Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 448
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 4-3-26-10; IC 20-19-3-36.5; IC 21-18-9;
IC 21-40-6.
Synopsis: Higher education and workforce development matters.
Requires the Indiana management performance hub to annually report
certain credential information on its website. Requires the secretary of
education to establish a plan to develop a market driven stackable
credentials and qualifications framework and submit the plan to the
general assembly. Provides that the commission for higher education
(commission) shall (instead of may) approve or disapprove certain
branches, campuses, centers, new colleges, new schools, degrees, or
programs. Provides that before the commission approves or
disapproves a degree or program, a state educational institution shall
provide, and the commission shall consider, certain information
regarding the degree or program. Requires the commission to: (1)
review each degree or program for approval or disapproval at least one
time every 10 years; (2) outline a process for degree and program
monitoring, improvement, suspension, and closure; and (3) publish
certain information. Requires that, beginning with the 2026-2027
academic year, at least 50% of the students in a freshman class at a
state educational institution must be residents of Indiana. Requires the
commission to: (1) prepare recommendations regarding the percentage
of resident students state educational institutions should enroll to meet
workforce demands; and (2) submit the recommendations to the
governor and legislative council.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Goode
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
2025 IN 448—LS 7503/DI 110 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 448
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
higher education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 4-3-26-10, AS AMENDED BY P.L.216-2021,
2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. The MPH shall do the following:
4 (1) Establish and maintain a program to collect, analyze, and
5 exchange government information in carrying out the powers and
6 duties of the OMB and the powers and duties of the executive
7 state agency sharing the data. In carrying out this program, the
8 MPH may, in accordance with IC 4-1-6, obtain government
9 information from each executive state agency.
10 (2) In accordance with IC 4-1-6 and IC 5-14-3, establish and
11 maintain a program to make government information available to
12 executive state agencies, political subdivisions, educational
13 institutions, researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and the
14 general public, subject to the following:
15 (A) A request for data subject to IC 4-1-6-8.6 shall be made in
16 conformance with that section.
17 (B) A program established and maintained under this chapter
2025 IN 448—LS 7503/DI 110 2
1 must include policies governing access to government
2 information held by the MPH under this chapter. Government
3 information may be made available only in accordance with
4 applicable confidentiality and disclosure laws.
5 (3) Establish privacy and quality policies for government
6 information that comply with all applicable Indiana and federal
7 laws, rules, and policies.
8 (4) In accordance with standards developed by the office of
9 technology established by IC 4-13.1-2-1, establish and maintain
10 a program to ensure the security of government information under
11 this chapter.
12 (5) Conduct operational and procedural audits of executive state
13 agencies.
14 (6) Perform financial planning and design and implement
15 efficiency projects for executive state agencies.
16 (7) Advise and assist each executive state agency to identify and
17 implement continuous process improvement in state government.
18 (8) Carry out such other responsibilities as may be designated by
19 the director of the OMB or the chief data officer to carry out the
20 responsibilities of the OMB or the chief data officer.
21 (9) Collect income data of or by a student upon the student's
22 graduation from high school that can be linked to the student's
23 kindergarten through grade 12 student identification number
24 necessary for the department to carry out IC 20-19-3-22.3. The
25 MPH may not disclose any personal, identifiable information to
26 the department.
27 (10) Annually report the following on the MPH's website:
28 (A) The number and type of credentials needed to fill
29 employment openings in Indiana.
30 (B) The number and type of credentials earned by
31 individuals in Indiana.
32 SECTION 2. IC 20-19-3-36.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
33 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
34 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 36.5. (a) Not later than November
35 1, 2025, the secretary of education shall do the following:
36 (1) Prepare a plan to develop a market driven stackable
37 credentials and qualifications framework. The plan must:
38 (A) identify at least three (3) priority employment sectors;
39 (B) outline, based on collaboration with each priority
40 employment sector, the:
41 (i) knowledge and skills necessary for an employee to
42 enter each employment sector; and
2025 IN 448—LS 7503/DI 110 3
1 (ii) knowledge and skills necessary for an employee to
2 advance in the employee's career within each priority
3 employment sector; and
4 (C) include recommendations regarding employer
5 identified programs and systems that must be developed at
6 the secondary and postsecondary education levels to equip
7 individuals with the knowledge and skills described in
8 clause (B).
