Rep. Jake Teshka

Maddy summaryHR 7 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the Indiana Non-Public Education Association (INPEA) for its 50th anniversary. Introduced by Representative Behning and multiple co-authors, the bill formally honors INPEA's work supporting non-public schools in Indiana. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding policy impact or direct effect on legislation, funding, or regulations. The bill was adopted during its first reading on January 28, 2025, as a gesture of appreciation for the association's service.

Permits the use of medical cannabis by a person with a serious medical condition as determined by the person's physician and establishes a procedure for the production and distribution of medical cannabis. Makes conforming amendments.

Establishes the cognitive training grant program (program) to provide grants to public and charter schools (eligible schools) to adopt and implement a cognitive training program designed to build skills in areas important to learning. Establishes the cognitive training grant program fund (fund). Provides that the department of education (department) shall develop and publish on the department's website: (1) criteria that vendors must meet to be eligible for use by eligible schools; and (2) guidelines to award grants to eligible schools. Requires the department to prepare and submit an annual report regarding the program to the governor and legislative council.

Provides that a social media service may not allow an Indiana resident who is a minor to hold an account with the social media service unless the social media service receives written consent to the minor's use of the social media service from the minor's parent or guardian. Requires a social media service to configure the account of a registered user that the social media service knows, or reasonably should know, is: (1) a minor; 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 minor 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.

Establishes the real world readiness grant program (program) to provide grants to eligible schools to better prepare students for life after graduation with or without the assistance of a partnering organization. Establishes the real world readiness fund (fund). Provides a procedure for eligible schools to apply to the department of education (department) to receive a grant from the fund. Requires the department to approve organizations that may partner with an eligible school to facilitate the program. Establishes the personal financial responsibility curriculum grant program to provide grants to eligible schools to develop or adopt personal financial responsibility curriculum. Establishes the personal financial responsibility curriculum fund (financial responsibility fund). Requires the department to establish guidelines: (1) an external organization must meet to be eligible to partner with an eligible applicant; and (2) to award grants to eligible applicants. Requires applicants that receive a grant from the financial responsibility fund to report student outcomes to the department, as developed by the department.

Requires a correctional facility operated by the department of correction to provide privacy protections based upon an individual's sex. Requires facility and program assignment decisions to be made in compliance with the required privacy protections. Provides a private cause of action against a correctional facility for certain privacy violations.

Provides that a state educational institution may not investigate, threaten disciplinary action regarding, punish, or solicit the reporting of certain student speech. Provides that the race, color, or ethnicity of a student or applicant of a postsecondary educational institution may not be used in certain decision making processes or provided to specified individuals, and establishes a cause of action for a violation of these provisions.

Provides eligible choice scholarship students with the option to receive a dynamic choice scholarship (scholarship). Provides that a scholarship may be used toward certain dynamic education costs. Allows the department of education to: (1) create forms and methods for the administration and oversight of a scholarship; (2) create an account system to accommodate distributions of a scholarship; and (3) audit up to 3% of scholarship accounts annually to protect against fraud or misuse of funds. Provides that a distribution to a scholarship account is considered tax exempt if the distribution is used toward dynamic education costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1630 would establish a legal framework for the production and sale of cannabis in Indiana, directly affecting residents who purchase cannabis and businesses seeking to operate in this market. The bill creates procedures for licensing, regulation, and taxation of cannabis, with "conforming amendments" to align existing laws. It does not address personal use or possession but focuses on commercial legalization. The bill is currently in committee referral after its first reading in January 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1484 prohibits public colleges and universities from using state funds to finance speaker series. It restricts the allocation of institutional funds specifically for events featuring outside speakers. The policy applies to all state educational institutions receiving public funding, limiting how they can spend state resources on external speaker programming.