Various education matters. Provides that the department of education (department) is the proper authority to accept federal funds appropriated to aid in the education of children with disabilities (current law provides that the state board of education is the proper authority). Removes the member of the Indiana Transportation Association from the list of nonvoting members on the state school bus committee. Provides that an individual seeking an initial practitioners license through an alternative certification path must successfully complete an applicable teacher licensing exam as approved by the state board of education (board) (current law requires the successful completion of a Praxis Subject Assessment). Provides that summer school funding may be differentiated based on the course or length of time of the program. Moves the establishment of the division of special education from the board to the department. Changes certain duties for the secretary of education and the director of special education. Provides that the department may suspend or terminate the certification of a scholarship granting organization if the department establishes that the organization has not granted a scholarship within certain time frames.

Veteran service officers. Makes changes to the duties of the Indiana department of veterans' affairs commission (commission). Makes changes to the duties of the director of the department of veterans' affairs (department). Requires, before January 1, 2026, the commission to establish and maintain certain standards for the state accreditation program. Requires, after June 30, 2026, each service officer employed by a county or city to maintain the accreditation standards to provide service on behalf of the county or city. Provides that a county executive shall employ a service officer and may employ service officer assistants. Provides, that with the approval of the commission, two or more counties may enter into an agreement to employ a service officer if each county demonstrates to the commission that the workload does not justify each county employing a separate county service officer. Requires every county or city official and department of the county or city to cooperate with the service officer and provide the service officer with information necessary in connection with the performance of the service officer's duties.

Water matters. Prohibits a water utility from constructing a long haul water pipeline unless the water utility first obtains a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) from the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC). Sets forth specified information that an application for a CPCN must include. Sets forth specified findings that the IURC must make before granting a CPCN. Sets forth conditions under which a water utility may recover through rates the actual costs the water utility incurs in reliance on a CPCN issued by the IURC. Provides that a person that transfers, sells, or leases a long haul water pipeline must provide written notice to the IURC of the transfer, sale, or lease not later than 60 days after the transfer, sale, or lease is finalized. Prohibits a person that transfers or proposes to transfer: (1) more than an annual average of 30,000,000 gallons of water per day out of a basin; or (2) water from a restricted use area; from transferring water out of a basin, or supplying water to another person that the person knows will transfer more than 100,000 gallons of water out of a basin, without first obtaining a transfer permit from the department of natural resources (department). Sets forth specified information that must be included in an application for a transfer permit. Provides that a transfer permit is required for an existing or ongoing interbasin transfer (as of July 1, 2025) if the existing or ongoing transfer exceeds the capacity of any system engaged in the interbasin transfer in any 90 day period. Provides that the department shall approve an application for a permit if the department determines that the transfer: (1) will not result in a perennial overdraft of a ground water resource or in a perennial stream flow depletion; and (2) is in the public interest, as described in the Indiana Code section concerning beneficial uses of Indiana's surface water resources. Provides that a transfer permit: (1) does not expire; and (2) may be renewed, revoked, suspended, or modified in certain circumstances. Provides that the department may assess a civil penalty for violations of these provisions.

Health care service provider employees. Requires a home health agency or personal services agency to run a criminal background check on certain employees on an annual basis. Increases the judgment against a home health agency or personal services agency when an employee who has been convicted of a crime prohibiting the individual's employment by the home health agency or personal services agency provides care that results in the death of a patient or client.

Crimes against health care providers. Defines "health care provider". Provides that the offense of battery is a Level 6 felony if it is committed against a health care provider, and a Level 5 felony if it is committed against a health care provider by placing bodily fluids or waste on the health care provider.

Regulation of homeschooling. Requires a parent who withdraws the parent's chronically absent child from a public school in order to homeschool the child to: (1) present to the school from which the child is withdrawing a plan regarding the curriculum and courses the child will complete while homeschooled; (2) meet with the superintendent of the school from which the child is withdrawing not less than two times each semester for the first full school year in which the student is homeschooled to provide a progress report; and (3) meet with the superintendent not less than two times annually for each subsequent school year. Requires a superintendent to designate a homeschooled student as a habitual truant and report the student to an intake officer of the juvenile court or the department of child services and the prosecuting attorney under certain conditions. Requires a superintendent to provide the parent of a homeschooled student with a notice of compulsory attendance violation under certain conditions.

