Sen. Jeff Raatz

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Dr. David Bowden and was unanimously adopted by the Senate on March 17, 2025, with 37 senators coauthoring it. It recognizes Dr. Bowden's contributions but does not create any new laws or affect specific policies. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no binding effect or direct impact on constituents or legislation. The measure serves solely to acknowledge Dr. Bowden's service through formal Senate recognition.

Authorizes a local county road and bridge board to undertake low water crossing projects. Requires the commissioner of the department of transportation (department) to ensure that the department makes information available to county boards of commissioners and county highway departments about funding from federal and private sources that might be available to the counties for low water crossing projects. Amends the law on the local road and bridge matching grant fund: (1) to allow grants to local units to be used for low water crossing projects; and (2) to provide that funds allocated for grants to local units having a population of less than 50,000 can be used to make grants to counties below the population limit as well as to municipalities located in counties that are below the population limit.

Maddy summarySCR 4 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the Indianapolis Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. It formally recognizes the organization's community work and contributions. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create new laws or affect policy, but serves as an official expression of appreciation from the legislature. The resolution was introduced by Senator Jackson L and co-authored by multiple senators.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to rename the bridge over Big Walnut Creek at North U.S. Highway 231 as the "James Baugh Memorial Bridge".

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 38) formally honors Dr. Crystal Reynolds for her contributions, without creating any legal requirements or policy changes. It is a non-binding symbolic gesture recognizing her work, as is typical for commemorative resolutions. The resolution was introduced by Senator Goode and adopted unanimously by voice vote on March 6, 2025. It directly affects no individuals or entities through legislative action, as it serves only to express legislative recognition.

Maddy summarySR 27 is a ceremonial Senate Resolution honoring Senator Earline Rogers. It serves as a formal tribute to her service and does not create any new laws or affect policy. This resolution has no substantive provisions or impact beyond expressing recognition.

Maddy summarySCR 15 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Indiana 4-H and designating February 11, 2025, as Indiana 4-H Day at the Statehouse. It directly recognizes the Indiana 4-H organization and its youth development work. The resolution has no binding policy impact and serves only to formally acknowledge the group's contributions. It passed unanimously in both chambers with no substantive provisions.

Authorizes the commission for higher education (commission) and the department of workforce development with collecting and compiling certain information concerning: (1) postsecondary education; (2) career and technical education; (3) workforce qualifications; (4) workforce earnings; and (5) workforce debt. Authorizes the commission to create an interactive website known as the student horizon dashboard to provide public access to certain collected and compiled information. Authorizes the commission, with assistance from the department of education and the department of workforce development, to create a report known as the student graduate horizon scorecard (scorecard) for annual distribution. Specifies that the scorecard may contain certain information concerning high paying civilian and military careers and in demand jobs. Requires the commission to prepare an annual report for the legislative council. Requires state educational institutions and career and technical education centers to collect and provide information as requested by the commission.

Allows a principal or superintendent of a public school, including a charter school, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain if certain requirements are met. Allows a school chaplain to provide: (1) secular advice, guidance, and support services; and (2) nonsecular advice, guidance, and support services if certain conditions are met. Provides that, with exceptions, communications made by a student to a school chaplain are privileged and confidential.

Provides that all school corporations that adopt a resolution for a property tax levy for a controlled project or a school safety referendum tax levy after May 10, 2025, must share revenue received from the levy with certain charter schools. Specifies, for purposes of making distributions to charter schools from a property tax levy for a controlled project, that only charter schools located within the attendance area of the school corporation shall receive a distribution of revenue from that levy and requires such a charter school to establish a separate account to deposit the revenue. Requires all school corporations to share revenue received from a debt service levy with certain charter schools. Requires all school corporations that adopt a resolution for an operating referendum tax levy after May 10, 2025, to share revenue received from the levy with certain charter schools. Requires, beginning with distributions in 2028, that all school corporations begin sharing revenue from the school corporation's operations fund levy with certain charter schools. Provides for the phasing in of the sharing of revenue with certain charter schools from the school corporation's operations fund levy. Excludes school corporations meeting specified criteria from the sharing of property tax revenue received under the bill's provisions. Provides a calculation for determining the amount of an annual grant from the charter and innovation network school grant program based on the amount of property tax revenue received by a charter school from school corporations. Provides for the appointment of additional board members to the governing board of a charter school that receives property tax revenue. Sets forth additional procedures related to the closure of a charter school. Makes conforming changes.