The Indiana General Assembly has officially reached the halfway point of the 2025 legislative session. That means any bill that hasn’t passed out of its chamber is dead for the year. 

So, where do things stand? Unfortunately, while some bills support Hoosiers, others are dangerous attacks on health care, voting rights, education, and diversity. 

Here’s a breakdown of what’s moving forward—and what’s setting Indiana back.

 

The Good: Empowering the Futures, Families and Freedom of all Hoosiers  

During the first half of session, the Indiana State Senate passed legislation that will increase healthcare accessibility for every part of this state, protect Hoosier families and make thoughtful investments into the economic future of Indiana.   

 

SB 480 – Removing Cumbersome Barriers for Healthcare   

When delays in medical care from prior authorizations result in hospitalizations, disability or even death, we are aiding in a system that jeopardizes the futures of Hoosiers in the ways it matters most. This bill looks to address these delays by limiting the scope of prior authorization.   

🔹 Provides that a utilization review entity may only impose prior authorization requirements on less than 1% of unique health care services covered under the health plan overall and 1% of participating health care providers overall in a calendar year.   

🔹 Prohibits a utilization review entity from requiring prior authorization for certain health care services.   

🔹 Sets forth requirements for a utilization review entity that requires prior authorization of a health care service.  

With this bill, Hoosiers are more likely to receive the care they need when they need it. Furthermore, it empowers patients and providers to determine what care is appropriate, not insurers.  

  

SB 176 – Addressing Indiana’s Nursing Shortage Head On   

Indiana is staring down a significant nursing shortage by 2030 and, on a national level, nursing school enrollment rates are steadily declining. This bill, authored by Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) ensures Indiana is well positioned to accommodate future shortages and empowers high school students to have a direct career path in health care.   

🔹 Allows high school students to begin earning credits towards licensed practical nurse (LPN) training  

🔹 This training gives students a purposeful path to a rewarding career providing healthcare to Hoosiers in need   

🔹 This new pathway addresses a critical nursing shortage in Indiana and fills gaps in our healthcare   

Hoosiers cannot get the care they deserve if there are no passionate people to provide it. With this legislation, there is an investment being made in Hoosier students and the health of every person who calls Indiana home.   

  

SB 475 – Allowing Indiana Physicians to Continue Serving Hoosiers  

In a continued effort to address the cost of health care to Hoosiers, the Senate has passed a bill, SB 475, that bans noncompete agreements for physicians in our state. This legislation will create more options for care, maintain quality care and increase affordability.   

🔹 Allows for physicians to have the flexibility to fill vital areas of need throughout our state   

🔹 Frees Indiana doctors from fear of litigation to move freely within our state   

🔹 The banning of noncompete agreements leads to increased wages and lower health care costs  

SB 475 will allow doctors to stay in their community if they choose to leave their current practice, ensuring Hoosiers, especially those in rural areas, have access to the care they need.   

 

SB 111 – Incentivizing Life-Saving Organ Donations   

Donating an organ is one of the most selfless things a person can do. In Indiana, we have over 1,200 Hoosiers waiting on life-saving organ transplants. These folks rely on the selflessness of family, friends or total strangers for a chance at a higher quality of life. SB 111, authored by Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis), aims to increase the number of people donating organs and reduce the number of people waiting on a second chance at life.  

🔹 SB 111 prohibits insurance companies from limiting or declining coverage solely because the individual is a living organ donor or discriminating in any way against living donors.  

🔹 SB 111 ensures insurers do not prohibit insured individuals from donating as condition of receiving an insurance policy.  

🔹 Those who donate an organ will be guaranteed the ability to receive insurance coverage.  

Hoosiers who feel compelled to donate an organ should not have to fear a lack of insurance coverage down the road, with SB 111 they will not have to.   

 

SB 33, SB 331 and SB 478 – Regulating Emerging Industries  

As new technologies come to the Hoosier state, the safety of consumers needs to be at the forefront of mind. The Senate passed several bills that balance Indiana’s reputation as a destination for emerging industries and ensure public safety.    

