Senate Bill
SB 161
Education matters.
In plain English
Requires the Indiana department of education to choose to take part in the federal tax credit scholarship program for elementary and secondary education. Requires the governor and the department of workforce development to set up a process to identify and recognize eligible workforce training programs, and to keep state rules in line with federal workforce Pell grant rules, and makes other changes.
Written by AI from the official digest below, and checked only by automated rules. If they differ, the official digest and bill text control.
Official digest
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.
Latest action: Representative Davis added as cosponsor, February 12, 2026Full text and history at iga.in.gov
Authors and sponsors
Jeff Raatz, Linda Rogers, Chris Garten, Bob Behning
Co-authors and co-sponsors: Julie McGuire, Michelle Davis
Roll-call votes
1 recorded vote, oldest first. Third-reading votes decide whether a bill passes a chamber; amendment votes and procedural motions are listed too.
Senate · Jan 26, 2026
Third reading: vote to pass
Roll call text: SB 161 - Raatz - 3rd Reading
Passed
42 yes2 no5 did not vote
Republicans: 37 yes, 0 no, 2 did not voteDemocrats: 5 yes, 2 no, 3 did not vote
How each member voted
Yes (42)
- Aaron Freeman (R)
- Blake Doriot (R)
- Brett Clark (R)
- Brian Buchanan (R)
- Chris Garten (R)
- Cyndi Carrasco (R)
- Dan Dernulc (R)
- Daryl Schmitt (R)
- David Niezgodski (D)
- Ed Charbonneau (R)
- Eric Koch (R)
- Fady Qaddoura (D)
- Gary Byrne (R)
- Greg Goode (R)
- Greg Taylor (D)
- Greg Walker (R)
- Jean Leising (R)
- Jeff Raatz (R)
- Jim Buck (R)
- Jim Tomes (R)
- Justin Busch (R)
- Kyle Walker (R)
- Linda Rogers (R)
- Liz Brown (R)
- Mark Spencer (D)
- Michael Crider (R)
- Mike Bohacek (R)
- Mike Gaskill (R)
- Mike Young (R)
- Randy Maxwell (R)
- Rick Niemeyer (R)
- Rod Bray (R)
- Rodney Pol (D)
- Ron Alting (R)
- Ryan Mishler (R)
- Scott Alexander (R)
- Scott Baldwin (R)
- Spencer Deery (R)
- Stacey Donato (R)
- Sue Glick (R)
- Travis Holdman (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
No (2)
- Andrea Hunley (D)
- Shelli Yoder (D)
Did not vote (5)
- Eric Bassler (R)
- J.D. Ford (D)
- La Keisha Jackson (D)
- Lonnie Randolph (D)
- Vaneta Becker (R)
Source: Open States, compiled from the Indiana General Assembly's official roll calls. The official record at iga.in.gov controls. Spot an error? Let us know.