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Bill Summary · HB 1158

Summary of HB 1158 (Indiana, 2026 Session) — Positive Personal Outcomes

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill adds explicit instruction in public schools that highlights the positive personal and societal outcomes associated with three specific milestones: obtaining a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential, securing full-time employment, and waiting until marriage to begin having children.
  • Effective date: July 1, 2026.
  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Indiana House Committee on Education.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Expansion of Good Citizenship Instruction (IC 20-30-5-6):

    • The existing framework for “good citizenship instruction” is amended to include explicit emphasis on:
    • Honest and truthful behavior.
    • Respect for authority and others’ property.
    • Personal best effort and non-violence in resolving disputes.
    • Personal responsibility to family and the community.
    • Responsibility for earning a livelihood.
    • Respect for others’ rights to hold different views and religious beliefs.
    • A dedicated focus on the positive personal and societal outcomes tied to:
      • Earning a high school diploma or equivalency.
      • Securing full-time employment.
      • Waiting until marriage to begin having children.
    • The rest of the listed components cover character education and civics-like themes (e.g., respect for the flag and state/national constitutions, respect for parents and one’s own self, etc.).

  • Implementation supports:

    • The Department of Education must identify and make available models of conflict resolution instruction that align with the updated good citizenship framework.
    • The instruction models may be provided as part of teacher education programs to help school corporations implement the updated requirements.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Primary Beneficiaries: Public schools in Indiana, specifically their curricula and teacher preparation programs.
  • Students: All students subject to public school instruction, who will receive enhanced good citizenship education that now includes the three specified outcomes as key components of civic and personal development.
  • Educators and School Corporations: Responsible for integrating the updated instruction and potentially adapting curricula and professional development to align with the new emphasis and conflict-resolution models.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2026.
  • Implementation Plan:
    • Department of Education to identify and provide models for conflict resolution instruction.
    • Models may be delivered through or incorporated into teacher education programs to support school corporations in complying with the updated requirements.
  • Fiscal/Local Impact:
    • Local school districts may experience a short-term increase in instructional planning and curriculum adjustment workload.
    • The fiscal note indicates no additional state appropriations are required; the changes are to be implemented within existing resources, though districts may need to reorganize or expand professional development and curriculum materials in the near term.

Fiscal Considerations (Summary)

  • State Expenditures: Not explicitly increased; no new appropriations cited.
  • Local Expenditures: Potential short-term workload and curriculum development costs for public schools; the bill notes these changes can be implemented without additional funding.
  • Revenue/Other Impacts: Not specified beyond local workload considerations.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a particular audience (e.g., policymakers, educators, or the general public) or add a comparison with prior statutory language on good citizenship instruction.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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