Jan 08, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS -- On Wednesday afternoon, Indiana state lawmakers will convene for the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly. However, some lawmakers have already introduced bills for the upcoming session outlining some of the topics that could be discussed and voted on during the session. Here are some of the standout bills that have been introduced for the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly: Senate Bill 11 - Minor access and use of social media This bill would require a social media operator to restrict a minor's access to the respective social media site if they did not receive "verifiable parental consent" from the minor's parent. Senate Bill 11, which was written by Indiana State Senator Mike Bohacek, a Republican from District 8, would allow civil causes of action to be made against parents/legal guardians of minors who access social media without obtaining consent. IndyGo receives $149 million federal grant for Blue Line bus rapid transit project The bill, in its current form, would also allow civil causes to be filed if a minor is subject to social media bullying. The first reading of the bill is expected to occur on Wednesday and it is expected to be referred to the Committee on Judiciary. In its current form, the bill would be effective on July 1, if passed. Senate Bill 19 - Driver instructions of law enforcement procedures Senate Bill 19, written by three Democrats in the Indiana State Senate, would add required topics covered during driver's education in the state of Indiana. This new information includes: Procedures of a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop Actions a person should take during a traffic stop, including appropriate interaction with an officer. Senate Bill 19 was written by Indiana State Senators Lonnie Randolph, a Democrat from District 2, Greg Taylor, a Democrat from District 33, and Rodney Pol, a Democrat from District 4. The first reading of the bill is expected to occur on Wednesday and it is expected to be referred to the Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law. In its current form, the bill would be effective on July 1, if passed. Senate Bill 36 - School counselors Senate Bill 36, written by three Republicans in the Indiana State Senate, would establish time requirements for school counselors in the state of Indiana. If passed in its current form, the bill would require for 60% of a counselor's aggregate time providing "direct services to students" during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. IN Focus 2024 Year in Review: Election year brings transition in power to Indiana In the 2027-28 school year, that percentage of aggregate time would increase to 80%. The bill states that direct services include: Classroom instruction Assisting in creating a plan for college and career readiness Dropout prevention Social and emotional supports Individual student planning This bill was written by Indiana State Senators Jean Leising, a Republican from District 42, Susan Glick, a Republican from District 13, and Vaneta Becker, a Republican from District 50. The first reading of the bill is expected to occur on Wednesday and it is expected to be referred to the Committee on Education and Career Development. In its current form, the bill would be effective on July 1, if passed. Senate Bill 166 and House Bill 1026 - Marijuana advertising In the 2025 session, two bills have been filed, one in the Indiana Senate and one in the Indiana House of Representatives, surrounding the advertising of marijuana within the state. Senate Bill 166 would ultimately not allow the advertisement of a product containing marijuana or a marijuana business within Indiana's borders, including print, digital and radio/tv advertisements. This bill was written by Indiana State Senator Spencer Deery, a Republican from District 23. In the Indiana House of Representatives, House Bill 1026 would not allow marijuana-related advertisements within 1,000 feet of certain places, including: School property Playground Youth program center Public park Public library Regular route of a public school bus This bill in the Indiana House of Representatives was written by Indiana State Representative Joanna King, a Republican from District 49. Indiana Republican leaders signal hesitation to legalize medical marijuana in 2025 In both bills, if passed in their respective forms, it would give the state's Attorney General the chance to seek civil penalties if individuals/businesses were found in violation of the respective bills. The first readings of each bill are expected to occur on Wednesday. In the senate, Senate Bill 166 is expected to be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Technology. In the house, House Bill 1026 is expected to be referred to the Committee on Judiciary. Senate Bill 171 - Abortion Matters After Indiana implemented its near-total abortion ban in August 2023, a new bill in the Indiana State Senate would prohibit a person from knowingly or intentionally prescribing or possessing an abortion-inducing drug. Senate Bill 171, written by Indiana State Senator Michael Young, a Republican from District 35, would make possessing the drug a misdemeanor in the state, and up to a Level 6 felony for subsequent offenses. Braun appoints 20 to state agencies, departments before inauguration The bill, in its current form, would also prohibit Indiana nonprofits from providing, or offering to provide financial assistance to pay for, offset the cost of or reimburse the cost of an abortion-inducing drug. The bill would also require a woman who is pregnant as a result of rape or incest to provide an affidavit to her physician that attests to the rape/incest before an abortion is performed. The first reading of the bill is expected to occur on Wednesday and it is expected to be referred to the Committee on Health and Provider Services. If passed in its current form, the bill would be effective on July 1. Senate Bill 202 - The department of agriculture Senate Bill 202, if passed, would remove the requirement that the Indiana Department of Agriculture be led by the state's lieutenant governor. According to previous reports, the bill was authored by Indiana State Senators James Buck, a Republican from District 31 and Susan Glick, a Republican from District 13. In its current form, the bill would allow the department to function as an executive agency. Legislation introduced that would reduce lieutenant governor’s agricultural duties The first reading of the bill is expected to occur on Wednesday