Indiana · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 161: Education matters.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 161 is a bill introduced in the Indiana Senate on January 5, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Education matters. Primary sponsor: Jeff Raatz (Republican), Linda Rogers (Republican), Chris Garten (Republican), Bob Behning (Republican). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 12, 2026): Representative Davis added as cosponsor.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Requires the Indiana department of education to elect to participate as a covered state in the federal tax credit scholarship program for elementary and secondary education under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code (enacted in Public Law 119-21, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025). Makes conforming changes to the school scholarship tax credit in current law. Requires the governor and the department of workforce development, in consultation with the commission for higher education, to: (1) establish a process to identify eligible workforce training programs; (2) establish a process for institutions and programs to apply for recognition as an eligible workforce training program; (3) coordinate certain workforce training matters; and (4) require eligible workforce training programs to provide certain datasets to the department. Provides that the department of workforce development must maintain alignment with federal rules governing workforce Pell grants.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 6
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Raatz | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 27 |
| Linda Rogers | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 11 |
| Chris Garten | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 45 |
| Bob Behning | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 91 |
| Michelle Davis | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 58 |
| Julie McGuire | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 93 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Representative Davis added as cosponsor
- Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
- Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
- First reading: referred to Committee on Education
- Referred to the House
- Cosponsor: Representative McGuire
- House sponsor: Representative Behning
- Third reading: passed; Roll Call 74: yeas 42, nays 2
- Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
- Amendment #1 (Raatz) prevailed; voice vote
- Committee report: do pass, adopted
- Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy
Showing 12 most recent of 15 actions. Full history