Text of IN SB 199 (2026)

Introduced Version SENATE BILL No. 199 _____ DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL Citations Affected: IC 20-26-14-6; IC 20-28; IC 20-30-5-7.4; IC 20-32-8.5-2; IC 20-51.4-3-7.1; IC 21-18; IC 24-5-0.5-3; IC 24-16. Synopsis: Various education matters. Makes changes to the composition of the case review panel established by an interscholastic athletic association. Requires the secretary of education, not later than December 1, 2026, to identify key metrics and activities concerning civic literacy and to submit the information to the general assembly. Requires the secretary of education, not later than December 1, 2026, to identify and make certain recommendations concerning paid leave for employees following certain events and to submit the findings to the general assembly. Provides that a school in which fewer than an average of 75% of the students over the course of three consecutive years achieved a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board of education must comply with certain requirements. Provides that the department of education shall determine the number of grant awards under the Indiana education scholarship account program and the career scholarship account program, and specifies the amounts to cover administrative costs for each program. Requires the commission for higher education, not later than December 1, 2026, to evaluate accrediting agencies of state educational institutions and to report the commission's findings and recommendations to the general assembly. Provides that a social media service may not allow an Indiana resident who is an adolescent to hold an account with the social media service unless the social media service receives written consent to the adolescent's use of the social media service from the adolescent's parent or guardian. Provides that a social media service may not allow an Indiana resident who is a child to hold an account with the social medial service. Requires a (Continued next page) Effective: Upon passage; July 1, 2026. Raatz January 5, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career Development. 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 Digest Continued social media service to configure the account of a registered user that the social media service knows, or reasonably should know, is: (1) an adolescent; and (2) an Indiana resident; in a specified manner. Provides that a social media service that violates these provisions is subject to: (1) an enforcement action by the attorney general; and (2) a civil action by the parent or guardian of the child or adolescent with regard to whom the violation pertains. Provides for restrictions on the retention, use, and collection of personal information for purposes of age verification by a social media service and provides that a social media service is subject to a civil action by an individual with regard to whom the social media service violates the restrictions. 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 Introduced Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026) PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type. Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution. Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly. SENATE BILL No. 199 A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: 1 SECTION 1. IC 20-26-14-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.43-2021, 2 SECTION 78, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 3 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 6. (a) The association must establish a case review 4 panel that meets the following requirements: 5 (1) The panel has nine (9) members. 6 (2) The secretary of education or the secretary's designee is a 7 member of the panel and is the chairperson of the panel. 8 (3) The secretary of education appoints as members of the panel 9 persons having the following qualifications: 10 (A) Four (4) parents of high school students. 11 (B) Two (2) high school principals. 12 (C) Two (2) high school athletic directors. 13 (B) Four (4) school administrators. 14 (4) The secretary of education shall administer the functions of 15 the panel. 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 2 1 (5) A member of the panel serves for a four (4) year term, subject 2 to the following: 3 (A) An appointee who ceases to meet the member's 4 qualification under subdivision (3) ceases to be a member of 5 the panel. 6 (B) The secretary of education shall appoint fifty percent 7 (50%) of the initial appointees under each clause in 8 subdivision (3) for terms of two (2) years, so that terms of the 9 panel are staggered. 10 (6) The panel must meet monthly, unless there are no cases before 11 the panel. The panel may meet more frequently at the call of the 12 chairperson. However, the chairperson must call a meeting within 13 five (5) business days, or as soon thereafter as a quorum can be 14 assembled, after the panel receives a case in which time is a factor 15 in relation to the scheduling of an athletic competition. 16 (7) A quorum of the panel is five (5) members. The affirmative 17 vote of the greater of the majority present or four (4) members of 18 the panel is required for the panel to take action. 19 (b) A student's parent who disagrees with a decision of the 20 association concerning the application or interpretation of a rule of the 21 association to the student shall have the right to do one (1) of the 22 following: 23 (1) Accept the decision. 24 (2) Refer the case to the panel. The parent must refer the case to 25 the panel not later than thirty (30) days after the date of the 26 association's decision. 27 (c) After a case is referred under subsection (b)(2), the panel must 28 do the following: 29 (1) Collect testimony and information on the case, including 30 testimony and information from both the association and the 31 parent. 32 (2) Place the case on the panel's agenda and consider the case at 33 a meeting of the panel. 34 (3) Not later than ten (10) business days after the meeting at 35 which the panel considers the case, issue a written decision that 36 does one (1) of the following: 37 (A) Upholds the association's decision on the case. 38 (B) Modifies the association's decision on the case. 39 (C) Nullifies the association's decision on the case. 40 (d) Subject to section 7 of this chapter, the association must 41 implement the decision of the panel on each case. However, a decision 42 of the panel: 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 3 1 (1) applies only to the case before the panel; and 2 (2) does not affect any rule of the association or decision under 3 any rule concerning any student other than the student whose 4 parent referred the case to the panel. 5 (e) The association shall pay all costs attributable to the operation 6 of the panel, including travel and a stipend of at least fifty dollars ($50) 7 for each meeting for panel members. 8 SECTION 2. IC 20-28-3-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.190-2025, 9 SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 10 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 1. (a) As used in this section, "teacher 11 candidate" means an individual recommended for an initial teaching 12 license from a teacher preparation program located in Indiana. 13 (b) As used in this section, "teacher preparation program" includes, 14 but is not limited to, the following: 15 (1) A teacher education school or department. 16 (2) A transition to teaching program under IC 20-28-4. 17 (3) Any other entity approved by the department to offer a course 18 of study leading to an initial teaching license. 19 (c) The department shall: 20 (1) arrange a statewide system of professional instruction for 21 teacher education; 22 (2) accredit and review teacher preparation programs that comply 23 with the rules of the department; 24 (3) approve content area licensure programs for particular kinds 25 of teachers in accredited teacher preparation programs; and 26 (4) specify the types of licenses for individuals who complete 27 programs of approved courses. 28 (d) The department shall work with teacher preparation programs to 29 develop a system of teacher education that ensures individuals who 30 complete teacher preparation programs are able to meet the highest 31 professional standards. 32 (e) Before July 1, 2015, the department shall establish standards for 33 the continuous improvement of program processes and the performance 34 of individuals who complete teacher preparation programs. The state 35 board shall adopt rules containing the standards not later than two 36 hundred seventy (270) days after the department finishes the standards. 37 (f) The standards established under subsection (e) must include 38 benchmarks for performance, including test score data for each teacher 39 preparation entity on content area licensure tests and test score data for 40 each teacher preparation entity on pedagogy licensure tests. 41 (g) Each teacher preparation program shall annually report the 42 program's performance on the standards and benchmarks established 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 4 1 under this section to the department. The department shall make the 2 information reported under this subsection available to the public on 3 the department's website. Each teacher preparation program shall make 4 the information reported under this subsection available to the public 5 on the teacher preparation program's website. In addition to reporting 6 performance, each teacher preparation program must report to the 7 department the following: 8 (1) The attrition, retention, and completion rates of teacher 9 candidates for the previous three (3) calendar years. The teacher 10 preparation program must also provide underlying data, as 11 determined by the department, used as part of calculating the 12 teacher preparation program's retention rates. 13 (2) The number of teacher candidates in each content area who 14 complete the teacher preparation program during the year, 15 disaggregated by ranges of cumulative grade point averages. 16 (3) The number of teacher candidates in each content area who, 17 during the year: 18 (A) do not pass a content area licensure examination; and 19 (B) do not retake the content area licensure examination. 20 (h) In making information available to the public on the 21 department's website, the department shall include in the report under 22 subsection (g), in addition to the matrix ratings described in subsection 23 (i), the following information: 24 (1) Average scaled or standard scores of teacher candidates who 25 complete teacher preparation programs on basic skills, content 26 area, and pedagogy licensure examinations. 