KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB1278 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning professions and occupations.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning professions and occupations.

Education
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Brad Barrett
Last action
2026-03-04
Official status
Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the limits of enrollment increases or what happens if a school reaches capacity.

Nursing Education and Board Recommendations

This law changes when the Indiana State Nurses Association must recommend qualified nurses to the governor for the board of nursing and allows long-standing nursing schools to increase their student numbers.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Indiana State Nurses Association to recommend a list of qualified nurses to the governor whenever there is a vacancy or expiration of a term on the board of nursing, not just when there is a vacancy.
  • Allows institutions that have been operating an eligible nursing program for at least five years to increase enrollment in any rate they consider appropriate.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Indiana State Nurses Association
  • Nursing schools and colleges in Indiana

Terms To Know

board of nursing
A group that oversees nursing practices and education in Indiana.
eligible nursing program
A nursing school or course approved by the state to train nurses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify how many more students nursing programs can take.
  • It is unclear if there are limits on how often schools can increase their enrollment.
  • The bill text does not explain what happens if a school wants to grow but has reached its capacity.

Amendments

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

HB1278.02.COMH.AMS02

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Shelli Yoder

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds new requirements for graduate programs in Indiana.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code that requires graduate programs to meet certain standards.
  • The specific details of what these standards are and how they will be enforced are not provided in the amendment text.
HB1278.01.INTR.AMH01

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Brad Barrett

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to add new requirements for the Board of Nursing.

  • Adds new duties and responsibilities for the Indiana Board of Nursing.
  • The specific details about what new duties and responsibilities are added are not provided in the official text, making it unclear exactly how the amendment will change current practices.
HB1278.03.COMS.AMS001

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator Justin Busch

Passed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to add new requirements for certain professionals.

  • Adds new rules for specific professions in Indiana.
  • The official text does not provide details about which professions or what specific new requirements are added, making it hard to explain further.
HB1278.03.COMS.AMS002

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator Mike Bohacek

Failed

Plain English: This amendment proposes to add new requirements for certain professionals in Indiana.

  • Adds new rules for specific professions under the Indiana Code.
  • The official text does not provide details about which professions or what specific new requirements are being proposed, making it hard to explain further changes concretely.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-04 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-04 House

    Public Law 89

  3. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  4. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  5. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  6. 2026-02-25 House

    Joint Rule 15 Certification

  7. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Returned to the House with amendments

  8. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 187: yeas 45, nays 0

  9. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Reread second time: amended, ordered engrossed

  10. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Amendment #1 (Busch) prevailed; voice vote

  11. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Senator Randolph added as cosponsor

  12. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Senator Yoder added as cosponsor

  13. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Placed back on second reading

  14. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  15. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senator Ford J.D. added as cosponsor

  16. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  17. 2026-02-02 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services

  18. 2026-01-29 House

    Referred to the Senate

  19. 2026-01-28 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 128: yeas 94, nays 0

  20. 2026-01-28 House

    Senate sponsors: Senators Busch, Charbonneau, Jackson L

  21. 2026-01-22 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  22. 2026-01-20 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  23. 2026-01-20 House

    Representatives Ledbetter, Isa, Shackleford added as coauthors

  24. 2026-01-06 House

    Authored by Representative Barrett

  25. 2026-01-06 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Public Health

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning professions and occupations.
Nursing matters; education programs.

Current Bill Text

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

Nursing matters; education programs.

Requires the Indiana State Nurses Association, any time there is a vacancy or expiration of a term on the board of nursing, to recommend to the governor a list of qualified nurses for appointment. (Current law requires the Indiana State Nurses Association to recommend the list when there is a vacancy on the board.) Allows an institution that has been operating an eligible nursing program for at least five years to increase the enrollment in any eligible nursing program at any rate the institution considers appropriate.