We’re entering the 4th week of Indiana’s 124th General Assembly.
Our all-volunteer team has been hard at work. Here are the stats thus far:
- 1,955 documents indexed
- 680 bills reviewed and classified
- More than 60 bills are being followed closely
Our custom state-of-the-art software allows us to index and run over 100 searches over every new document within 30 seconds of publication. All bills are indexed regardless of any classifying our team has done. We also look for any amendments or Lazarus language that may pop up.
It’s been a very active session for us at the statehouse. Below, you’ll find our most recent updates on the Legislative Watches we’ve put out this session.
HB 1348: Nonaccredited Nonpublic Schools
Author: Representative Timothy Wesco
Coauthors: Rep. Becky Cash, Rep. Ethan Lawson, Rep. Matt Hostettler
Senate Sponsors: Sen. Jeff Raatz and Sen. Aaron Freeman
We first reported on HB 1348 on January 21, 2025. It passed out of committee 9:4 on January 27th. On January 29th, it passed second reading and received its third reading on January 30th and passed out of the House with a 62:29 vote.
The bill will now head to the Senate after cross-over week where Senator Raatz, Chairman of the Education of the Workforce Development Committee, and Senator Freeman, Chairman of the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee, are co-sponsors.
Indiana’s two homeschool graduate legislators (Rep. Wesco and Rep. Lawson) and three homeschooling-parent legislators (Rep. Cash, Rep. Hostettler, and Senator Freeman) are in support of this bill. Senator Raatz is a long-time supporter of Indiana homeschoolers and their chosen independence.
IAHE and IAHE Action continue to support HB 1348 and thank Rep. Wesco, Rep. Cash, Rep. Lawson, Rep. Hostettler, Senator Raatz, and Senator Freeman for their work on behalf of the homeschool community.
SB 143: Parental Rights Bill
Authors: Sen. Liz Brown, Sen. Scott Alexander, and Sen. Brett Clark
Coauthors: Sen. Gary Byrne, Sen. Mike Gaskill, Sen. Tyler Johnson, Sen. Stacey Donato, Sen. Blake Doriot, Sen. Brian Buchanan, Sen. James Tomes, Sen. Greg Goode, Sen. Lonnie Randolph, Sen. Randy Maxwell, Sen. Chris Garten, Sen. Linda Rogers, Sen. Mike Bohacek, Sen. Jeff Raatz, Sen. James Buck.
Sponsor: Rep. Shane Lindauer
We first reported on SB 143 on January, 13, 2025. The bill passed out of committee amend do pass on January 16th and received its second reading on January 23rd. On January 27th, it passed its 3rd reading with a 44:5 vote.
The bill will now head to the House after cross-over week, where Representative Lindauer is the sponsor.
As it is currently written, IAHE and IAHE Action support this bill.
SB 483: Regulation of Homeschooling
Author: Sen. Jeff Raatz
We first reported on SB 483 on January, 14, 2025. This bill will not receive a committee hearing.
IAHE Action has continued to work closely with state leaders and lawmakers regarding chronic absenteeism occurring in publicly funded schools.
We are thankful for the conversations that have been had and are glad to report this bill is dead.
We are watching. We are listening. We are working.