27 (2) The average number of times teacher candidates who 28 complete a teacher preparation program take each licensing test 29 before receiving a passing score and the percentage of teacher 30 candidates who receive a passing score on each licensing test on 31 the teacher candidates' first attempts. 32 (i) Not later than July 30, 2016, the department and the commission 33 for higher education, in conjunction with the state board, the 34 Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., and teacher preparation 35 programs, shall establish a matrix rating system for teacher preparation 36 programs based on the performance of the programs as demonstrated 37 by the data collected under subsections (g) and (h). The matrix rating 38 system must be based on data collected for teachers who initially 39 receive their teaching license during the previous three (3) years. The 40 department shall make the matrix ratings available to the public on the 41 department's website. 42 (j) Each teacher preparation program shall report to the department, 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 5 1 in a manner prescribed by the department, the teacher preparation 2 program's admission practices, in accordance with: 3 (1) the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation 4 standards, for teacher preparation programs accredited by the 5 Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation; 6 (2) rigorous academic entry requirements for admission into a 7 teacher preparatory program that are equivalent to the minimum 8 academic requirements determined by the Council for the 9 Accreditation of Educator Preparation, for teacher preparation 10 programs that are not accredited by the Council for the 11 Accreditation of Educator Preparation; or 12 (3) the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator 13 Preparation standards, for teacher preparation programs 14 accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator 15 Preparation; or 16 (4) the department's admission standards for teacher 17 preparation programs accredited by the department. 18 The department shall include information reported to the department 19 on the department's website. 20 (k) Not later than July 30, 2016, the department and the commission 21 for higher education, in conjunction with the state board, the 22 Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., and teacher preparation 23 programs, shall establish a minimum rating under the matrix rating 24 system established under subsection (i) that teacher preparation 25 programs must achieve to avoid referral under subsection (l). 26 (l) Not later than July 1 of each year, the department shall submit a 27 list of teacher preparation programs that do not meet the minimum 28 rating established under subsection (k) or the requirements of section 29 3.1 or 3.2 of this chapter to the commission for higher education and 30 the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. for one (1) of the following 31 actions: 32 (1) In the case of a state educational institution, the commission 33 for higher education shall place the teacher preparation program 34 on an improvement plan with clear performance goals and a 35 designated period in which the performance goals must be 36 achieved. 37 (2) In the case of a proprietary postsecondary educational 38 institution, the commission for higher education shall recommend 39 to the teacher preparation program an improvement plan with 40 clear performance goals and a designated period in which the 41 performance goals should be achieved. 42 (3) In the case of a nonprofit college or university, the 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 6 1 Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., shall coordinate a peer 2 review process to make recommendations to the peer institution 3 in achieving the department's performance metrics. 4 (m) The department shall approve at least two (2) accreditors that: 5 (1) accredit teacher preparation programs; and 6 (2) are recognized by the Council for Higher Education 7 Accreditation; 8 to accredit teacher preparation programs for use in Indiana. The 9 department may also serve as an accreditor in addition to the two 10 (2) accreditors approved under this subsection. 11 (n) Not later than December 31, 2024, the department and the 12 commission for higher education, in conjunction with the state board, 13 shall partner with teacher preparation programs to receive an outside 14 evaluation by a nationally recognized nonprofit, nonpartisan 15 organization that leverages evidence based approaches on the science 16 of reading to evaluate teacher preparation reading instruction programs. 17 SECTION 3. IC 20-28-10-20 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 18 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 19 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 20. (a) As used in this section, 20 "stillbirth" means a birth after twenty (20) weeks of gestation that 21 is not a live birth. 22 (b) Not later than December 1, 2026, the secretary of education 23 shall do the following: 24 (1) Identify school corporations that provide employees paid 25 leave upon any of the following events: 26 (A) The birth of an employee's child. 27 (B) The birth of a child to an employee's spouse. 28 (C) The placement of a child for adoption with an 29 employee. 30 (D) The stillbirth of an employee's child. 31 (2) Identify the length of paid leave school corporations 32 provide for each event under subdivision (1). 33 (3) Make recommendations concerning paid leave for 34 employees for each event under subdivision (1). 35 (4) Submit the findings and recommendations under this 36 subsection to the general assembly in an electronic format 37 under IC 5-14-6. 38 (c) This section expires July 1, 2027. 39 SECTION 4. IC 20-30-5-7.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 40 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 41 1, 2026]: Sec. 7.4. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, the 42 secretary of education shall do the following: 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 7 1 (1) Identify key metrics and activities to be used to measure 2 civic literacy and engagement in kindergarten through grade 3 12 and postsecondary education. 4 (2) Submit the metrics identified under subdivision (1) to the 5 general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. 6 (b) This section expires July 1, 2027. 7 SECTION 5. IC 20-32-8.5-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.186-2025, 8 SECTION 291, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS 9 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in 10 subsection (b), the plan required by this chapter must include the 11 following: 12 (1) Reading skill standards for grade 1 through grade 3. 13 (2) A method for making determinant evaluations by grade 3 that 14 remedial action is required for a student, including: 15 (A) except as provided in subsections (c) and (g), beginning 16 with evaluations administered during the 2024-2025 school 17 year, retention of the student in grade 3 if the student has not 18 achieved a passing score on the determinant evaluation of 19 reading skills approved by the state board after the student has 20 had an opportunity to retake the determinant evaluation at least 21 twice in the summer; and 22 (B) the use of curricular materials and supplemental materials 23 aligned to the science of reading that are designed to address 24 deficiencies in reading; 25 after other methods of remediation have been evaluated or used, 26 or both, if reading skills are below the standard. Appropriate 27 consultation with parents or guardians must be part of the plan. 28 (3) A requirement that schools notify a student's parent of the 29 following: 30 (A) The student's assessment results regarding skill level in: 31 (i) phonemic awareness; 32 (ii) phonics; 33 (iii) fluency; 34 (iv) vocabulary; and 35 (v) comprehension. 36 (B) The student's assessment results on the determinant 37 evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board. 38 (C) Any intervention provided to the student or any remedial 39 action taken. 40 (4) A requirement that schools monitor the progress of students 41 who failed to achieve a valid passing score on the: 42 (A) determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 8 1 state board; or 2 (B) statewide assessment program test. 3 (5) A requirement that schools provide reading instruction that 4 includes a core reading program aligned with the science of 5 reading to all students in kindergarten through grade 8. 6 (6) A requirement for the administration of the determinant 7 evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board to 8 students in grade 2. 9 (7) A requirement that all students take the determinant 10 evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board until the 11 student: 12 (A) receives a passing score, regardless of the student's grade 13 level; or 14 (B) enters grade 7. 15 (8) A requirement that a school report the following to the 16 department: 17 (A) The literacy interventions that will be used for students in 18 grade 2 who are at risk of not being reading proficient and 19 students in grade 3 who do not achieve a valid passing score 20 on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by 21 the state board. 22 (B) The literacy interventions in use before the adoption of the 23 plan for students in grade 2 who are at risk of not being 24 reading proficient and students in grade 3 who do not achieve 25 a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading 26 skills approved by the state board. 27 (C) The literacy interventions in use before the adoption of the 28 plan for students who do not achieve a valid passing score on 29 the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the 30 state board. 31 (D) The number of students being served by the interventions 32 described in clauses (B) and (C). 33 (E) The cost of providing the interventions described in 34 clauses (B) and (C). 35 (F) Any other information requested by the department. 36 (9) Requirements for a school in which, over the course of three 37 (3) consecutive years, fewer than seventy an average of 38 seventy-five percent (70%) (75%) of students of the school 39 achieved a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of 40 reading skills approved by the state board that must include the 41 following: 42 (A) Use of curriculum that is: 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 9 1 (i) based on the science of reading; 2 (ii) age appropriate; and 3 (iii) approved by the department. 