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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SB138 • 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
Senator Stacey Donato
Last action
2026-01-05
Official status
Introduced Senate Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

School Chaplains in Indiana

This bill allows public schools and charter schools to hire or approve volunteers as school chaplains who can offer both secular and nonsecular support services, with some conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows principals and superintendents of public schools and charter schools to employ or approve school chaplains if they meet certain requirements.
  • Permits school chaplains to provide advice, guidance, and support that can be either secular (non-religious) or nonsecular (religious), but only under specific conditions for religious services.
  • Ensures that conversations between students and school chaplains are private and protected from being shared with others.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public schools, including charter schools
  • Principals and superintendents of these schools
  • School chaplains hired or approved by the schools

Terms To Know

Secular
Relating to everyday life without involving religious beliefs.
Nonsecular
Involving religious beliefs and practices.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what the requirements are for hiring or approving school chaplains.
  • It is unclear how schools will decide when to allow nonsecular services from chaplains.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-05 Senate

    Authored by Senator Donato

  2. 2026-01-05 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Education and Career Development

Official Summary Text

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

Current Bill Text

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

School chaplains.

Allows a principal or superintendent of a public school, including a charter school, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain if certain requirements are met. Allows a school chaplain to provide: (1) secular advice, guidance, and support services; and (2) nonsecular advice, guidance, and support services if certain conditions are met. Provides that, with exceptions, communications made by a student to a school chaplain are privileged and confidential.