🔹 SB 33, authored by Sen. Andrea Hunley, makes sure that the genetic material of Hoosiers is stored safely and securely, while still prioritizing research in the state.  

🔹 SB 331, authored by Sen. Mark Spencer (D-Gary), supports local law enforcement by requiring motorists to update a passenger vehicle registration if the color of the vehicle is changed by vinyl wrap or paint.  

🔹SB 478 establishes needed safety guard rails for craft hemp flower products in Indiana by regulating the testing, packaging and sale of these products.  

These bills will work to ensure Indiana remains a leader in the cultivation of new industries and technologies while at the same time ensuring Indiana is a safe place for Hoosier families to call home.  

  

SB 306 – Cultivating Our Creative Economy  

Indiana’s creative economy is growing, but there is still work to do. Currently, creatives in Indiana may go to a state like Illinois to film commercials, documentaries or other feature films, resulting in Indiana losing out on all the creative capital that goes into a production. SB 306 aims to keep creatives in the Hoosier state by providing tax credits to those in film and media production.   

🔹 Indiana’s creative industries contributed $9.3 billion to the state’s economy   

🔹 Indiana’s creative economy currently makes up just 2% of the state’s gross state product; ranking Indiana 47th in the country in this regard   

🔹 The U.S. economy gained $1.1 trillion from the arts and cultural production industry in 2022  

There is a great opportunity in front of the Hoosier state to join surrounding states in cultivating an environment that supports creatives and continues to spur the state’s economy as a whole.   

 

SB 326 – Protecting Hoosier Children  

Words matter. This idea was the impetus for SB 326, of which Sen. Yoder is second author. This legislation aligns with international human rights and child protection efforts in accurately depicting crimes against children as “child sex abuse material” instead of the grossly inaccurate designation of “child pornography.”  

🔹 SB 326 modernizes Indiana’s laws and ensures the legal system properly reflects the reality of child exploitation.  

🔹 SB 326 removes outdated and harmful terminology.  

🔹 This bill also strengthens protections for professionals who report child abuse and reinforces enforcement against offenders.  

By removing harmful stigmas, victims are better supported. This bill marks a significant step in protecting Hoosier children.  

SB 312 – Providing Clarity on Fentanyl Testing Strips; Saving Lives  

The opioid epidemic rages on throughout the United States, and Indiana is no exception. However, there are resources available that can help mitigate the devastating impact of this crisis. One such resource is fentanyl testing strips (FTS), which would be excluded from Indiana’s definition of “drug paraphernalia” under SB 312, preventing overdoses and saving lives.   

🔹There were 725 overdose deaths in Indiana last year.   

🔹45 states have already made it clear whether or not FTS are legal.  

🔹In 2024, there were 367 million deadly doses of fentanyl seized.  

There is no denying that a crisis is here. This is why it is so necessary to provide resources to combat it, especially when inaction can prove deadly. SB 312 is a vital step in saving lives and empowering public health agencies.  

SB 409 – Employee absence for certain meetings  

For children with a disability and their families, case conferences are vital, required meetings about every aspect of the child’s life to ensure they are being supported in the very best way possible. These meetings require collaboration from all parties, especially the parents. Despite the General Assembly’s emphasis on ensuring parents are included in the education of their children, there is a gap that Sen. Rodney Pol Jr.’s (D-Chesterton) SB 409 aims to fill.   

🔹 SB 409 prohibits employers from taking adverse actions against a parent for attending a case conference committee or attendance meeting   

🔹 This bill ensures that parents are not put in a position where they have to choose between advocating for their child and their job 

Parents often serve as a child’s biggest advocate, and their voice is critical during these crucial conversations. SB 409 empowers the voices of Hoosier families and protects them from punitive actions for supporting their children’s education.  

 

SB 468 –Investing In Ecotourism  

Outdoor recreation can lead to healthier bodies and minds, which is why SB 468, authored by Sen. David Niezgodski (D-South Bend), presents such an exciting opportunity to Northwest Indiana.   

  • SB 468 establishes the Midwest Continental Divide Commission.  
  • The Commission paves the way for a recreational ecotourism trail system.  
  • SB 468 drives economic development which acts as a catalyst for business growth, tourism and job creation.  