and it is expected to be referred to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure. If passed in its current form, the bill would be effective on July 1. House Bill 1022 - Antisemitism A reworked version of the antisemitism bill vetoed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb in the last legislative session has been filed for the 2025 session. House Bill 1022, written by Indiana State Representative Craig Haggard, a Republican from District 57, provides that an act of antisemitism constitutes a discriminatory practice. The bill, if passed in its current form, would also require that certain training materials contain an educational program to protect against antisemitism. The bill would also define antisemitism as the following, adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance: "Manifestations of antisemitism might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for 'why things go wrong.' It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms, and action, and it employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits." The first reading of the bill is expected to occur on Wednesday and it is expected to be referred to the Committee on Judiciary. If passed in its current form, the bill would be effective on July 1. House Bill 1029 and Senate Bill 201 - Closed primaries Two bills were filed for this upcoming session that, if passed, would implement closed primary elections in the state of Indiana. House Bill 1029, written by Indiana State Representative Michelle Davis, a Republican from District 58, and co-written by Indiana State Representative J.D. Prescott, a Republican from District 33, would allow Indiana voters to vote in a primary election only if the voter "has properly and timely affiliated with a political party and held by the political party with which the voter affiliates." Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb looks back on 2 terms, provides advice for future lawmakers All voters would be required to affiliate with a political party prior to a primary election in the state of Indiana. The bill states that voters would have to fill out a registration form that has the following: "Would you like to choose your political party? If you wish to vote in a primary election, you must list your political party affiliation and you may only vote that party's ballot in the primary election." Senate Bill 201, written by Indiana State Senator Mike Gaskill, a Republican from District 25, covers similar ground. Both bills, if passed in their current form, would be effective July 1, 2025. The first reading of each bill is expected to occur Wednesday. The House bill is expected to be referred to the Committee on Elections and Appointment while the Senate bill is expected to be referred to the Committee on Elections. House Bill 1030 - Repeal of the death penalty In the wake of Indiana conducting its first execution in 15 years, three Republican lawmakers have brought forward a bill that would repeal the state's death penalty law. House Bill 1030, if passed in its current form, would not allow death sentences in Indiana. If someone is sentenced to death and is awaiting execution, the sentence would be commuted to a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. The bill was written by Indiana State Representative Robert Morris, a Republican from District 84. The bill was co-written by Indiana State Representatives Chris Judy, a Republican from District 83, and Jake Teshka, a Republican from District 7. According to previous reports, Joseph Corcoran was executed in mid-December after he was convicted of killing four people in Allen County in 1997. The bill, if passed in its current form, would be effective starting July 1. The first reading of the bill is expected to occur on Wednesday and will be referred to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code. House Bill 1041 - Student eligibility in interscholastic sports The inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports has been a conversation by many politicians at the national level. In the 2025 legislative sessions, four Republican members of the Indiana State House of Representatives have brought forward a bill centered around that conversation. House Bill 1041, if passed in its current form, would prohibit "a male, based on the student's biological sex at birth in accordance with the student's genetics and reproductive biology, from participating on an athletic team or sport designated as being a female, women's or girls' athletic team or sport." The bill would also require state educational institutions, as well as certain private postsecondary educational institutions and certain athletics associations to establish grievance procedures for a violation of these provisions. State Board of Education approves changes to Indiana high school diploma requirements House Bill 1041 was written by Indiana State Representative Michelle Davis, a Republican from District 58. The bill was co-written by Indiana State Representatives Chris Jeter, a Republican from District 88, Joanna King, a Republican from District 49, and Robert Heaton, a Republican from District 46. If passed in its current form, the bill would be effective July 1. The bill's first reading is expected to occur on Wednesday and be referred to the Committee on Education. House Bill 1136 - School corporation reorganization A new bill, if passed in its current form, would impact several public school districts throughout the state of Indiana. House Bill 1136, in its current form, states that if more than 50% of students who reside in a district are enrolled in a school not operated by the district, the district is required to be "dissolved," transforming all the public schools into charter schools. House Bill 1136 was written by Indiana State Representative Jake Teshka, a Republican from District 7, and co-written by Indiana State Representatives Jeffrey Thompson, a Republican from District 28, and Timothy O'Brien, a Republican from District 78. Proposed statehouse bill could doom IPS If this bill were to pass today, it would scrap the Indianapolis and Gary public school districts, along with others. According to previous reports, 61% of IPS students fall in those categories. The bill, if passed in its current form, would be effective on July 1. The first reading is expected to occur Wednesday and be referred to the Committee on Education. For a look at more bills expected to be discussed during the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly, click here.
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