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HB1086 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Michelle Davis
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on what happens if someone breaks the rule or how it affects schools and students in practice, leaving these points as limits and unknowns.

Adding the Ten Commandments to Protected Writings

This bill adds the Ten Commandments to a list of protected writings and documents in Indiana, but it also stops teachers and principals from reading them aloud when students are present.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds the Ten Commandments to a list of protected writings, documents, and records.
  • Prohibits school principals or teachers from reading the Ten Commandments out loud when there are students around.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Schools and school staff, like principals and teachers
  • Students who attend Indiana schools

Terms To Know

Protected Writings
Important documents or writings that the law says must be treated with care.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone breaks the rule about reading the Ten Commandments aloud.
  • It is unclear how adding the Ten Commandments to protected writings will affect schools and students in practice.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1086.01.INTR.AMH04

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Robert Behning

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the Indiana Code that defines and protects certain types of educational materials.

  • Adds a definition for 'protected writings' in the Indiana Code, which refers to specific educational documents or records.
  • The exact nature and scope of what constitutes 'protected writings' is not detailed in the amendment text provided, making it unclear exactly which materials are protected.
  • It's uncertain how this new definition will be applied or enforced without further details.
HB1086.02.COMH.AMH001

Filed House Bill (H) • Representative Michelle Davis

Failed

Plain English: This amendment would add a new requirement for schools to report certain information about students with disabilities.

  • Schools must report the number of students with disabilities who are suspended or expelled, and the reasons why.
  • The exact details on how this reporting will be implemented and what specific data needs to be collected are not provided in the amendment text.
HB1086.02.COMH.AMH002

Filed House Bill (H) • Representative Michelle Davis

Failed

Plain English: This amendment would add a new requirement for schools to report certain information about students with disabilities.

  • Schools must report the number of students with disabilities who are suspended or expelled, and the reasons why.
  • The exact details on how this reporting will be implemented and what specific data needs to be collected are not provided in the amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  2. 2026-01-27 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  3. 2026-01-05 House

    Authored by Representative Davis

  4. 2026-01-05 House

    Coauthored by Representatives Prescott, Smith H, Teshka

  5. 2026-01-05 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Education

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.
Ten Commandments as a protected writing.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

Ten Commandments as a protected writing.

Includes the Ten Commandments on a list of protected writings, documents, and records. Provides that a principal or teacher may not read the Ten Commandments aloud when students are present.