4 (B) Employment of the following: 5 (i) Before July 1, 2025, an instructional coach who is trained 6 in the science of reading, as determined by the department. 7 This item expires January 1, 2026. 8 (ii) After June 30, 2025, an instructional coach with a 9 literacy related endorsement who is trained in the science of 10 reading. 11 (C) Use of only benchmark, formative, interim, or similar 12 assessments that: 13 (i) show alignment with Indiana's academic standards; and 14 (ii) are approved by the department. 15 (D) Use of a screener procured under IC 20-32-5.1-17(j). 16 (10) The fiscal impact of each component of the plan, if any. In 17 determining whether a component has a fiscal impact, 18 consideration shall be given to whether the component will 19 increase costs to the state or a school corporation or require the 20 state or school corporation to reallocate resources. 21 (b) A school may receive a waiver of the requirements provided in 22 511 IAC 6.2-3.1-4(a)(2) if the state board approves an alternative 23 reading plan provided by the school. 24 (c) Except as approved by the department under subsection (g), a 25 student who would otherwise be subject to retention in grade 3 under 26 the plan is not subject to the retention requirement only if the student 27 meets one (1) of the following criteria: 28 (1) The student was subject to retention and has been retained in 29 grade 3 for one (1) school year. 30 (2) The student has an intellectual disability or the student's 31 individualized education program specifies that retention is not 32 appropriate, and the student's case conference committee has 33 determined that promotion to another grade is appropriate. 34 (3) The student is an English learner who has received services 35 for fewer than two (2) years and a committee consisting of: 36 (A) the student's parent; 37 (B) a building level administrator or designee; 38 (C) a classroom teacher of service; 39 (D) an English learner teacher of record, if one exists; and 40 (E) an English learner district administrator, if one exists; 41 determines that promotion is appropriate based on the 42 implementation of research based instructional practices outlined 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 10 1 in the student's individual learning plan. 2 (4) The student received a score of proficient or above proficient 3 in grade 3 math on the statewide summative assessment. 4 (5) The student: 5 (A) has received intensive intervention as determined by the 6 department in reading for two (2) or more years; and 7 (B) was retained more than one (1) time throughout 8 kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 2. 9 (d) A student who is not subject to the retention requirement as 10 provided under subsection (c) must be provided with additional reading 11 instruction that is aligned with the science of reading until the student 12 achieves a passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills 13 approved by the state board. 14 (e) Before October 1 of each school year, the department shall: 15 (1) identify each incoming student (as defined in section 0.7 of 16 this chapter) enrolled in kindergarten in a school in Indiana; and 17 (2) notify the parent or guardian of the student of the retention 18 requirement under this chapter for grade 3 students who do not 19 achieve a passing score on the Indiana reading evaluation and 20 determination (IRead3). 21 (f) The department shall establish a standard reporting process and 22 reporting window for schools to report students who qualify for an 23 exemption under subsection (c). 24 (g) The department shall establish a registration process for schools 25 to exempt an English language learner who: 26 (1) does not achieve a passing score on the determinant 27 evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board; and 28 (2) attends a school that has a student population comprised of at 29 least fifty percent (50%) of English language learners in grade 3, 30 as determined by the department; 31 from compliance with the requirements under subsection (a)(2)(A) 32 until the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. This subsection 33 expires July 1, 2028. 34 SECTION 6. IC 20-51.4-3-7.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 35 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 36 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 7.1. (a) For each school year, the 37 department shall determine, based on the amount of funds 38 available for the program, the number of grants that the 39 department will award under the ESA program and CSA program. 40 The number of applications approved and the number of grants 41 awarded under this article by the department for the school year 42 may not exceed the number determined by the department under 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 11 1 this section. 2 (b) The department may not deduct more than five percent 3 (5%) of the funds made available for the ESA program to cover 4 costs of managing ESA accounts and administering the ESA 5 program. Any amount deducted under this subsection shall be 6 deposited in the Indiana education scholarship account 7 administration fund established by IC 20-51.4-4-3.5. 8 (c) The department may not deduct more than five percent (5%) 9 of the funds made available for the CSA program to cover costs of 10 managing CSA accounts and administering the CSA program. Any 11 amount deducted under this subsection shall be deposited in the 12 career scholarship account administration fund established by 13 IC 20-51.4-4.5-5. 14 SECTION 7. IC 21-18-6-10 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 15 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 16 1, 2026]: Sec. 10. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, the 17 commission shall do the following: 18 (1) Evaluate accrediting agencies or associations that 19 currently accredit state educational institutions. 20 (2) Identify and evaluate innovative accrediting agencies or 21 associations, including those not yet recognized by the United 22 States Department of Education, that do not currently 23 accredit state educational institutions. 24 (3) Provide a report in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 25 to the general assembly that includes: 26 (A) the commission's findings under subdivisions (1) and 27 (2); and 28 (B) recommendations concerning accrediting agencies or 29 associations identified in subdivision (2) that may be best 30 suited to serve as an accreditor for state educational 31 institutions. 32 (b) This section expires July 1, 2027. 33 SECTION 8. IC 21-18-9-10.7, AS ADDED BY P.L.213-2025, 34 SECTION 248, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS 35 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 10.7. (a) For each state educational 36 institution degree program, if: the: 37 (1) the: 38 (A) average number of students who graduate over the 39 immediately preceding three (3) years is fewer than: 40 (A) (i) ten (10) students for a particular associate degree 41 program; 42 (B) (ii) fifteen (15) students for a particular bachelor's 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 12 1 degree program; 2 (C) (iii) seven (7) students for a particular master's degree 3 program; 4 (D) (iv) three (3) students for a particular education 5 specialist program; or 6 (E) (v) three (3) students for a particular doctorate degree 7 program; and or 8 (B) degree program meets the definition of a low earning 9 outcome program under the Higher Education Act (20 10 U.S.C. 1087d); and 11 (2) the state educational institution would like to continue a 12 degree program described in subdivision (1); 13 the state educational institution must request approval from the 14 commission to continue the degree program. 15 (b) If the commission does not grant approval under subsection (a), 16 the state educational institution must eliminate: 17 (1) the degree program; and 18 (2) any costs associated with the degree program. 19 SECTION 9. IC 24-5-0.5-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.104-2024, 20 SECTION 42, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 21 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 3. (a) A supplier may not commit an unfair, 22 abusive, or deceptive act, omission, or practice in connection with a 23 consumer transaction. Such an act, omission, or practice by a supplier 24 is a violation of this chapter whether it occurs before, during, or after 25 the transaction. An act, omission, or practice prohibited by this section 26 includes both implicit and explicit misrepresentations. 27 (b) Without limiting the scope of subsection (a), the following acts, 28 and the following representations as to the subject matter of a 29 consumer transaction, made orally, in writing, or by electronic 30 communication, by a supplier, are deceptive acts: 31 (1) That such subject of a consumer transaction has sponsorship, 32 approval, performance, characteristics, accessories, uses, or 33 benefits it does not have which the supplier knows or should 34 reasonably know it does not have. 35 (2) That such subject of a consumer transaction is of a particular 36 standard, quality, grade, style, or model, if it is not and if the 37 supplier knows or should reasonably know that it is not. 38 (3) That such subject of a consumer transaction is new or unused, 39 if it is not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know 40 that it is not. 41 (4) That such subject of a consumer transaction will be supplied 42 to the public in greater quantity than the supplier intends or 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 13 1 reasonably expects. 2 (5) That replacement or repair constituting the subject of a 3 consumer transaction is needed, if it is not and if the supplier 4 knows or should reasonably know that it is not. 5 (6) That a specific price advantage exists as to such subject of a 6 consumer transaction, if it does not and if the supplier knows or 7 should reasonably know that it does not. 8 (7) That the supplier has a sponsorship, approval, or affiliation in 9 such consumer transaction the supplier does not have, and which 10 the supplier knows or should reasonably know that the supplier 11 does not have. 12 (8) That such consumer transaction involves or does not involve 13 a warranty, a disclaimer of warranties, or other rights, remedies, 14 or obligations, if the representation is false and if the supplier 15 knows or should reasonably know that the representation is false. 