This deliberate investment into the infrastructure of our state’s ecotourism industry is an exciting development for not just Northern Indiana, but the entire state.  

 

The Bad: Legislation That Falls Short for Hoosiers 

Some bills moving forward this session sound good on the surface but come with serious consequences for local governments, education and taxpayers. These bills don’t just fail to solve Indiana’s biggest issues—they actively make them worse. 

 

SB 1: Property Tax Relief That Comes at a Cost 

Indiana homeowners deserve property tax relief, but not at the expense of local services like schools, public safety and infrastructure. SB 1 allows homeowners to deduct 60% of their property’s assessed value, rather than the current cap of $48,000, but it doesn’t replace the revenue loss. That means: 

📉 Millions in lost funding for local governments—with no replacement revenue.
🚔 Fewer police officers and firefighters, longer emergency response times.
🚧 Cuts to road repairs and infrastructure maintenance.
🏫 Public schools lose essential dollars, forcing schools to do more with less. 

Hoosiers deserve smart tax policy that supports homeowners without gutting local communities. This bill shifts the burden onto cities and counties, forcing them to either raise taxes elsewhere or slash critical services. 

 

SB 424: A Costly Energy Gamble That Could Leave Hoosiers Paying the Price 

Indiana lawmakers are pushing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as an energy solution under SB 424, but here’s the problem: no state has successfully built one yet. 

⚡ SMRs are untested, expensive and high-risk.
⚡ Costs can reach billions, with Hoosier ratepayers footing the bill.
⚡ If the project fails, Hoosier ratepayers still have to recuperate the costs—whether it works or not. 

There’s a reason other states have scrapped SMR projects. Instead of investing in proven, cost-effective clean energy, Indiana’s GOP is gambling with taxpayer money on an unproven nuclear project. 

 

SB 143: A Student Privacy Nightmare Disguised as “Parental Rights” 

SB 143 is being framed as a “parental rights” measure, but its real impact is forcing schools to disclose personal student information—regardless of the risks to that child. 

🔹 Requires schools to notify parents if a student wants to use a different name or pronouns—effectively mandating the outing of LGBTQ+ students, even if they do not feel safe at home.
🔹 Codifies that governmental entities cannot “substantially burden” a parent’s right to direct their child’s upbringing, education, or health care—opening the door for broad legal challenges against schools.
🔹 Risks creating an environment where students feel unsafe confiding in educators, damaging mental health support systems within schools. 

This bill isn’t about protecting parents—it’s about stripping students of their rights. Teachers and school staff play an essential role in supporting students, yet SB 143 forces them into the role of government-mandated informants instead of trusted mentors. 

No child should be forced to choose between their safety and their identity. Indiana lawmakers should be focused on protecting all students—not creating policies that put them in harm’s way. 

 

SB 287: Making School Boards Partisan Political Battlegrounds 

School boards should focus on students, teachers and education—not partisan politics. SB 287 forces school board candidates to run under political party labels, turning local education decisions into political warfare. 

📌 School Boards should be about education, not party loyalty.
📌 This bill forces educators and parents to pick sides in unnecessary partisan fights.
📌 It risks extremist candidates taking over school boards, focused on political agendas—not student success. 

Indiana needs strong schools, not more political chaos. This bill makes education a partisan battlefield, instead of prioritizing students. 

 

SB 146 & SB 523: Half-Measures for the Teacher & School Counselor Crisis 

Indiana’s education system is already struggling, but instead of real solutions, Republicans are offering Band-Aid fixes. 

🔹 SB 146 raises the minimum teacher salary from $40,000 to $45,000—but that’s not nearly enough. Senate Democrats proposed raising it to $65,000, a change that would actually help retain teachers. Republicans struck it down.
🔹 SB 523 allows chaplains to replace professional school counselors. With Indiana’s counselor-to-student ratio at 694:1, schools need qualified mental health professionals. 

If lawmakers were serious about fixing education, they would invest in teacher retention, competitive salaries and real mental health resources for students. Instead, they’re pushing half-measures that don’t address the root problems. 

