Key Legislation

Sponsor(s): Senator Gary Byrne (R-Byrneville), Senator Chris Garten (R-Charlestown), Senator Blake Doriot (R-Goshen), Senator Mike Gaskill (R-Pendleton)

Status: Passed Senate on February 17, 2025; pending House consideration

Summary: SB 287 mandates that candidates for school board offices in Indiana be nominated through partisan primaries, aligning their nomination process with that of other elected offices. Additionally, it adjusts the annual compensation for school board members to an amount not exceeding 10% of the lowest starting teacher salary within the respective school corporation. 

Why We Support It: This bill promotes transparency and provides voters with clear information about school board candidates' political affiliations, enabling more informed decision-making. By standardizing the nomination process and adjusting compensation, it aims to enhance accountability and attract qualified individuals to serve on school boards.

Action Alert: Contact your state representative to express support for SB 287 and advocate for its passage in the House.

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Sponsor(s): Senator Stacey Donato (R-Logansport), Senator Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond), Senator Gary Byrne (R-Byrneville), Senator Linda Rogers (R-Granger), Senator Daryl Schmitt (R-Columbus)

Status: Passed Senate on February 11, 2025; pending House consideration

Summary: SB 523 permits public schools, including charter schools, to employ or approve volunteer chaplains who meet specific qualifications. These chaplains can provide secular advice, guidance, and support services to students and employees. With appropriate permissions, they may also offer nonsecular (religious) support. Communications between students and chaplains are generally privileged and confidential, with exceptions for disclosures concerning self-harm or intent to harm others.

Why We Support It: This bill addresses the shortage of school counselors by allowing qualified chaplains to offer additional support, promoting students' well-being and moral development. It upholds parental rights by requiring consent for religious guidance, ensuring respect for family beliefs.

Action Alert: Contact your state representative to express support for SB 523 and advocate for its passage in the House.

Sponsor(s): Senator Gary Byrne (R-Byrneville), Senator Tyler Johnson (R-Leo), Senator Scott Alexander (R-Muncie), Senator Blake Doriot (R-Goshen)

Status: Introduced on January 13, 2025; referred to Senate Health and Provider Services Committee

Summary: SB 441 defines "sex" and "gender" as synonymous terms within the Indiana Code, referring to an individual's biological classification at birth. The bill mandates that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Indiana Department of Health update their definitions accordingly. Additionally, it requires the Department of Health to identify birth certificates that have been altered by court order to change the sex classification, revert them to the original sex designation, reissue the corrected certificates, and void the superseded documents.

Why We Support It: This bill seeks to establish clarity and consistency in legal documents by ensuring that "sex" and "gender" are uniformly defined based on biological attributes at birth. By standardizing these definitions across state agencies and official records, SB 441 aims to maintain the integrity of legal and identification documents, reflecting factual and unaltered information.

Action Alert: Contact your state senator to express support for SB 441 and encourage its advancement through the legislative process.

Sponsor(s): Senator Gary Byrne (R-Byrneville), Senator Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond), Senator Michael Young (R-Indianapolis), Senator Daryl Schmitt (R-Columbus)

Status: Passed Senate on February 11, 2025; referred to the House on February 12, 2025

Summary: SB 442 mandates that public and charter schools in Indiana obtain approval from their governing authorities for any instructional materials related to human sexuality. The bill requires these materials to be published on the school's website by July 1 each year, ensuring transparency and allowing parents to review content. Additionally, schools must provide a direct link to this information in their written requests for parental consent regarding human sexuality instruction.

Why We Support It: This bill enhances parental rights by ensuring transparency in human sexuality education. By mandating that schools publish instructional materials online and obtain explicit consent, SB 442 empowers parents to make informed decisions about their children's exposure to sensitive topics, aligning with our commitment to uphold family values and parental authority in education.

Action Alert: Contact your state representative to express support for SB 442 and advocate for its passage in the House.

Sponsor(s): Senator Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette), Senator Tyler Johnson (R-Leo)

Status: Introduced on January 8, 2025; referred to Senate Committee on Commerce and Technology

Summary: SB 166 prohibits the advertisement of products containing marijuana or any marijuana-related businesses through any medium within Indiana's borders. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to seek civil penalties, injunctions, and recover associated costs from violators. Collected civil penalties are to be deposited into the state general fund.

Why We Support It: This bill aims to prevent the normalization and promotion of marijuana use within Indiana, aligning with our commitment to uphold family values and public health. By restricting marijuana advertising, SB 166 seeks to reduce exposure, particularly among youth, to substances that remain illegal under state law.

Action Alert: Contact your state senator to express support for SB 166 and encourage its advancement through the legislative process.