16 (9) That the consumer will receive a rebate, discount, or other 17 benefit as an inducement for entering into a sale or lease in return 18 for giving the supplier the names of prospective consumers or 19 otherwise helping the supplier to enter into other consumer 20 transactions, if earning the benefit, rebate, or discount is 21 contingent upon the occurrence of an event subsequent to the time 22 the consumer agrees to the purchase or lease. 23 (10) That the supplier is able to deliver or complete the subject of 24 the consumer transaction within a stated period of time, when the 25 supplier knows or should reasonably know the supplier could not. 26 If no time period has been stated by the supplier, there is a 27 presumption that the supplier has represented that the supplier 28 will deliver or complete the subject of the consumer transaction 29 within a reasonable time, according to the course of dealing or the 30 usage of the trade. 31 (11) That the consumer will be able to purchase the subject of the 32 consumer transaction as advertised by the supplier, if the supplier 33 does not intend to sell it. 34 (12) That the replacement or repair constituting the subject of a 35 consumer transaction can be made by the supplier for the estimate 36 the supplier gives a customer for the replacement or repair, if the 37 specified work is completed and: 38 (A) the cost exceeds the estimate by an amount equal to or 39 greater than ten percent (10%) of the estimate; 40 (B) the supplier did not obtain written permission from the 41 customer to authorize the supplier to complete the work even 42 if the cost would exceed the amounts specified in clause (A); 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 14 1 (C) the total cost for services and parts for a single transaction 2 is more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750); and 3 (D) the supplier knew or reasonably should have known that 4 the cost would exceed the estimate in the amounts specified in 5 clause (A). 6 (13) That the replacement or repair constituting the subject of a 7 consumer transaction is needed, and that the supplier disposes of 8 the part repaired or replaced earlier than seventy-two (72) hours 9 after both: 10 (A) the customer has been notified that the work has been 11 completed; and 12 (B) the part repaired or replaced has been made available for 13 examination upon the request of the customer. 14 (14) Engaging in the replacement or repair of the subject of a 15 consumer transaction if the consumer has not authorized the 16 replacement or repair, and if the supplier knows or should 17 reasonably know that it is not authorized. 18 (15) The act of misrepresenting the geographic location of the 19 supplier by listing an alternate business name or an assumed 20 business name (as described in IC 23-0.5-3-4) in a local telephone 21 directory if: 22 (A) the name misrepresents the supplier's geographic location; 23 (B) the listing fails to identify the locality and state of the 24 supplier's business; 25 (C) calls to the local telephone number are routinely forwarded 26 or otherwise transferred to a supplier's business location that 27 is outside the calling area covered by the local telephone 28 directory; and 29 (D) the supplier's business location is located in a county that 30 is not contiguous to a county in the calling area covered by the 31 local telephone directory. 32 (16) The act of listing an alternate business name or assumed 33 business name (as described in IC 23-0.5-3-4) in a directory 34 assistance data base if: 35 (A) the name misrepresents the supplier's geographic location; 36 (B) calls to the local telephone number are routinely forwarded 37 or otherwise transferred to a supplier's business location that 38 is outside the local calling area; and 39 (C) the supplier's business location is located in a county that 40 is not contiguous to a county in the local calling area. 41 (17) The violation by a supplier of IC 24-3-4 concerning 42 cigarettes for import or export. 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 15 1 (18) The act of a supplier in knowingly selling or reselling a 2 product to a consumer if the product has been recalled, whether 3 by the order of a court or a regulatory body, or voluntarily by the 4 manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, unless the product has been 5 repaired or modified to correct the defect that was the subject of 6 the recall. 7 (19) The violation by a supplier of 47 U.S.C. 227, including any 8 rules or regulations issued under 47 U.S.C. 227. 9 (20) The violation by a supplier of the federal Fair Debt 10 Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.), including any 11 rules or regulations issued under the federal Fair Debt Collection 12 Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.). 13 (21) A violation of IC 24-5-7 (concerning health spa services), as 14 set forth in IC 24-5-7-17. 15 (22) A violation of IC 24-5-8 (concerning business opportunity 16 transactions), as set forth in IC 24-5-8-20. 17 (23) A violation of IC 24-5-10 (concerning home consumer 18 transactions), as set forth in IC 24-5-10-18. 19 (24) A violation of IC 24-5-11 (concerning real property 20 improvement contracts), as set forth in IC 24-5-11-14. 21 (25) A violation of IC 24-5-12 (concerning telephone 22 solicitations), as set forth in IC 24-5-12-23. 23 (26) A violation of IC 24-5-13.5 (concerning buyback motor 24 vehicles), as set forth in IC 24-5-13.5-14. 25 (27) A violation of IC 24-5-14 (concerning automatic 26 dialing-announcing devices), as set forth in IC 24-5-14-13. 27 (28) A violation of IC 24-5-15 (concerning credit services 28 organizations), as set forth in IC 24-5-15-11. 29 (29) A violation of IC 24-5-16 (concerning unlawful motor 30 vehicle subleasing), as set forth in IC 24-5-16-18. 31 (30) A violation of IC 24-5-17 (concerning environmental 32 marketing claims), as set forth in IC 24-5-17-14. 33 (31) A violation of IC 24-5-19 (concerning deceptive commercial 34 solicitation), as set forth in IC 24-5-19-11. 35 (32) A violation of IC 24-5-21 (concerning prescription drug 36 discount cards), as set forth in IC 24-5-21-7. 37 (33) A violation of IC 24-5-23.5-7 (concerning real estate 38 appraisals), as set forth in IC 24-5-23.5-9. 39 (34) A violation of IC 24-5-26 (concerning identity theft), as set 40 forth in IC 24-5-26-3. 41 (35) A violation of IC 24-5.5 (concerning mortgage rescue fraud), 42 as set forth in IC 24-5.5-6-1. 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 16 1 (36) A violation of IC 24-8 (concerning promotional gifts and 2 contests), as set forth in IC 24-8-6-3. 3 (37) A violation of IC 21-18.5-6 (concerning representations 4 made by a postsecondary credit bearing proprietary educational 5 institution), as set forth in IC 21-18.5-6-22.5. 6 (38) A violation of IC 24-5-15.5 (concerning collection actions of 7 a plaintiff debt buyer), as set forth in IC 24-5-15.5-6. 8 (39) A violation of IC 24-14 (concerning towing services), as set 9 forth in IC 24-14-10-1. 10 (40) A violation of IC 24-5-14.5 (concerning misleading or 11 inaccurate caller identification information), as set forth in 12 IC 24-5-14.5-12. 13 (41) A violation of IC 24-5-27 (concerning intrastate inmate 14 calling services), as set forth in IC 24-5-27-27. 15 (42) A violation of IC 15-21 (concerning sales of dogs by retail 16 pet stores), as set forth in IC 15-21-7-4. 17 (43) A violation of IC 24-4-23 (concerning the security of 18 information collected and transmitted by an adult oriented website 19 operator), as set forth in IC 24-4-23-14. 20 (44) A violation of IC 24-16-2 (concerning social media 21 providers), as set forth in IC 24-16-2-3. 22 (c) Any representations on or within a product or its packaging or 23 in advertising or promotional materials which would constitute a 24 deceptive act shall be the deceptive act both of the supplier who places 25 such representation thereon or therein, or who authored such materials, 26 and such other suppliers who shall state orally or in writing that such 27 representation is true if such other supplier shall know or have reason 28 to know that such representation was false. 29 (d) If a supplier shows by a preponderance of the evidence that an 30 act resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of 31 procedures reasonably adopted to avoid the error, such act shall not be 32 deceptive within the meaning of this chapter. 33 (e) It shall be a defense to any action brought under this chapter that 34 the representation constituting an alleged deceptive act was one made 35 in good faith by the supplier without knowledge of its falsity and in 36 reliance upon the oral or written representations of the manufacturer, 37 the person from whom the supplier acquired the product, any testing 38 organization, or any other person provided that the source thereof is 39 disclosed to the consumer. 40 (f) For purposes of subsection (b)(12), a supplier that provides 41 estimates before performing repair or replacement work for a customer 42 shall give the customer a written estimate itemizing as closely as 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 17 1 possible the price for labor and parts necessary for the specific job 2 before commencing the work. 3 (g) For purposes of subsection (b)(15) and (b)(16), a telephone 4 company or other provider of a telephone directory or directory 5 assistance service or its officer or agent is immune from liability for 6 publishing the listing of an alternate business name or assumed 7 business name of a supplier in its directory or directory assistance data 8 base unless the telephone company or other provider of a telephone 9 directory or directory assistance service is the same person as the 10 supplier who has committed the deceptive act. 11 (h) For purposes of subsection (b)(18), it is an affirmative defense 12 to any action brought under this chapter that the product has been 13 altered by a person other than the defendant to render the product 14 completely incapable of serving its original purpose. 15 SECTION 10. IC 24-16 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS 16 A NEW ARTICLE TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 17 2026]: 18 ARTICLE 16. SOCIAL MEDIA PROVIDERS 19 Chapter 1. Definitions 20 Sec. 1. The definitions in this chapter apply throughout this 21 article. 