Statehouse Update 16
Introduction
This week, there was an abundance of activity at the Statehouse as the Indiana General Assembly wrapped up legislative business for the 2023 legislative session. Conference committees, along with the House and Senate Committees on Rules and Legislative Procedures, met daily to determine the content and fate of remaining bills. Final votes were taken on the House and Senate floors and all bills that did not move through this process before the chambers voted to adjourn sine die are considered dead. Adjourning sine die means there shall be no further business to come before the House or Senate until the fall of the gavel of the next legislative session.
The 2023 legislative session technically ended Friday, when the legislature adjourned sine die at approximately 2:47 a.m. The bills that passed have been sent to the governor for signature or veto. Once a bill is signed by the governor, it becomes an enrolled act and will take effect on the date that is set forth in the particular legislation.
Please see below for a sample of bills that were tracked by Ball State Governmental Relations that have completed the legislative process for 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 1001: STATE BUDGET State supported institutions of higher education received a 4% increase in operating funding in fiscal year 2024, and an additional 2% increase in fiscal year 2025. This is a historic investment in higher education for Indiana. For Ball State, this means increases of $4,026,110 for FY 2024 and $6,685,935 for FY 2025. Each public institution also received funding for their first priority capital project. Ball State received $81.6 million for north campus building renovations, which include renovations to the Architecture Building, Hargreaves Music Building, Arts and Communications Building, and other academic infrastructure. The budget also included funding for Ball State’s two line items, the Entrepreneurial University ($2.5 million in both FY 2024 and FY 2025), and the Indiana Academy for Sciences, Mathematics, and Humanities ($4,384,956 in both FY 2024 and FY 2025). Additionally, the General Assembly fully funded the state’s repair and rehabilitation formula for academic and administrative buildings and infrastructure at $3.9 million in each year of the biennium. This is an increase of about $1 million per year for Ball State. The bill now heads to the governor for his signature or veto.
House Bill 1002: CAREER ADVISING GRANT PROGRAM Establishes the career advising grant program (program) and fund. Provides that the program is established to provide grants to career advising providers for the purposes of providing career advising for students in grades 9 through 12. Transfers oversight of the career coaching program and grant fund from the governor's workforce cabinet (cabinet) to the commission for higher education (commission). Provides that the commission shall receive, distribute, and account for all funds received for career and technical education under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act. Repeals current provisions relating to the career coaching program and grant fund. Repeals provisions relating to the industry collaboration certification program. This bill will require certain students to meet with an approved intermediary, labor organization, or employer for 30 minutes to discuss current and future career opportunities during their first and third academic years. HB 1002 now heads to the governor for his signature or veto.
House Bill 1449: 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. HB 1449 was concurred with Senate amendments, and now heads to the governor for his signature or veto.
House Bill 1511: HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, AND COST EXEMPTIONS Provides that money in the National Guard tuition supplement program fund and the National Guard scholarship extension fund may not be expended, removed, or transferred from the respective fund except to be used for the purposes of the respective fund. Provides that an eligible applicant for: (1) a scholarship under the National Guard tuition supplement program; or (2) an educational cost exemption or award; may apply for a scholarship, exemption, or award to attend a state educational institution or an approved postsecondary educational institution under certain conditions. HB 1558 was heard in a conference committee and awaits a conference committee report.
House Bill 1558: SCIENCE OF READING Defines "science of reading". Requires the state board of education (board) in collaboration with the department of education (department) to prepare a report on the current use of science of reading concepts in IREAD. Establishes the science of reading grant fund (fund) for the purpose of assisting school corporations in placing literacy instructional coaches in elementary schools, obtaining science of reading training for teachers, and complying with science of reading curriculum requirements. Provides an application process for the fund, and creates certain application approval objectives. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, requires the board and the department to adopt academic standards for reading that are based on the science of reading and publish an advisory list of science of reading curricula on the department's website. Requires the department to develop guidelines for science of reading integration into teacher preparation programs. Requires an individual to show proficiency in science of reading instruction and to obtain a science of reading certification in order to be licensed as an elementary school teacher. Provides that money in the science of reading grant fund may be used for teachers to obtain a reading specialist certification. Provides that not later than July 1, 2024, the state board of education shall adopt rules to establish early childhood and elementary school teacher content area licenses and required endorsements that must, at a minimum, include a required literacy endorsement. Establishes requirements necessary to be eligible for the required literacy endorsement. This bill will require our teacher preparation programs to implement the above provisions into the curriculum. HB 1558 was concurred by the House and now heads to the governor for his signature or veto.
Senate Bills
Senate Enrolled Act 167: FAFSA Requires all students, except for students at certain nonpublic schools, in the student's senior year to complete and submit the FAFSA not later than April 15 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 for a group of students due to the principal or school counselor being unable to reach the parents or guardians of the students by April 15 after at least two reasonable attempts to contact the parents or guardians. 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. Expires certain requirements on June 30, 2033. Makes a conforming change and technical corrections. SEA 167 was signed into law by the governor.
Senate Enrolled Act 384: PURPLE STAR DESIGNATION Requires the commission for higher education (CHE) and the Indiana department of veterans' affairs to develop and implement the higher education purple star designation for the following purposes: (1) To recognize postsecondary educational institutions that are supportive and inclusive of veterans and military connected families. (2) To provide veterans and military connected families with enhanced support for pursuing and finishing a degree or postsecondary credential. Provides that the application for a designation must be made available to interested postsecondary educational institutions on the website of the CHE before May 1, 2024. This bill provides Ball State with the opportunity to be recognized for the work we do to remain supportive and inclusive to veterans. SEA 384 was signed into law by the governor.
Senate Bill 404: ACCESS TO TRANSCRIPTS Provides that a state educational institution or private postsecondary educational institution operated for profit (institution) in Indiana may not: (1) refuse to provide a transcript for a current or former student of the institution on the grounds that the student owes a debt to the institution; (2) charge a higher fee for obtaining a transcript or provide less favorable treatment of a request for a transcript of a current or former student who owes a debt to the institution; or (3) withhold from a current or former student's transcript any degrees earned on the grounds that the student owes a debt to the institution; if the student has paid certain amounts in the past year on the debt owed. Provides that a current or former student may bring a civil action against an institution for a violation of these provisions. his bill will require Ball State to expand access to transcripts for students. SEA 404 was signed into law by the governor.
Looking Ahead
Our office extends our appreciation to you for your time and attention this session. We are grateful to have partners across campus who help us to share our story at the Statehouse and beyond. We look forward to starting our Statehouse Updates once again when the General Assembly will convene for a short session, no later than the fourth Monday in January of 2024.
