Statehouse Update 9
Introduction
This week the General Assembly returned to the Statehouse to continue their work in the second half of session. Of the 1,162 bills that were introduced, 346 bills survived and passed out of their chamber of origin. Succeeding bills have been assigned to committees and those committees have begun deliberations. Bills must be voted out of committee by April 11 for the House or April 13 for the Senate and must be voted out of the full chamber on a 3rd reading no later than April 17 in the House or April 18 in the Senate.
In addition, President Mearns visited the Statehouse on Tuesday for the Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings. President Mearns presented Ball State’s budget request and expressed his continued gratitude for the proposed historic investment in Indiana higher education.
Please see below for a sample of bills being tracked by Ball State Governmental Relations that are being considered in the 2023 legislative session. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to our office at gov@bsu.edu.
Bills that Moved
House Bills
House Bill 1449: TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM Amends the twenty-first century scholars program (program) eligibility requirements for certain students. Requires the commission for higher education to notify an emancipated student, or the custodial parent or guardian of a student if the student is an unemancipated minor, of the student's eligibility to participate in the program and right to opt out of the program. HB 1449 was heard in the Senate Education and Career Development Committee this week and awaits a committee vote to proceed to the full Senate.
Senate Bills
Senate Bill 167: FAFSA Requires all students, except for students at certain nonpublic schools, in the student's senior year to complete and submit the FAFSA unless: (1) a parent of a student or a student, if the student is an emancipated minor, signs a waiver that the student understands what the FAFSA is and declines to complete it; or (2) the principal or school counselor of the student's high school waives the requirement due to extenuating circumstances. Requires that the: (1) model notice prepared by the commission for higher education; and (2) notice that each school corporation is required to send regarding the FAFSA; include information regarding the requirements and exceptions for completing the FAFSA. Makes a conforming change and technical corrections. SB 167 was heard in the House Education Committee this week and awaits a committee vote to proceed to the full House of Representatives.
Looking Ahead
Next week, committee activity will increase as committees continue to consider the bills that were sent over from the opposite chamber. In addition, as bills move through the committee process, we can expect to see a few 2nd and 3rd reading votes for those bills that have already been voted out of committee.