22 Sec. 2. "Adolescent" means an individual who is at least 23 fourteen (14) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age. 24 Sec. 3. "Child" means an individual who is less than fourteen 25 (14) years of age. 26 Sec. 4. "Daily active users" means the unique users in the 27 United States who used a particular online forum, website, or 28 application at least eighty percent (80%) of the days during the 29 previous twelve (12) months, or, if the online forum, website, or 30 application did not exist during the previous twelve (12) months, 31 the unique users in the United States who used the online forum, 32 website, or application at least eighty percent (80%) of the days 33 during the previous month. 34 Sec. 5. "Linked account", with respect to an individual's 35 account with a social media service, means another account with 36 the social media service that the individual has designated, through 37 a means provided by the social media service, as an account: 38 (1) from which the individual wishes to receive content; 39 (2) from which the individual wishes the social media service 40 to include in recommendations for content provided to the 41 user by the social media service; or 42 (3) with which the individual wishes to associate the 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 18 1 individual's account. 2 Sec. 6. "Mobile credential" has the meaning set forth in 3 IC 9-13-2-103.4. 4 Sec. 7. "Reasonable age verification method" means a method 5 of determining that an individual seeking to access a website is not 6 a child or an adolescent by using one (1) or more of the following 7 methods: 8 (1) A mobile credential. 9 (2) An independent third party age verification service that 10 compares the identifying information entered by the 11 individual with material that is available from a commercially 12 available data base, or an aggregate of data bases, that is 13 regularly used by government agencies and businesses for the 14 purpose of age and identity verification. 15 (3) Any commercially reasonable method that relies on public 16 or private transactional data to verify the age of the 17 individual. 18 Sec. 8. (a) "Social media" means an online forum, website, or 19 application that satisfies the following criteria: 20 (1) Allows users to upload content or view the content or 21 activity of other users. 22 (2) Has a user base in which ten percent (10%) or more of the 23 daily active users who are sixteen (16) years of age or younger 24 spent an average of two (2) hours per day or longer on the 25 online forum, website, or application when using the online 26 forum, website, or application during the previous twelve (12) 27 months or, if the online forum, website, or application did not 28 exist during the previous twelve (12) months, during the 29 previous month. 30 (3) Employs algorithms that analyze user data or information 31 on users to select content for users. 32 (4) Has any of the following addictive features: 33 (A) Continuously loading content, or content that loads as 34 the user scrolls down the page without the need to open a 35 separate page. 36 (B) Seamless content, or the use of pages with no visible or 37 apparent end or page breaks. 38 (C) Display of personal interactive metrics that indicate 39 the number of times other users have clicked a button to 40 indicate their reaction to content or have shared or 41 reposted the content. 42 (D) Autoplay video or video that begins to play without the 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 19 1 user first clicking on the video or on a play button for the 2 video. 3 (E) Live streaming or a function that allows a user or 4 advertiser to broadcast live video content in real time. 5 (b) The term does not include an online service, website, or 6 application where the exclusive function provides registered users 7 of the service only with the ability to send and receive electronic 8 mail or direct messaging consisting of text, photographs, pictures, 9 images, or videos shared only between the sender and the 10 recipients, without displaying or posting the material publicly or 11 to others not identified as the recipient by the sender. 12 Sec. 9. "Transactional data" means a sequence of information 13 that documents an exchange, agreement, or transfer between an 14 individual, commercial entity, or third party used for the purpose 15 of satisfying a request or event. The term includes records that 16 relate to a mortgage, education, or employment. 17 Chapter 2. Adolescent and Child Use of Social Media 18 Sec. 1. (a) A social media service that receives a request from an 19 Indiana resident for creation of an account with the social media 20 service shall comply with the following: 21 (1) The social media service shall use a reasonable age 22 verification method to determine the age of the individual 23 requesting creation of the account. 24 (2) If the social media service determines under subdivision 25 (1) that the individual requesting creation of the account is: 26 (A) an adolescent, the social media service may create the 27 account only if the social media service receives written 28 consent to creation of the account from the adolescent's 29 parent or guardian; or 30 (B) a child, the social media service may not create the 31 account. 32 (b) A social media service shall comply with the following: 33 (1) The social media service shall use a reasonable age 34 verification method to determine the age of an Indiana 35 resident who holds an account with the social media service 36 that was created before July 1, 2026. 37 (2) If the social media service determines under subdivision 38 (1) that an Indiana resident who holds an account described 39 in subdivision (1) is an adolescent or a child, the social media 40 service shall do the following: 41 (A) For an adolescent, the social media service: 42 (i) shall provide notice to the adolescent that the 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 20 1 adolescent's access to the account will be suspended 2 fourteen (14) days after the date of the notice unless the 3 social media service receives written consent to the 4 adolescent's use of the social media service from the 5 adolescent's parent or guardian; 6 (ii) shall suspend the adolescent's access to the account 7 fourteen (14) days after the date of the notice under item 8 (i) if the social media service does not receive written 9 consent to the adolescent's use of the social media service 10 from the adolescent's parent or guardian not later than 11 fourteen (14) days after the date of the notice under item 12 (i); and 13 (iii) if the social media service suspends the adolescent's 14 access to the account under item (ii), shall restore the 15 adolescent's access to the account only upon receipt by 16 the social media service of written consent to the 17 adolescent's use of the social media service from the 18 adolescent's parent or guardian. 19 (B) For a child, the social media service shall suspend the 20 child's access to the account within twenty-four (24) hours. 21 Sec. 2. (a) A social media service shall configure the account of 22 a registered user that the social media service knows, or reasonably 23 should know, is an: 24 (1) adolescent; and 25 (2) Indiana resident; 26 as described in subsection (b). 27 (b) A social media service shall configure the account of a 28 registered user described in subsection (a) as follows: 29 (1) The social media service may allow the account to receive 30 direct communications only from an account that the user has 31 designated as a linked account. 32 (2) The social media service may not allow the account to 33 appear in the results of a search conducted by a person 34 through the social media service's search utility unless the 35 person holds an account that the user has designated as a 36 linked account. 37 (3) The social media service may not disseminate: 38 (A) content; 39 (B) recommendations for content; or 40 (C) advertising; 41 based on patterns of the adolescent's use of the social media 42 service. 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 21 1 (4) Subject to subsection (d)(3)(B), the social media service 2 shall prohibit the adolescent from accessing the account 3 during the period beginning at 10:30 p.m., and ending at 6 4 a.m. 5 (c) A social media service may not allow an adolescent to change 6 or bypass an account configuration described in subsection (b). 7 (d) A social media service that knows, or reasonably should 8 know, that a registered user of the social media service is an 9 adolescent shall provide the adolescent's parent or guardian with 10 account access credentials that: 11 (1) are separate from the account access credentials provided 12 by the social media service to the adolescent; 13 (2) allow the parent or guardian to access the adolescent's 14 account at any time; and 15 (3) allow the parent or guardian to: 16 (A) view all account activity; 17 (B) modify the account configuration described in 18 subsection (b); and 19 (C) set a limit on the number of hours per day during 20 which the adolescent may access the account. 21 (e) Except as necessary for the social media service's compliance 22 with Indiana or federal law, a social media service may not: 23 (1) collect: 24 (A) directly; or 25 (B) indirectly through collection of data regarding the use 26 of the social media service; 27 (2) use; or 28 (3) disclose; 29 personal information (as defined in IC 4-1-6-1) of a registered user 30 of the social media service that the social media service knows, or 31 reasonably should know, is an adolescent. 32 Sec. 3. An owner or operator of a social media service that 33 knowingly and intentionally violates section 1 or 2 of this chapter 34 commits a deceptive act that is actionable by the attorney general 35 under IC 24-5-0.5 and that is subject to the penalties and remedies 36 available to the attorney general under IC 24-5-0.5. 37 Sec. 4. (a) If the owner or operator of a social media service 38 violates section 1 or 2 of this chapter by: 39 (1) allowing an individual who is: 40 (A) a child or an adolescent; and 41 (B) an Indiana resident; 42 to create or access an account with the social media service in 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 22 1 violation of section 1 of this chapter; or 2 (2) failing to configure the account of a registered user that 3 the social media service knows, or reasonably should know, is: 4 (A) an adolescent; and 5 (B) an Indiana resident; 6 as required by section 2 of this chapter; 7 a parent or guardian of the child or adolescent may bring an action 8 against the owner or operator of the social media service for the 9 violation. 