With the Indiana General Assembly expected to conclude its short, non-budget session by Feb. 27, there presumably will be less time for K-12 education bills to move through the legislative process.
That’s good news to the Indiana School Boards Association, said Terry Spradlin, ISBA executive director, who says, “We do need a pause” in new regulatory requirements.
In the last two years, 92 new laws have been implemented impacting K-12 education, creating “a heavy regulatory environment,” he said.
“We’ve done so much heavy lifting in the last three to four years with major education reform, and it is paying dividends,” Spradlin said. Performance indicators show “we’re going in the right direction” in reducing chronic absenteeism, improving IREAD proficiency and higher graduation rates, he said.
“Progress is underway ... let’s let that continue with the course that we’re on,” he said.
ISBA’s top priority is education de-regulation and Spradlin anticipates a “substantial” bill that would provide regulatory relief for schools, expanding on a similar measure that passed last session, he said.
Among the regulatory relief, ISBA would like to see repeal of laws that restrict use and transfer of school buildings, including the so-called $1 law.
Current law, passed more than a decade ago, requires districts to make closed or vacant buildings available to charter schools for $1 before selling them to other buyers.
“Given recent changes in the law on school funding that increase both state and local revenue to charter schools to meet facility needs, school corporations should be relieved of these restrictions,” ISBA states.
ISBA would also like to expand fund transfer flexibility for districts.
Now, school corporations transferring more than 15% from the education fund to the operations fund are considered to have transferred an excessive amount and must undergo extensive state reporting and review requirements under the law.
LEGISLATIVE OUTLOOK
State Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, chair of the House Education Committee, said that while it’s a short session and fewer bills will move through the process, the Legislature can still address substantive, nonbudget issues impacting K-12 education.
“It’s going to be an interesting session because I think the Senate’s kind of a mess at the moment,” he said.
He plans to author a bill that builds on de-regulation legislation passed last session. He’s consulted with school boards, principals and both Democrat and Republican caucuses.
It will involve “a compilation of a lot of different things,” he said.
Other legislation under consideration would “protect employers from liability” with expansion of high school work-based learning requirements for students, he said.
Also being explored is legislation dealing with return on investment that would help inform individuals as to what post-secondary education makes sense for them based on future earning potential, Behning said.
In addition, the Legislature is expected to consider recommendations from the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA), which would impact Indianapolis Public Schools and city charter schools.
ILEA recommends creation of an independent authority to oversee facilities, transportation and accountability standards for IPS and charters within the district.
Those concerned say it would diminish the authority of the IPS school board.
For State Rep. Tonya Pfaff, D-Terre Haute, three priority education issues will be continued de-regulation at the K-12 level, updates to the $1 law and expanding the school cell phone ban.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from educators that red tape is overwhelming. Last year, we began rolling back some of the many regulations placed on schools, and we’ll continue that work so teachers and administrators can focus on students, not paperwork,” she said.
She anticipates discussion on revising the $1 law to allow unused school buildings to be offered to cities or counties instead of automatically going to charter schools.
“I strongly support this approach,” she said. “It’s Hoosier common sense. These buildings were paid for by taxpayers, and local communities should have a real say in how they’re reused.”
State Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, has filed a bill, SB 77, that would allow school districts to work with local government to repurpose school buildings slated for closure before those buildings must be offered to charter schools for $1.
It would give a school board that decides to close a school one year to sell the building to a county or municipal government at a mutually agreed upon price before the school must be made available for lease or purchase to a charter school or state educational institution.
The bill would apply to a school corporation located in a county with a population of less than 150,000, a category that would include Vigo County.
Goode said in early December he doesn’t believe the state “should be dictating the asking price of a local, taxpayer-funded asset. That should be determined at the local level and by the custodian of the asset, which is the school corporation.”
Goode also had stated he is optimistic the bill will be heard in committee in January.
The Indiana Coalition for Public Education supports SB 77.
“The $1 law has devastated Indianapolis Public Schools and caused great distress to many school corporations around the state. Goode’s bill is an excellent first step toward repealing the $1 law in its entirety,” said Joel Hand, ICPE general counsel and lobbyist.
WIRELESS DEVICE BAN EXPANSION
One measure already receiving attention is Senate Bill 78, which would bar students from using their cell phones for the entire school day.
It would require public school districts and charter schools to pick either a “no device” or a “secure storage” policy.
Teacher-directed use of a wireless communication device for educational purposes during the school day would occur only on schoolsupplied devices, according to the bill.
It builds on a statewide cell phone restriction law passed in 2024, which prohibits students from using phones, tablets, laptops and gaming devices during instructional time, with exemptions for education, emergencies, health care needs or disability related accommodations, the Indiana Capital Chronicle has reported.
The bill had a hearing during the Senate Education and Career Development Committee. It was authored by Republican senators Jeff Raatz and Goode.
The Indiana State Teachers Association supports the bill and testified in favor.
“That’s very important to educators because while we all know that cell phones can be great tools, they have become a really big distraction in the classroom,” said Jennifer Smith-Margraf, ISTA president.
ISTA would like to see the Legislature provide some funding for grants that enable schools to purchase the tools needed, such as Yondr pouches, to secure the devices during the school day, she said.
A similar measure to the Senate bill, House Bill 1034, was filed by Republican Rep. Jake Teshka (North Liberty) for consideration in the House.
Pfaff, a retired teacher, supports the bill. “While I’m no longer in the classroom, I consistently hear from teachers that limiting cell phone use has led to better attention, fewer disruptions and stronger student connections. Anything we can do to reduce distractions and support learning is worth serious consideration,” Pfaff said.
© 2025 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.