Statehouse Update 2
Introduction
The Senate convened this week to introduce legislation, conduct committee activities, and to consider HB 1032 (Redistricting). Legislators have introduced almost 200 bills this session, and Ball State’s Government Relations team is tracking bills with a potential impact to University operations. The total number of bills will continue to increase as lawmakers work toward the filing deadlines of January 7 (House) and January 9 (Senate). In order to survive the legislative process, bills must progress through their respective committees of jurisdiction and then pass their chamber of origin by the third reading deadline of January 29.
Both the House and Senate adjourned for the remainder of the calendar year and will reconvene on January 5, 2026, to continue the 2026 Legislative Session.
Below is a sample of the bills being followed by Ball State. If you have questions about these or other bills that you may have heard about, please contact the Office of Governmental Relations at gov@bsu.edu.
Introduced Bills
House Bills (HB)
HB 1017 – University Notification of Emergency Contact: Requires each postsecondary educational institution in Indiana and state educational institution to: (1) establish and implement a procedure whereby a student may designate a medical emergency contact for medical emergencies that occur on campus; and (2) if the institution has knowledge of the medical emergency, notify the student's medical emergency contact after the student experiences a medical emergency on campus.
HB 1024 – Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program: Establishes the veterinary medicine student loan repayment program (program) and the veterinary medicine student loan repayment fund (fund). Provides that the Indiana state board of animal health shall administer the program and the fund.
HB 1060 – Emergency Medical Services: Exempts state educational institution degree programs primarily focused on emergency medical services from a certain elimination provision.
HB 1071 – Twenty-First Century Scholarship Eligibility: Provides that the commission for higher education may allow a student who does not meet full-time enrollment or credit hour requirements under the twenty-first century scholars program to be eligible or to maintain eligibility for a twenty-first century scholarship award if the student is a student with a disability and meets certain other requirements. Provides that a scholarship may be renewed for the student for the number of academic terms that constitute eight undergraduate academic years. Makes conforming changes.
Senate Bills (SB)
SB 68 – Accelerated Graduate Degree Programs: 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 certain state educational institutions to offer at least one graduate degree program in one or more certain disciplines that is structured 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 certain state educational institutions to report to the commission for higher education (commission) regarding the graduate degree programs. Requires the commission to post the submitted reports on the commission's website.
SB 88 – Various Education Matters: Provides that certain individuals seeking an initial practitioners license may request a waiver from the department of education (department) of certain licensing requirements. Requires public schools to incorporate the importance of: (1) obtaining at least a high school diploma and acquiring additional training in preparation for the workforce; (2) securing full-time employment; and (3) waiting until marriage to begin having children; into student instruction. Requires the mandatory civics education course provided to students in grade 6, 7, or 8 to include certain instruction. Prohibits certain instruction or discussion from fostering a national identity, heritage, or culture that is contrary to shared principles. Includes the Classic Learning Test in certain references to nationally recognized college entrance examinations. Requires a state educational institution (SEI) to accept the Classic Learning Test examination to the same extent the SEI accepts the ACT or SAT examination with respect to admission criteria.
SB 120 – Proposition Bets: Prohibits a certificate holder or vendor from accepting a proposition bet from a collegiate athlete in the sport the collegiate athlete plays. Provides that the Indiana gaming commission may impose a civil penalty upon an individual who: (1) is a collegiate athlete; and (2) attempted to place or placed a proposition bet on a game in the sport that the individual plays.
Bills that Moved
SB 76 – Immigration Matters: Provides that if a law enforcement officer, governmental body, or a postsecondary educational institution is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the suit has arisen out of certain acts, the attorney general shall defend the law enforcement officer, the governmental body, or the postsecondary educational institution throughout the action. Clarifies that the enforcement of federal immigration laws may be carried out by federal, state, or local law enforcement. Removes the mens rea standard in the statute concerning governmental entities or postsecondary institutions violating the citizenship and immigration status information and enforcement of federal laws chapter. Provides that a governmental body that has the custody of an individual who is the subject of an immigration detainer request shall: (1) provide the judge authorized to grant or deny the individual's release on bail notice that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (2) record in the individual's case file that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (3) comply with the immigration detainer request; and (4) inform the individual that the individual is being held pursuant to an immigration detainer request. Requires a judge who receives notice that an individual is subject to an immigration detainer request to ensure that the notice of the immigration detainer request is recorded in the court's record. Prohibits an employer from recklessly or intentionally hiring or employing an unauthorized alien. Requires the office of the secretary to submit a report to the legislative council concerning certain information. Provides that if the attorney general, an agency, or a law enforcement agency determines that probable cause exists that an employer has hired or employed an unauthorized alien the agency, attorney general, or law enforcement agency shall provide notice to the United States Department of Homeland Security. Provides that a governmental entity that employs a prosecuting official is entitled to investigative costs and costs in an indecent nuisance action. Requires the department of correction to provide training to all sheriffs-elect concerning cooperation with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now eligible for a second reading on the Senate floor.
Looking Ahead
The General Assembly is scheduled to return on January 5, 2026, to continue the 2026 Legislative Session. The Ball State Government Relations team will be at the Statehouse to monitor legislation and issues important to the University.
