Photo of Jon Ford
R Indiana Senate · District 38

Sen. Jon Ford

Contact Email
Compare
Total votes
420
all sessions
Attendance
83%
83 missed
Higher than 77% of chamber peers
With party
96%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
2%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
575
bills & resolutions
Higher than 91% of chamber peers
Committees
0
assignments
575 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
575
Primary
296
Co-sponsor
279
This page
575
matching current filters
Co-sponsor HB 1230
Introduced · Indiana House · Co-sponsor
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

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.

1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 1242
Introduced · Indiana House · Co-sponsor
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning taxation.

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.

1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SR 1
Introduced · Indiana Senate · Co-sponsor
Honoring Senator Joe Zakas upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.

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.

1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 35
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Co-sponsor
Financial literacy.

Provides that, beginning with the cohort of students who are expected to graduate from a public school, a charter school, or a state accredited nonpublic school in 2028, an individual must successfully complete a personal financial responsibility course (course) before the individual may graduate. Creates requirements for content that must be covered in a course. Provides that a public school, a charter school, or a state accredited nonpublic school must offer instruction on a course as a separate subject. Provides that the state board may allow a course to satisfy one or more diploma course requirements.

Signed into law May 4, 2023 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Co-sponsor
Behavioral health matters.

Provides that, subject to certain procedures and requirements, the office of the secretary of family and social services may apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services: (1) for a Medicaid state plan amendment, a waiver, or an amendment to an existing waiver to require reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services; or (2) to participate in the expansion of a community mental health services demonstration program. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to establish and maintain a help line: (1) to provide confidential emotional support and referrals to certain resources to individuals who call the help line; and (2) that is accessible by calling a toll free telephone number. Establishes the Indiana behavioral health commission (commission) and sets forth the commission's membership. Changes the name of the "9-8-8 crisis hotline center" to "9-8-8 crisis response center". Makes conforming changes.

Signed into law May 4, 2023 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 1449
Signed into law · Indiana House · Lead sponsor
Twenty-first century scholars program.

Provides that the commission for higher education shall do the following: (1) In cooperation with the department of education, identify students who meet the requirements to participate in the twenty-first century scholars program (program). (2) Notify the student and the custodial parent or guardian of the student, if the student is an unemancipated minor, that: (A) the student is eligible to participate in the program; (B) the student must agree to the conditions required to participate in the program; and (C) the student has the right to opt out of the program at any time.

Signed into law May 4, 2023 0 co-sponsors
Primary HB 1195
Signed into law · Indiana House · Lead sponsor
ICJI victim services division.

Allows the victim services division (division) of the Indiana criminal justice institute (ICJI) to assume the duties of the domestic violence prevention and treatment council (council) within the division. Repeals the provisions regarding the council within the division. Makes conforming changes.

Signed into law May 4, 2023 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 242
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Co-sponsor
Floodplain mapping.

Repeals the requirement that local floodplain administrators use the "best floodplain mapping data" as provided by the department of natural resources (department) and located on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal when reviewing an application for a permit to authorize construction in or near a floodplain. Provides that, after June 30, 2023, a county or municipality may not issue a permit for construction activity in or near a floodplain unless the permit applicant is allowed to elect whether the local floodplain administrator will use: (1) the department's "best floodplain mapping data"; or (2) an engineering study provided by the permit applicant; in reviewing the permit application. Prohibits a local floodplain administrator from issuing a permit authorizing a structure or construction activity in or near a floodplain if the issuance of the permit will violate National Flood Insurance Program requirements. Provides that, after June 30, 2025, an individual may not serve as the floodplain administrator of a county or municipality unless the individual has successfully completed: (1) the Certified Floodplain Manager program of the Association of State Floodplain Managers; or (2) another course or training program for local floodplain managers that is approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the department. Provides that a person that has: (1) an ownership interest; (2) a leasehold interest; or (3) a security interest; in a parcel of real property may at any time request a review by the department of the department's "best floodplain mapping data" that applies to the parcel of real property. Requires the department to conduct the review at no cost to the person requesting the review and to use a detailed hydrologic modeling method in conducting the review. Provides that: (1) if the person requesting the review has applied to a local floodplain administrator for a permit authorizing the construction of a structure or other construction activity on the parcel of real property; and (2) the department does not complete the review within 120 days after the review was requested; the person may elect whether the local floodplain administrator, in reviewing the person's permit application, will use the department's "best floodplain mapping data" or an engineering study provided by the person. Provides that, in the disclosure form that is adopted by the Indiana real estate commission and that must be submitted to a prospective buyer of real estate before the prospective buyer's offer is accepted, the owner of real estate must disclose the fact that all or a portion of the owner's real estate is located within a community's floodplain boundaries, as indicated in a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map, if the owner has personal knowledge of that fact.

Signed into law May 4, 2023 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 1106
Signed into law · Indiana House · Lead sponsor
Mine reclamation tax credit.

Provides a mine reclamation tax credit (credit), retroactive beginning January 1, 2023, for a taxpayer that enters into an agreement with the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) for a qualified investment for development of property located on reclaimed coal mining land. Provides that the amount of a credit that a taxpayer receives in a taxable year may not exceed the lesser of: (1) the taxpayer's qualified investment multiplied by 30%; or (2) $5,000,000. Provides that the aggregate amount of tax credits allowed may not exceed $25,000,000 over the five year period that the credit is available. Provides for the assignment of the credit by a taxpayer to certain lessees. Provides that a taxpayer is not entitled to the credit if the corporation determines that the taxpayer has substantially reduced or ceased its operations in Indiana in order to relocate them within the mine reclamation site. Provides that the tax credit expires December 31, 2027.

Signed into law May 4, 2023 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 1558
Signed into law · Indiana House · Co-sponsor
Science of reading.

Defines "science of reading". Requires the state board of education (state board) in collaboration with the department of education (department) to prepare and submit a report regarding the alignment of science of reading concepts in IREAD. Requires a school corporation and charter school to report certain information regarding reading and writing curricula, remedial programs, and administrative contact information on the school corporation's or charter school's website. Provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, a superintendent, advisory committee, or governing body or the equivalent for a charter school: (1) shall adopt curriculum or supplemental materials for reading that are aligned with the science of reading and to the student's reading proficiency; and (2) may not adopt curriculum or supplemental materials for reading that are based on the three-cueing model. Requires the department to develop guidelines for science of reading integration into teacher preparation programs. Makes changes to the education law concerning the science of reading and teacher preparation and licensing requirements. Requires a school corporation to differentiate the amount of salary increases or increments for teachers who possess a required literacy endorsement. Removes a requirement that a discussion regarding teacher supplemental payment be held. Requires the state board to establish and require literacy endorsements for certain individuals first licensed after June 30, 2025. Provides that, not later than July 1, 2024, the state board shall adopt rules to establish early childhood content area licenses and required endorsements. Requires the department to publish an advisory list of science of reading curricula on the department's website. Provides that the state board and the department: (1) shall implement academic standards for reading that are aligned with the science of reading and developmentally appropriate based on student need; and (2) may not implement an academic standard for reading based on the three-cueing model.

Signed into law May 4, 2023 1 co-sponsor
Showing 1 to 10 of 575 bills
1 2 3 58 Next