10 (b) A parent or guardian who prevails in an action under this 11 section is entitled to: 12 (1) either: 13 (A) actual damages; or 14 (B) liquidated damages of one thousand dollars ($1,000); 15 (2) injunctive relief; and 16 (3) court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and other 17 reasonable expenses of litigation, including expert witness 18 fees. 19 Sec. 5. (a) A social media service that uses or purports to use a 20 reasonable age verification method for purposes of determining an 21 individual's age under section 1 of this chapter may not: 22 (1) retain identifying information of the individual, unless 23 retention of the identifying information is required by a court 24 order; 25 (2) use identifying information of the individual for any 26 purpose other than determination of the individual's age; or 27 (3) collect information other than information that is 28 reasonably necessary to determine the individual's age. 29 (b) An individual whose identifying information is retained, 30 used, or collected in violation of this section may bring an action 31 against the person that unlawfully retained, used, or collected the 32 individual's identifying information. An individual who prevails in 33 an action described in this section is entitled to: 34 (1) either: 35 (A) actual damages; or 36 (B) liquidated damages of one thousand dollars ($1,000); 37 (2) injunctive relief; and 38 (3) court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and other 39 reasonable expenses of litigation, including expert witness 40 fees. 41 SECTION 11. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) 511 42 IAC 13-1-1(b)(6) is void. The publisher of the Indiana 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152 23 1 Administrative Code and Indiana Register shall remove this 2 provision from the Indiana Administrative Code. 3 (b) This SECTION expires July 1, 2027. 4 SECTION 12. An emergency is declared for this act. 2026 IN 199—LS 6945/DI 152

Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026) PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type. Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution. Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly. SENATE ENROLLED ACT No. 199 AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: SECTION 1. IC 20-26-14-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.43-2021, SECTION 78, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 6. (a) The association must establish a case review panel that meets the following requirements: (1) The panel has nine (9) members. (2) The secretary of education or the secretary's designee is a member of the panel and is the chairperson of the panel. (3) The secretary of education appoints as members of the panel persons having the following qualifications: (A) Four (4) parents of high school students. (B) Two (2) high school principals. (C) Two (2) high school athletic directors. (B) Four (4) school administrators. (4) The secretary of education shall administer the functions of the panel. (5) A member of the panel serves for a four (4) year term, subject to the following: (A) An appointee who ceases to meet the member's qualification under subdivision (3) ceases to be a member of the panel. (B) The secretary of education shall appoint fifty percent SEA 199 — CC 1 2 (50%) of the initial appointees under each clause in subdivision (3) for terms of two (2) years, so that terms of the panel are staggered. (6) The panel must meet monthly, unless there are no cases before the panel. The panel may meet more frequently at the call of the chairperson. However, the chairperson must call a meeting within five (5) business days, or as soon thereafter as a quorum can be assembled, after the panel receives a case in which time is a factor in relation to the scheduling of an athletic competition. (7) A quorum of the panel is five (5) members. The affirmative vote of the greater of the majority present or four (4) members of the panel is required for the panel to take action. (b) A student's parent who disagrees with a decision of the association concerning the application or interpretation of a rule of the association to the student shall have the right to do one (1) of the following: (1) Accept the decision. (2) Refer the case to the panel. The parent must refer the case to the panel not later than thirty (30) days after the date of the association's decision. (c) After a case is referred under subsection (b)(2), the panel must do the following: (1) Collect testimony and information on the case, including testimony and information from both the association and the parent. (2) Place the case on the panel's agenda and consider the case at a meeting of the panel. (3) Not later than ten (10) business days after the meeting at which the panel considers the case, issue a written decision that does one (1) of the following: (A) Upholds the association's decision on the case. (B) Modifies the association's decision on the case. (C) Nullifies the association's decision on the case. (d) Subject to section 7 of this chapter, the association must implement the decision of the panel on each case. However, a decision of the panel: (1) applies only to the case before the panel; and (2) does not affect any rule of the association or decision under any rule concerning any student other than the student whose parent referred the case to the panel. (e) The association shall pay all costs attributable to the operation of the panel, including travel and a stipend of at least fifty dollars ($50) SEA 199 — CC 1 3 for each meeting for panel members. SECTION 2. IC 20-28-3-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.190-2025, SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 1. (a) As used in this section, "teacher candidate" means an individual recommended for an initial teaching license from a teacher preparation program located in Indiana. (b) As used in this section, "teacher preparation program" includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) A teacher education school or department. (2) A transition to teaching program under IC 20-28-4. (3) Any other entity approved by the department to offer a course of study leading to an initial teaching license. (c) The department shall: (1) arrange a statewide system of professional instruction for teacher education; (2) accredit and review teacher preparation programs that comply with the rules of the department; (3) approve content area licensure programs for particular kinds of teachers in accredited teacher preparation programs; and (4) specify the types of licenses for individuals who complete programs of approved courses. (d) The department shall work with teacher preparation programs to develop a system of teacher education that ensures individuals who complete teacher preparation programs are able to meet the highest professional standards. (e) Before July 1, 2015, the department shall establish standards for the continuous improvement of program processes and the performance of individuals who complete teacher preparation programs. The state board shall adopt rules containing the standards not later than two hundred seventy (270) days after the department finishes the standards. (f) The standards established under subsection (e) must include benchmarks for performance, including test score data for each teacher preparation entity on content area licensure tests and test score data for each teacher preparation entity on pedagogy licensure tests. (g) Each teacher preparation program shall annually report the program's performance on the standards and benchmarks established under this section to the department. The department shall make the information reported under this subsection available to the public on the department's website. Each teacher preparation program shall make the information reported under this subsection available to the public on the teacher preparation program's website. In addition to reporting performance, each teacher preparation program must report to the SEA 199 — CC 1 4 department the following: (1) The attrition, retention, and completion rates of teacher candidates for the previous three (3) calendar years. The teacher preparation program must also provide underlying data, as determined by the department, used as part of calculating the teacher preparation program's retention rates. (2) The number of teacher candidates in each content area who complete the teacher preparation program during the year, disaggregated by ranges of cumulative grade point averages. (3) The number of teacher candidates in each content area who, during the year: (A) do not pass a content area licensure examination; and (B) do not retake the content area licensure examination. (h) In making information available to the public on the department's website, the department shall include in the report under subsection (g), in addition to the matrix ratings described in subsection (i), the following information: (1) Average scaled or standard scores of teacher candidates who complete teacher preparation programs on basic skills, content area, and pedagogy licensure examinations. (2) The average number of times teacher candidates who complete a teacher preparation program take each licensing test before receiving a passing score and the percentage of teacher candidates who receive a passing score on each licensing test on the teacher candidates' first attempts. (i) Not later than July 30, 2016, the department and the commission for higher education, in conjunction with the state board, the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., and teacher preparation programs, shall establish a matrix rating system for teacher preparation programs based on the performance of the programs as demonstrated by the data collected under subsections (g) and (h). The matrix rating system must be based on data collected for teachers who initially receive their teaching license during the previous three (3) years. The department shall make the matrix ratings available to the public on the department's website. (j) Each teacher preparation program shall report to the department, in a manner prescribed by the department, the teacher preparation program's admission practices, in accordance with: (1) the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation standards, for teacher preparation programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation; (2) rigorous academic entry requirements for admission into a SEA 199 — CC 1 5 teacher preparatory program that are equivalent to the minimum academic requirements determined by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, for teacher preparation programs that are not accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation; or (3) the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation standards, for teacher preparation programs accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation; or (4) the department's admission standards for teacher preparation programs accredited by the department. The department shall include information reported to the department on the department's website. (k) Not later than July 30, 2016, the department and the commission for higher education, in conjunction with the state board, the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., and teacher preparation programs, shall establish a minimum rating under the matrix rating system established under subsection (i) that teacher preparation programs must achieve to avoid referral under subsection (l). (l) Not later than July 1 of each year, the department shall submit a list of teacher preparation programs that do not meet the minimum rating established under subsection (k) or the requirements of section 3.1 or 3.2 of this chapter to the commission for higher education and the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. for one (1) of the following actions: (1) In the case of a state educational institution, the commission for higher education shall place the teacher preparation program on an improvement plan with clear performance goals and a designated period in which the performance goals must be achieved. (2) In the case of a proprietary postsecondary educational institution, the commission for higher education shall recommend to the teacher preparation program an improvement plan with clear performance goals and a designated period in which the performance goals should be achieved. (3) In the case of a nonprofit college or university, the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., shall coordinate a peer review process to make recommendations to the peer institution in achieving the department's performance metrics. (m) The department shall approve at least two (2) accreditors that: (1) accredit teacher preparation programs; and (2) are recognized by the Council for Higher Education SEA 199 — CC 1 6 Accreditation; to accredit teacher preparation programs for use in Indiana. The department may also serve as an accreditor in addition to the two (2) accreditors approved under this subsection. (n) Not later than December 31, 2024, the department and the commission for higher education, in conjunction with the state board, shall partner with teacher preparation programs to receive an outside evaluation by a nationally recognized nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leverages evidence based approaches on the science of reading to evaluate teacher preparation reading instruction programs. SECTION 3. IC 20-28-10-20 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 20. (a) As used in this section, "stillbirth" means a birth after twenty (20) weeks of gestation that is not a live birth. (b) Not later than December 1, 2026, the secretary of education shall do the following: (1) Identify school corporations that provide employees paid leave upon any of the following events: (A) The birth of an employee's child. (B) The birth of a child to an employee's spouse. (C) The placement of a child for adoption with an employee. (D) The placement of a child in foster care with an employee. (E) The stillbirth of an employee's child. (2) Identify the length of paid leave school corporations provide for each event under subdivision (1). (3) Make recommendations concerning paid leave for employees for each event under subdivision (1). (4) Submit the findings and recommendations under this subsection to the general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. (c) This section expires July 1, 2027. SECTION 4. IC 20-30-5-7.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 7.4. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, the secretary of education shall do the following: (1) Identify key metrics and activities to be used to measure civic literacy and engagement in kindergarten through grade 12 and postsecondary education. (2) Submit the metrics identified under subdivision (1) to the SEA 199 — CC 1 7 general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. (b) This section expires July 1, 2027. SECTION 5. IC 20-32-5.1-17, AS AMENDED BY P.L.150-2024, SECTION 55, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 17. (a) The state board shall approve two (2) or more benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessments to identify students that require remediation and provide individualized instruction in which a school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) may receive a grant under subsection (g). (b) For a benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment described in subsection (a) that is administered to students in kindergarten through grade 2, the assessment must meet one (1) or more of the following: (1) The assessment: (A) focuses on English/language arts; and (B) shows alignment, verified by a third party, to Indiana's academic standards for English/language arts domains, specifically foundational reading skills. (2) The assessment is a universal screener that: (A) meets the screening requirements listed in IC 20-35.5-2-2; (B) measures foundational reading skills; (C) received a convincing or partially convincing rating for accuracy, reliability, and validity by the National Center on Intensive Intervention or a nationally recognized dyslexia assessment expert; (D) screens for early literacy skill deficits; (E) provides parents and schools with data analysis guides for interpreting results and comprehensive support for schools to guide classroom instruction and the implementation of reading interventions; and (F) provides the department with an annual analysis of statewide data trends to support identification of early literacy skill deficits and guides targeted intervention efforts. (3) The assessment focuses on numeracy and shows alignment, verified by a third party, to Indiana's academic standards for mathematical domains, specifically: (A) number sense; (B) computation and algebraic thinking; and (C) measurement. (c) For a benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment described in subsection (a) that is administered to students in grades 3 SEA 199 — CC 1 8 through 7, the assessment must show alignment, verified by a third party, to Indiana's academic standards. (d) For a benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment described in subsection (a) that is administered to students in grades 8 through 10, the assessment must show alignment, verified by a third party, to: (1) Indiana's academic standards; or (2) the nationally recognized college entrance exam required to be administered under section 7 of this chapter. (e) This subsection does not apply to an assessment that is a universal screener described in subsection (b)(2). The majority of the benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment reporting must indicate the degree to which students are on track for grade level proficiency and college and career readiness. Approved assessments must also provide predictive study results for student performance on the statewide summative assessment under section 7 of this chapter, not later than two (2) years after the statewide summative assessment has been first administered. (f) This subsection does not apply to an assessment that is a universal screener described in subsection (b)(2). A school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) may elect to administer a benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment described in subsection (a). If a school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) administers an assessment described in subsection (a), the school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) may prescribe the time and the manner in which the assessment is administered. (g) If a school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) elects to administer a benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment described in subsection (a), the school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) is entitled to receive a grant or reimbursement from the department in an amount not to exceed the cost of the assessment. The department shall provide grants and reimbursements to a school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) under this section from money appropriated to the department for the purpose of carrying out this section. (h) Except as provided in subsection (j), the state board and the SEA 199 — CC 1 9 department may not contract with, approve, or endorse the use of a single vendor to provide benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessments for any grade level or levels of kindergarten through grade 7. (i) Before the state board may approve a benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment described in subsection (a), the assessment vendor must enter into a data share agreement with the department in the manner prescribed by the department. A vendor providing an assessment described in subsection (b)(2) shall provide a summary of a student's assessment results to the student and the student's parents. The summary of the results must be in an understandable format for parents that is easy to read. (j) The department shall procure a preferred assessment that meets the requirements specified in subsection (b)(2) for use by schools in which, over the course of three (3) consecutive years, fewer than seventy percent (70%) an average of seventy-five percent (75%) of students in the school achieved a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board. (k) This subsection applies to: (1) a public school, including a charter school; (2) a state accredited nonpublic school; and (3) an eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7). An elementary school shall administer an assessment described in subsection (b)(2) to students in kindergarten through grade 2. The department shall provide guidance as to the number of times the assessment is required and when the administrations of the assessment should occur. SECTION 6. IC 20-32-8.5-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.186-2025, SECTION 291, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the plan required by this chapter must include the following: (1) Reading skill standards for grade 1 through grade 3. (2) A method for making determinant evaluations by grade 3 that remedial action is required for a student, including: (A) except as provided in subsections (c) and (g), beginning with evaluations administered during the 2024-2025 school year, retention of the student in grade 3 if the student has not achieved a passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board after the student has had an opportunity to retake the determinant evaluation at least twice in the summer; and SEA 199 — CC 1 10 (B) the use of curricular materials and supplemental materials aligned to the science of reading that are designed to address deficiencies in reading; after other methods of remediation have been evaluated or used, or both, if reading skills are below the standard. Appropriate consultation with parents or guardians must be part of the plan. (3) A requirement that schools notify a student's parent of the following: (A) The student's assessment results regarding skill level in: (i) phonemic awareness; (ii) phonics; (iii) fluency; (iv) vocabulary; and (v) comprehension. (B) The student's assessment results on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board. (C) Any intervention provided to the student or any remedial action taken. (4) A requirement that schools monitor the progress of students who failed to achieve a valid passing score on the: (A) determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board; or (B) statewide assessment program test. (5) A requirement that schools provide reading instruction that includes a core reading program aligned with the science of reading to all students in kindergarten through grade 8. (6) A requirement for the administration of the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board to students in grade 2. (7) A requirement that all students take the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board until the student: (A) receives a passing score, regardless of the student's grade level; or (B) enters grade 7. (8) A requirement that a school report the following to the department: (A) The literacy interventions that will be used for students in grade 2 who are at risk of not being reading proficient and students in grade 3 who do not achieve a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board. SEA 199 — CC 1 11 (B) The literacy interventions in use before the adoption of the plan for students in grade 2 who are at risk of not being reading proficient and students in grade 3 who do not achieve a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board. (C) The literacy interventions in use before the adoption of the plan for students who do not achieve a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board. (D) The number of students being served by the interventions described in clauses (B) and (C). (E) The cost of providing the interventions described in clauses (B) and (C). (F) Any other information requested by the department. (9) Requirements for a school in which, over the course of three (3) consecutive years, fewer than seventy an average of seventy-five percent (70%) (75%) of students of the school achieved a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board that must include the following: (A) Use of curriculum that is: (i) based on the science of reading; (ii) age appropriate; and (iii) approved by the department. (B) Employment of the following: (i) Before July 1, 2025, an instructional coach who is trained in the science of reading, as determined by the department. This item expires January 1, 2026. (ii) After June 30, 2025, an instructional coach with a literacy related endorsement who is trained in the science of reading. (C) Use of only benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessments that: (i) show alignment with Indiana's academic standards; and (ii) are approved by the department. (D) Use of a screener procured under IC 20-32-5.1-17(j). (10) The fiscal impact of each component of the plan, if any. In determining whether a component has a fiscal impact, consideration shall be given to whether the component will increase costs to the state or a school corporation or require the state or school corporation to reallocate resources. (b) A school may receive a waiver of the requirements provided in SEA 199 — CC 1 12 511 IAC 6.2-3.1-4(a)(2) if the state board approves an alternative reading plan provided by the school. (c) Except as approved by the department under subsection (g), a student who would otherwise be subject to retention in grade 3 under the plan is not subject to the retention requirement only if the student meets one (1) of the following criteria: (1) The student was subject to retention and has been retained in grade 3 for one (1) school year. (2) The student has an intellectual disability or the student's individualized education program specifies that retention is not appropriate, and the student's case conference committee has determined that promotion to another grade is appropriate. (3) The student is an English learner who has received services for fewer than two (2) years and a committee consisting of: (A) the student's parent; (B) a building level administrator or designee; (C) a classroom teacher of service; (D) an English learner teacher of record, if one exists; and (E) an English learner district administrator, if one exists; determines that promotion is appropriate based on the implementation of research based instructional practices outlined in the student's individual learning plan. (4) The student received a score of proficient or above proficient in grade 3 math on the statewide summative assessment. (5) The student: (A) has received intensive intervention as determined by the department in reading for two (2) or more years; and (B) was retained more than one (1) time throughout kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 2. (d) A student who is not subject to the retention requirement as provided under subsection (c) must be provided with additional reading instruction that is aligned with the science of reading until the student achieves a passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board. (e) Before October 1 of each school year, the department shall: (1) identify each incoming student (as defined in section 0.7 of this chapter) enrolled in kindergarten in a school in Indiana; and (2) notify the parent or guardian of the student of the retention requirement under this chapter for grade 3 students who do not achieve a passing score on the Indiana reading evaluation and determination (IRead3). (f) The department shall establish a standard reporting process and SEA 199 — CC 1 13 reporting window for schools to report students who qualify for an exemption under subsection (c). (g) The department shall establish a registration process for schools to exempt an English language learner who: (1) does not achieve a passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board; and (2) attends a school that has a student population comprised of at least fifty percent (50%) of English language learners in grade 3, as determined by the department; from compliance with the requirements under subsection (a)(2)(A) until the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. This subsection expires July 1, 2028. SECTION 7. IC 20-32-8.5-5, AS ADDED BY P.L.199-2025, SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 5. (a) As used in this section, "Indiana literacy cadre" refers to the department's collaborative professional development initiative for educators that is aligned with the science of reading. (b) Subject to available funding, a school in which, over the course of three (3) consecutive years, fewer than seventy percent (70%) an average of seventy-five percent (75%) of students of the school achieved a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading approved by the state board must participate in the Indiana literacy cadre. SECTION 8. IC 21-18-6-10 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 10. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, the commission shall do the following: (1) Evaluate accrediting agencies or associations that currently accredit: (A) state educational institutions; or (B) degree programs offered by state educational institutions. (2) Identify and evaluate innovative accrediting agencies or associations, including those not yet recognized by the United States Department of Education, that do not currently accredit state educational institutions. (3) Identify potential alternative agencies, associations, or methods to accredit degree programs offered by state educational institutions. (4) Provide a report in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 to the general assembly that includes: SEA 199 — CC 1 14 (A) the commission's findings under subdivisions (1) through (3); and (B) recommendations concerning accrediting agencies or associations identified in subdivisions (2) and (3) that may be best suited to serve as an accreditor for state educational institutions or degree programs. (b) This section expires July 1, 2027. SECTION 9. IC 21-18-9-10.7, AS ADDED BY P.L.213-2025, SECTION 248, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 10.7. (a) For each state educational institution degree program, if: the: (1) the: (A) average number of students who graduate over the immediately preceding three (3) years is fewer than: (A) (i) ten (10) students for a particular associate degree program; (B) (ii) fifteen (15) students for a particular bachelor's degree program; (C) (iii) seven (7) students for a particular master's degree program; (D) (iv) three (3) students for a particular education specialist program; or (E) (v) three (3) students for a particular doctorate degree program; and or (B) degree program meets the definition of a low earning outcome program under the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1087d); and (2) the state educational institution would like to continue a degree program described in subdivision (1); the state educational institution must request approval from the commission to continue the degree program. (b) If the commission does not grant approval under subsection (a), the state educational institution must eliminate: (1) the degree program; and (2) any costs associated with the degree program. SECTION 10. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) 511 IAC 13-1-1(b)(6) is void. The publisher of the Indiana Administrative Code and Indiana Register shall remove this provision from the Indiana Administrative Code. (b) This SECTION expires July 1, 2027. SECTION 11. An emergency is declared for this act. SEA 199 — CC 1 President of the Senate President Pro Tempore Speaker of the House of Representatives Governor of the State of Indiana Date: Time: SEA 199 — CC 1