HB 1262

                                                            Introduced Version
           HOUSE BILL No. 1262
                 _____
              DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-19-3-39.
Synopsis: Report on civics education. Requires, not later than October
1, 2026, the department of education to: (1) prepare a report that
includes information and recommendations, as applicable, regarding
certain civics curriculum, initiatives, and assessments and certain
longitudinal methodologies; and (2) submit the report to the general
assembly. Establishes requirements regarding the preparation of the
report.
Effective: July 1, 2026.
                                  Jeter
   January 5, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
2026  IN 1262—LS 6870/DI 110
                                                                                       Introduced
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 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 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
                   HOUSE BILL No. 1262
    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
 education.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1    SECTION 1. IC 20-19-3-39 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2026]: Sec. 39. (a) Not later than October 1, 2026, the
4 department shall do the following:
5     (1) Prepare a report that includes information and, as
6     applicable, recommendations regarding the following:
7(A) Indiana's kindergarten through grade 12 civics
8education curriculum and practice.
9(B) Work based learning, co-curricular, and
10extracurricular civics education initiatives.
11(C) Assessments that are used to evaluate a student's
12preparedness to understand, monitor, and interact with
13local, state, and federal government operations.
14(D) Longitudinal methodologies to evaluate the
15effectiveness of Indiana's civics based curriculum,
16initiatives, and assessments in preparing students for
17Indiana citizenship.
 2026  IN 1262—LS 6870/DI 110
                                  2
1      (2) Submit the report prepared under subdivision (1) to the
2      general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
3    (b) In preparing the report under subsection (a)(1), the
4 department shall consult with and consider the perspectives and
5 opinions of stakeholders, including the following:
6      (1) Indiana based organizations dedicated to civics education.
7      (2) Educators responsible for civics instruction in schools in
8      Indiana.
9      (3) Both elected and appointed officials at the state and local
10      levels in all branches of government.
11    (c) The department may contract with a third party to prepare
12 the report required under this section.
13    (d) This section expires January 1, 2027.
 2026  IN 1262—LS 6870/DI 110