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.