dental hygienists. Amends the requirements for administration of nitrous oxide by a dental hygienist. Allows the state board of dentistry to establish additional requirements for an applicant who has failed the licensure examination at least three times. Amends the licensure and temporary permit requirements for respiratory care practitioners. Provides that a current or former police officer or firefighter (first responder) may recover medical benefits from the first responder's employer for an employment related injury or illness without first proceeding with a worker's compensation claim. Provides that if a first responder pursues a worker's compensation claim for medical benefits and the claim is withdrawn or denied, the first responder is not precluded from recovering medical benefits from the employer. Repeals the penalty in Title 16 concerning the crime of transferring contaminated semen. (Current statute contains a transferring of contaminated body fluids crime in Title 35 remains in law.)

Consolidates duties and responsibilities for Ivy Tech Community College (college). Includes logistics, information technology, and life sciences as areas of expertise for members of the college's board of trustees (board). Provides that members of a campus board may represent an employer that operates within the campus service area. Provides that the campus board, in collaboration with the campus chancellor, shall nominate and submit candidate names in the event of a campus board vacancy. Requires the campus board to: (1) develop and recommend certain plans to the board; and (2) make certain budget recommendations to the campus chancellor. Realigns and consolidates the primary purposes of the college. Consolidates duties and responsibilities for the board. Requires the Indiana economic development corporation, not later than December 1, 2026, to: (1) develop an education to employment research program; and (2) create a framework for education to employment data analysis and data sharing. Repeals certain provisions regarding the purpose and requirements of the college.

Makes changes to the composition of the case review panel established by an interscholastic athletic association. Requires the secretary of education, not later than December 1, 2026, to identify key metrics and activities concerning civic literacy and to submit the information to the general assembly. Requires the secretary of education, not later than December 1, 2026, to identify and make certain recommendations concerning paid leave for employees following certain events and to submit the findings to the general assembly. Provides that certain requirements apply to schools in which, over the course of three consecutive years, fewer than 75% of students achieved a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills. Requires the commission for higher education (commission), not later than December 1, 2026, to evaluate accrediting agencies of state educational institutions and to report the commission's findings and recommendations to the general assembly. Provides that state educational institutions with degree programs that meet the definition of a low earning outcome program under federal law must request approval from the commission to continue the degree program.