Absenteeism and student discipline. Defines "chronically absent". Requires the department of education (department) to do the following: (1) Create a list of best practices to reduce student discipline and absenteeism. (2) Study and prepare a report regarding the basis for the categorization of certain suspensions and expulsions. (3) Establish a categorization framework for excused absences based on the reason for the absence. (4) Collect certain information regarding absences from school corporations and charter schools and prepare and post a report regarding the information on the department's website. Provides that the absence policy adopted by the governing body of a school corporation must provide for the categorization of excused absences in accordance with the categorization framework established by the department. Allows a prosecuting attorney to conduct a meeting, collaborate, and make reasonable efforts to secure appropriate support services for a child and the child's family before filing an affidavit with regard to a violation of compulsory school attendance requirements. Amends the definition of "absent student" for purposes of the truancy prevention policy provisions. Requires a public school to hold an attendance conference not later than 10 instructional days (instead of five instructional days) after the student's fifth absence. Prohibits a public school from expelling or suspending a student solely because the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant.

Annexation. With certain exceptions, requires a municipality that initiates an annexation to file with the court an annexation petition approved by the signatures of: (1) at least 51% of the owners of land not exempt from property taxes in the annexation territory; or (2) the owners of at least 75% in assessed valuation of land not exempt from property taxes in the annexation territory. Requires the court to hold a hearing if the petition has the necessary signatures. Adds provisions for determining the validity of signatures. Provides that a landowner may enter into an agreement to consent to a future annexation in certain circumstances. Eliminates the following: (1) Remonstrances and remonstrance waivers. (2) Reimbursement of remonstrator's attorney's fees and costs. (3) Adoption of a fiscal plan for voluntary annexations requested by 100% of landowners in the annexation territory. (4) Settlement agreements in lieu of annexation. (5) Provisions regarding contiguity of a public highway.

PFAS water safety standards. Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to establish state maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in water provided by public water systems. Provides that maximum contaminant levels established by the state department: (1) must be protective of public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations; and (2) may not be less stringent than any maximum contaminant level or health advisory promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Supplemental structured family care distribution. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to distribute $6,000 to an individual if the individual's child or dependent received structured family caregiving services for at least three months during the 2024 calendar year. Makes an appropriation.

Bed bug remediation in rental units. Requires the tenant of a dwelling unit to notify the tenant's landlord if the tenant knows or reasonably suspects that the tenant's dwelling unit contains bed bugs. Requires the landlord, upon receiving the tenant's notice, to have the dwelling unit inspected by a qualified inspector. Requires the landlord, after receiving the inspection report, to provide to the tenant written notice indicating whether the dwelling unit contains bed bugs. Requires the landlord to begin taking reasonable measures to treat the bed bug presence if an inspection indicates the presence of bed bugs. Establishes responsibilities for the tenant and landlord concerning: (1) notice; (2) access to the dwelling unit; and (3) the payment of costs; associated with the inspection for, and treatment of, bed bugs. Authorizes the state chemist to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Requires the state chemist to establish requirements for the certification of a bed bug inspector.

Education matters. Requires the department of education (department), in collaboration with certain other state entities, to collect and maintain certain data and to publish on the department's website timely and relevant information about secondary education programs. Provides that the department shall administer and implement the comprehensive career navigation and coaching system developed by the commission for higher education and administer the career coaching grant fund (fund). Provides certain requirements for an eligible entity to receive a grant from the fund. Requires the department to prepare a report concerning career coaching and submit the report to the governor and general assembly. Requires the department of workforce development to update wage threshold data used to categorize career and technical education programs for use in the subsequent school year. Makes conforming changes.

Intimidation. Provides that intimidation is a Level 6 felony if the subject of the threat is a public school, a state accredited nonpublic school, or a charter school.

Health care facility employees. Provides an exception to one of the disqualifying conditions for a nurse aide or other unlicensed employee.

Medical marijuana. Establishes a medical marijuana program (program), and permits caregivers and patients who have received a physician recommendation to possess a certain quantity of marijuana for treatment of certain medical conditions. Establishes a regulatory agency to oversee the program, and creates the regulatory agency advisory committee to review the effectiveness of the program and to consider recommendations from the regulatory agency. Authorizes the regulatory agency to grant research licenses to research facilities with a physical presence in Indiana. Repeals the controlled substance excise tax and the marijuana eradication program. Makes conforming amendments.