 

The Bottom Line: Hoosiers Deserve Better 

While the worst bills are covered in The Ugly, the policies in “The Bad” still fail Hoosiers in critical ways: 

❌ Property tax “relief” that guts local budgets and essential local services.
❌ A risky nuclear energy project that Hoosiers will pay for—whether it works or not.
❌ A law forcing teachers to out students, regardless of their safety.
❌ Turning school boards into partisan battlegrounds, instead of focusing on students.
❌ Band-Aid fixes for education that don’t solve real problems. 

 

The Ugly: The Worst Bills Moving Forward in 2025 

Some bills aren’t just bad policy—they’re harmful to Hoosiers and threaten our state’s health care, voting rights, diversity, and public education. 

 

SB 2: Medicaid Cuts That Will Leave Thousands Without Care 

Indiana’s Medicaid program is already underfunded, but instead of protecting critical services, Republicans are pushing SB 2, a bill that slashes funding and forces thousands of Hoosiers onto waitlists. 

🔹 Arbitrarily limits Medicaid to 500,000 people while over 711,000 are projected to need it by 2027.
🔹 90% of HIP is federally funded, with Indiana’s share covered by hospital fees and cigarette taxes.
🔹 Low-income and rural Hoosiers will struggle even more to get the medical care they need. 

It doesn’t save money—it shifts the cost onto families, hospitals and communities. It kicks Hoosiers off coverage, drives up medical debt and puts rural hospitals at risk. Hoosiers deserve better. 

SB 10: New Barriers to Voting in Indiana 

Indiana already has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country, and SB 10 makes it even worse. 

❌ Bans student IDs as voter ID, making it harder for 350,000+ college students to vote.
❌ Automatically purges voters who haven’t voted in two general elections—even if they’re still eligible.
❌ Forces aggressive voter roll purges that have led to wrongful removals of thousands of voters in the past. 

This isn’t about election security—it’s about making it harder to vote. Instead of encouraging civic engagement, Indiana lawmakers are shutting people out of the process. 

 

SB 289: The Republican War on Diversity and Inclusion 

The Republican-led SB 289 is a direct attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools, universities and state agencies. 

🚨 Eliminates DEI offices and staff at state agencies and public universities, cutting off resources for over 400,000 students.
🚨 Bans DEI training in public schools and government offices, preventing education on equity and systemic discrimination.
🚨 Fines universities up to $250,000 for having DEI programs, discouraging campuses from promoting inclusion. 

This bill doesn’t help anyone—it’s just another attempt to erase diversity and silence conversations about race, gender and inclusion. 

 

SB 518: A Giveaway to Charter Schools at the Expense of Public Education 

The Republican supermajority has been defunding public schools for years, and SB 518 is another step toward dismantling them. 

📉 Slashes state support for charter school grants by nearly 40% and forces local taxpayers to cover $124.4 million in new costs over three years.
📉 Does not create new funding, only removes state funding for charter schools and shifts it onto locals.
📉 Gives more tax dollars to charter schools, even as many have closed abruptly, leaving students and families scrambling. 

This is not a debate about public schools versus charter schools. This is about fiscal accountability, responsible governance and protecting Hoosiers from yet another financial burden at a time when they are demanding relief.  

SB 518 was marketed as a way to “fairly” fund education, but the reality is far different. This bill shifts the financial burden of charter school funding away from the state and onto local homeowners—while 90% of Hoosier students continue to attend traditional public schools. 

 

The Bottom Line: Hoosiers Deserve Better 

Instead of investing in healthcare, public school  and voting rights, Republicans are: 

❌ Slashing Medicaid, forcing thousands of Hoosiers onto either the exchange or the unknown.
❌ Purging voter rolls and banning student IDs at the polls.
❌ Defunding DEI programs and fining universities for promoting inclusion.
❌ Forcing taxpayers to subsidize charter schools over public schools. 

These bills don’t solve problems—they create new ones. If Indiana lawmakers were serious about governing, they’d focus on expanding health care, improving education and protecting democracy. 

Hoosiers deserve better than this. 

📌 Stay informed, get involved and make your voice heard. We’ll keep tracking these bills as they move forward.