The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 289 authored by Sen. Byrne and Sen. Tyler Johnson on nondiscrimination in employment and education. The bill provides that:
- a school corporation, charter school, state agency, and political subdivision is required to post on its website certain training and curricular materials concerning nondiscrimination, diversity, equity, inclusion, race, ethnicity, sex, and bias;
- a school corporation, charter school, state agency, or political subdivision may not: (1) require or otherwise compel a student of the school corporation or charter school or an employee to affirm, adopt, or adhere to certain beliefs or concepts; or (2) use public funds to contract with, hire, or otherwise engage consultants, trainers, or other persons to take certain actions to promote the beliefs or concepts;
- a school corporation, charter school, state agency, political subdivision, or an employee of a school corporation, charter school, state agency, or political subdivision may not, in the course or scope of public service or employment, promote, embrace, or endorse stereotypes;
- a process for an employee, a parent, or an emancipated student to file a complaint of a violation be established; and,
- an employee, a parent, or an emancipated student is allowed to bring a civil action against a school corporation, charter school, state agency, or political subdivision.
The bill was amended by consent to remove the private right of action from the bill and replace it with a provision that allows the Attorney General to file an action for mandate to compel a school corporation, charter school, state agency, or political subdivision to comply. The amendment also removes a provision that requires the identity of a teacher to be identified on the website of a school corporation or charter school if the teacher created the material being posted. The Pacific Legal Foundation testified in support of the bill. The Indianapolis Urban League, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana, Indiana State Teachers Association, Indiana Coalition for Public Education, and four members of the public testified in opposition. The amended bill passed 7-3.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/289