Statehouse Update 1
Introduction
Welcome to the first Statehouse Update of the 2026 legislative session. During the session, the Ball State Governmental Relations team will produce weekly summaries of the key activities of the Indiana General Assembly.
The General Assembly began work on the 2026 legislative session on Monday, December 1, following Governor Braun’s call for the General Assembly to consider redistricting Indiana’s congressional districts. By statute, the session must conclude by March 14; however, both the House and Senate have released revised session calendars that anticipate that they will conclude their legislative business by the end of February. During this “short session”, the General Assembly will consider legislation on a range of public policy issues but will not debate budgetary matters as those are discussed during the “long session” in odd years.
The General Assembly introduced more than150 bills in its first week, and the Ball State Government Relations team began tracking legislation with potential impact to University operations. The total number of introduced bills will increase significantly as legislators 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.
This week, the House heard the first reading of bills, began committee hearings, and debated and voted on HB 1032 (Redistricting). Next week, the Senate will convene on Monday, December 8, to start its legislative calendar. Similar to the House, its schedule will include first bill readings, committee hearings, and a vote on redistricting.
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.
Bills That Moved
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.
Looking Ahead
Next week we can expect to see a number of additional bills introduced. During a typical “short session”, we generally see between 800 – 1,200 bills introduced. Once the bills are introduced, we will also see them begin to be assigned to, and move through, legislative committees.