9 (2) Submit the plan prepared under subdivision (1) to the
10 general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
11 (b) This section expires July 1, 2026.
12 SECTION 3. IC 21-18-9-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.101-2012,
13 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
14 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the commission
15 may shall approve or disapprove the:
16 (1) establishment of any new branches, regional or other
17 campuses, or extension centers;
18 (2) establishment of any new college or school; or
19 (3) offering of any proposed or existing:
20 (A) associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree; or
21 (B) program leading to a certificate or other indication of
22 accomplishment.
23 (b) Before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or
24 program under subsection (a)(3), a state educational institution
25 shall provide, and the commission shall consider, the following with
26 regard to the degree or program:
27 (1) The proposed curriculum.
28 (2) The labor market supply and demand.
29 (3) The current or projected:
30 (A) enrollment;
31 (B) completion and completion rate;
32 (C) program cost;
33 (D) total student debt and average monthly student debt;
34 (E) job placement rate;
35 (F) graduate retention rate; and
36 (G) estimated:
37 (i) starting compensation;
38 (ii) compensation three (3) years after graduation;
39 (iii) compensation five (5) years after graduation; and
40 (iv) compensation ten (10) years after graduation.
41 (4) The opportunity for embedded, stackable degrees and
42 credentials.
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1 (5) An experiential or work based learning requirement.
2 (6) Options for veterans to receive credit for military service.
3 (7) Options for credit for prior workforce experience with
4 Indiana based employers.
5 (8) Options for accelerated degree delivery.
6 (9) Defined pathways for high school, returning, and adult
7 students.
8 (10) The opportunity to advise students on and connect
9 students with employment opportunities.
10 (c) A state educational institution shall provide the information
11 described in subsection (b) in the manner and form prescribed by
12 the commission.
13 SECTION 4. IC 21-18-9-5.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
14 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
15 1, 2025]: Sec. 5.5. (a) For a degree or program approved under
16 section 5 of this chapter before July 1, 2025, the commission shall
17 review the degree or program for approval or disapproval not
18 later than July 1, 2035.
19 (b) After the review under subsection (a) for degrees and
20 programs described in subsection (a) and for any degree or
21 program approved under section 5 after June 30, 2025, the
22 commission shall review each degree and program for approval or
23 disapproval at least one (1) time every ten (10) years.
24 (c) The commission shall do the following:
25 (1) Outline a process for degree or program monitoring,
26 improvement, suspension, and closure.
27 (2) Publish quantitative information on a dashboard that is
28 available to the public to ensure accountability and
29 transparency.
30 (3) Publish a credit for prior learning inventory, including
31 information provided under section 5(b)(8) and 5(b)(9) of this
32 chapter.
33 SECTION 5. IC 21-40-6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
34 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
35 1, 2025]:
36 Chapter 6. Enrollment Requirements Regarding Residents of
37 Indiana
38 Sec. 1. This chapter applies beginning with the class of students
39 who enter a state educational institution as freshmen during the
40 2026-2027 academic year.
41 Sec. 2. At least fifty percent (50%) of the students in a freshman
42 class at a state educational institution must be residents of Indiana,
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1 as determined by the commission for higher education.
2 Sec. 3. The commission for higher education shall annually do
3 the following:
4 (1) Prepare recommendations regarding the percentage of
5 students described in section 2 of this chapter that state
6 educational institutions should enroll to meet workforce
7 demands.
8 (2) Submit the recommendations prepared under subdivision
9 (1) to the following:
10 (A) The governor.
11 (B) The legislative council in an electronic format under
12 IC 5-14-6.
2025 IN 448—LS 7503/DI 110