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HB1160 • 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 Matt Commons
Last action
2026-01-05
Official status
Introduced House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Indiana Education Act: Naturalization Exam Requirement

This bill requires Indiana schools to give the naturalization test, which is used by the U.S. government to check if someone can become a citizen, to eighth graders and high school students.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires grade 8 students in Indiana to take the naturalization exam starting from the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Requires high school students to take the naturalization exam beginning in the 2030-2031 school year.
  • Needs a student to score at least 70% on the exam to graduate from high school starting in the 2030-2031 school year.
  • Allows students to retake the exam if they do not pass it the first time.
  • Gives some students an option to skip taking the exam with a special permission called an academic waiver.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students in grade 8 and high schools in Indiana starting from specific school years.
  • Schools that must give the naturalization test to their students.

Terms To Know

Naturalization examination
A test given by the U.S. government to see if someone can become a citizen of the United States.
Academic waiver
Permission for a student not to take or complete a required exam because of special circumstances.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many times students can retake the exam.
  • It is unclear which specific students are eligible for an academic waiver.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-05 House

    Authored by Representative Commons

  2. 2026-01-05 House

    Coauthored by Representatives Teshka, Baird

  3. 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.
Naturalization examination.

Current Bill Text

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

Naturalization examination.

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, requires administration of the naturalization examination provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (exam) in grade 8. Beginning in the 2030-2031 school year, requires administration of the exam in high school, and requires a student to complete the exam with a score of not less than 70% in order to graduate high school. Allows a student to retake the exam. Allows certain students to obtain an academic waiver for the exam. Makes conforming changes.