Sen. Spencer Deery

Specifies that an application for a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline certificate of authority must include: (1) a risk assessment; and (2) a carbon dioxide injection estimate. Provides that when determining compensation in certain eminent domain proceedings, the perceived risk of certain hazardous conditions must be taken into account. Establishes a carbon sequestration pilot project fee program, and specifies certain conditions in relation to the fee money. Provides that a transfer of ownership in regard to a carbon sequestration pilot project does not relieve a prior operator from liability for any negligence or willful misconduct that occurred before the transfer. Requires the department of natural resources to inspect a carbon sequestration pilot project. Alters the threshold of consent one must obtain in order to use eminent domain or integration in relation to carbon sequestration.

Requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission) to establish a working group to: (1) determine an estimate of the future electricity demands of the data center industry in Indiana; and (2) report to the general assembly regarding the working group's findings and recommendations not later than October 31, 2026. Requires: (1) a person that operates a data center in Indiana to submit to the commission a quarterly report of the amount of electricity used by the data center in the immediately preceding quarter; and (2) the commission to publish a summary of the reported information on the commission's website. Provides that a county, municipality, or township shall, before issuing a permit to a person for construction of a data center: (1) require the person to disclose the projected power and water usage of the facility; and (2) perform a site assessment to determine the possible effects of the data center.

Allows, subject to a written agreement concerning the transport of individuals, an emergency medical responder, an emergency medical technician, an advanced emergency medical technician, or a paramedic (emergency medical services personnel) to transport an individual to: (1) a health care facility; (2) a mental health facility; or (3) an urgent care facility; that can provide the individual with appropriate and necessary treatment. Specifies information that must be included in a written agreement. Allows reimbursement for transporting the individual to the facility.

Requires certain entities authorized to participate in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to annually report specified data to the Indiana department of health (state department). Requires the state department to submit a report of the aggregated data to the legislative council and post the report on the state department's website.

Provides that provisions of law concerning the statewide waiver ombudsman apply to an individual who has a disability and receives services administered by the bureau of disabilities services. (Current law specifies that these provisions apply to an individual who has a developmental disability and receives services under the federal home and community based services program.) Specifies that these provisions do not apply to an individual served by the long term care ombudsman program. Changes references from "statewide waiver ombudsman" to "statewide bureau of disabilities services ombudsman". Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to prepare an annual report on the provision of Medicaid home and community based waiver services. Specifies the information that must be included in the report. Requires the division of disability and rehabilitative services advisory council to provide recommendations to the division of disability and rehabilitative services to ensure the delivery of appropriate high quality services to recipients. Requires the office of the secretary to provide to the division of disability and rehabilitative services advisory council reports on the office of the secretary's plans to provide services to individuals who require extraordinary care and specifies the timing of the reports.

Allows a state agency to use artificial intelligence software to prepare information and projections for the state budget. Requires a state agency to provide a quarterly report to the budget committee that details the requests submitted by the state agency for new federal funds or to participate in a new federal program. Provides that, in addition to the quarterly reports, a state agency may not immediately accept an award of new federal funds in certain circumstances or participate in a new federal program before a report has been reviewed by the budget committee. Specifies the contents of the report that must be submitted for budget committee review. Requires a state agency to provide the state comptroller with a contract for inclusion in the Indiana transparency website not later than 30 days after the contract is fully executed. Requires that permanent full-time positions which have been vacant for 90 days or more be reviewed and either reauthorized or eliminated by the budget director. Requires the budget director to provide a quarterly report to the governor's office regarding those positions that were reauthorized or eliminated by the budget director in the preceding three months. Requires a state agency to provide quarterly reports to the budget committee regarding the state agency's active contracts. Provides for the reversion of funds appropriated to a state agency for expenses related to a contract that are unused after the end of the contract term. Requires the department of administration (department) to develop certain contract language to be included in state contracts of $500,000 or more. Requires a state agency to provide a report to the budget committee concerning amendments to a contract that: (1) increase the maximum contract amount by not less than $500,000; or (2) for a contract with an initial maximum contract amount of not less than $500,000, extend the term of the contract by not less than six months. Prohibits a state agency from entering into a nonpublic contract. Requires all contract opportunities of state agencies to be posted in the form of a request for proposals or a request for quotations on the department's website at least 30 days prior to the contract being awarded. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services and the office of Medicaid policy and planning to do the following: (1) Review monthly reports on the Medicaid program service utilization to identify trends and risks within the state Medicaid program. (2) Post publicly on the office of the secretary of family and social services's website monthly financial reports or expenditures and revenues for each state Medicaid program and commentary providing context for each monthly financial report. (3) Submit a quarterly report to the budget committee.

Requires the department of education (department) to submit a report to the general assembly before November 1, 2025, that provides an analysis of the feasibility and cost of increasing school corporation employee health plan options. Creates the Indiana teacher recruitment program. Beginning June 30, 2025: (1) increases the minimum salary for a teacher employed by a school corporation to $45,000 (current law requires $40,000); and (2) requires a school corporation to expend an amount for teacher compensation that is not less than 65% of state tuition support (current law requires 62%). Amends the requirements for a school corporation and the department if the school corporation determines that the school corporation cannot meet minimum teacher salary requirements. Removes a provision that provides that the matrix rating system may not rank or compare teacher preparation programs.

Requires the department of education (department) to grant an initial practitioner license to an individual who: (1) holds a bachelor's degree with a major in any combination of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; (2) successfully completes a total of at least nine academic credits regarding certain instruction in teaching; and (3) meets other specified requirements. Provides that the department may grant a license to teach a high school level course or grades 5 through 9 to an individual who completes a licensure pathway established by the department. Requires a principal to allow a student who is enrolled in a public secondary school to receive religious instruction for a period or periods that do not exceed the amount of time that is equivalent to attending one elective course at the public secondary school during the week. (Current law provides for a period or periods of not more than 120 minutes in total in any week.) Provides that a public secondary school may award academic credit to a student who attends religious instruction if: (1) the religious entity providing the instruction agrees to certain conditions; and (2) the governing body of the school corporation adopts a policy that allows the awarding of credit (current law only provides that a public secondary school may award academic credit to a student who attends religious instruction if the governing body of the school corporation adopts a policy that allows the awarding of credit). Changes certain requirements regarding the reporting of a bullying "incident" to the reporting of a bullying "investigation". Requires discipline rules to include a provision to make a reasonable attempt to notify both the parent of a targeted student and the parent of an alleged perpetrator that the school is investigating a possible incident of bullying or similar misconduct before the end of the next school day after the school becomes aware of the possible incident.

Repeals certain provisions regarding statewide assessment scores and the establishment of categories or designations of school performance. Requires the state board of education to establish a new methodology for designating school performance. Extends the expiration of certain provisions regarding the posting of school information. Provides that the proposals to align diploma waiver statutes with new diploma requirements may include a proposal to eliminate diploma waivers.

Requires certain media entities operating in Indiana to disclose: (1) foreign ownership; (2) foreign funding; and (3) the use of foreign sourced or influenced content. Authorizes the secretary of state to impose a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for a knowing or intentional violation of the disclosure requirements. Provides that the secretary of state shall publish a list of Indiana media entities that have complied with certain requirements. Requires certain media entities to obtain special accreditation from the department of administration to attend state media events, and allows the department of administration to revoke the special accreditation under certain circumstances.