Rep. Jake Teshka

Prohibits use of public funds by a state educational institution for policies or programs and campus activities outside the classroom that: (1) advocate for campus diversity, equity, and inclusion; or (2) promote or engage in political or social activism. Makes related changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1494 removes the requirement for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to issue paper registration renewal stickers for motor vehicles. This change directly affects vehicle owners who currently receive these stickers when renewing registration. The bill makes technical updates to align state procedures with the removal of this physical sticker requirement. It does not alter registration fees, deadlines, or other core vehicle registration processes.

Provides that an individual who has federal adjusted gross income but no federal income tax liability in a taxable year is entitled to a 100% credit against the individual's state and local income tax liability.

Repeals the law concerning the imposition and execution of death sentences and makes conforming amendments. Specifies that if a person was sentenced to death and is awaiting execution of the death sentence, the person's death sentence is commuted to a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Provides that when a defendant is charged with a murder for which the state seeks a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, the defendant may file a petition alleging that the defendant is an individual with an intellectual disability. Provides that if a defendant who is determined to be an individual with an intellectual disability is convicted of murder, the court may sentence the defendant only to a fixed term of imprisonment.

Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to include a question regarding the requirements for yielding the right-of-way for: (1) an authorized emergency vehicle; (2) a stationary recovery vehicle; or (3) a disabled stationary vehicle with active flashing signals; in the knowledge test for a learner's permit or a driver's license. Provides that an applicant who incorrectly answers the question automatically fails the test.

Provides that a biological mother and biological father have joint legal custody unless otherwise provided by law. Requires a court to award joint legal custody unless it is in the child's best interests that sole legal custody be awarded. Provides that an award of joint legal custody creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of equal division of parenting time, and to rebut the presumption, a parent must prove that equal parenting time would be detrimental to the child.

Provides that, if more than 50% of students who have legal settlement in a school corporation were enrolled in a school that is not operated by the school corporation on the 2024 fall average daily membership count date, the school corporation must be dissolved and all public schools of the school corporation must be transitioned to operating as charter schools. Establishes a new governing board, requirements, and procedures regarding the dissolution and reorganization of the applicable school corporations.

Allows a bar or restaurant (retailer) to prepare, sell, and deliver alcoholic beverages for carry-out to a customer on the licensed premises in sealed, nonoriginal containers (qualified containers). Defines: (1) "craft manufacturer's permit" as a small brewery permit, farm winery permit, or artisan distiller's permit; and (2) "craft manufacturer" as the holder of a "craft manufacturer's permit". Requires, after June 30, 2024, liquor liability insurance or an endorsement with coverage of at least $500,000 to obtain or renew a retailer's or craft manufacturer's permit. Provides that if an establishment operates under both a retailer's permit and a craft manufacturer's permit, the insurance coverage requirements apply to the establishment and not to each permit individually. Requires compliance with the insurance coverage requirement not later than January 1, 2025, for a permit issued before July 1, 2024. Prohibits a retailer from doing the following: (1) Allowing a game on the licensed premises that: (A) is determined by the quantity of alcoholic beverages consumed by a patron; or (B) awards alcoholic beverage prizes, unless the alcohol beverages are charity gaming prizes or sold in a charity auction event. (2) Selling or serving an unlimited or indefinite amount of alcoholic beverages for a fixed price. Allows a retailer or craft manufacturer to reduce or increase the price of alcoholic beverages during a part of the day. Specifies that the alcohol and tobacco commission may revoke the privilege of selling alcoholic beverages: (1) in qualified containers for carry-out; or (2) for a reduced or increased price; for violations of certain conditions.

Requires a principal to allow a student to attend religious instruction conducted by certain entities following the principal's receipt of written notice from the student's parent.

Requires each high school to: (1) beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, offer the Indiana college core (college core); or (2) not later than October 1, 2024, submit a plan or report that meets certain requirements to the commission for higher education (commission). Provides that: (1) a student who successfully completes an eligible course under the college core is entitled to secondary credit toward graduation requirements; and (2) the student's transcripts must reflect the secondary credit. Establishes the reverse transfer program for community college associate degrees. Requires each state educational institution (institution) to prepare and submit a report to the commission that includes information regarding a determination by the institution of the feasibility and advisability of establishing and conferring associate degrees to certain students. Establishes certain requirements for the commission regarding the reports. Requires each institution that offers baccalaureate degrees to establish a policy to review each of the institution's four year baccalaureate degree program offerings to determine the feasibility of providing each in a specifically structured manner to allow a full-time student to complete the baccalaureate degree within three years. Requires, not later than July 1, 2025, each institution to offer at least one baccalaureate degree program specifically structured to allow a full-time student to complete the baccalaureate degree within three years. Requires an institution to provide an annual report to the commission regarding offering four year baccalaureate degree programs completed in three years. Expands the schools to which requirements regarding secondary credit apply. Changes the name of the statewide transfer general education core to the Indiana college core. Requires the commission, in coordination with the department of education (department) and institutions, to maintain and post a list and syllabus or course outline record of each eligible college core course. Requires, by July 1, 2025, the department to partner with one or more institutions or approved postsecondary educational institutions to provide online access to the college core through the course access program. Provides that credit equivalencies, including the college core, for all Cambridge International Advanced A and AS Level examinations must be updated annually and sent by each institution to the commission by June 1 each year. Provides that each institution shall post these annually updated credit equivalencies on the institution's website by July 1 each year. Provides that the commission shall post the annually updated credit equivalencies on the commission's student transfer of credit portal by July 1 each year.