House Bill 1059 – Commercial Advertising on School Buses

This bill would allow school corporations to display commercial advertising on school buses if the local governing body adopts a compliant policy. Advertisements would be limited to the rear quarter panels of the bus, with a maximum of two ads per bus and size restrictions of 36 inches in height and 90 inches in length. School corporations must establish content guidelines, and although the bill includes certain content restrictions, these requirements are not highly prescriptive. HB 1059 has been assigned to the Committee on Education and is currently awaiting its first hearing.

 Senate Bill 62 – Firearm Possession by a Child

Senate Bill 62 renames the offense as “unlawful possession of a firearm by a child” and creates an enhanced penalty (a Level 5 felony) when the offense occurs on school property, within 500 feet of school property, or on a school bus. The bill is aimed at addressing incidents involving children bringing or leaving firearms on buses or school grounds. It has been assigned to the Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law and is currently in committee.

Senate Bill 86 – Local Transportation Boards & Charter Schools

SB 86 updates the structure and function of local transportation boards formed to coordinate transportation among public, non-public, and charter schools. It requires boards to have an odd number of members, with at least five minimum. The bill also amends several sections of Indiana Code 20‑27 (the primary school transportation statute) to clarify which provisions apply to charter schools. Under this proposal, charter schools would fall under certain transportation requirements when their students reside within district boundaries, though the bill does not necessarily require districts to provide transportation directly. SB 86 is assigned to the Committee on Education and Career Development and remains in committee.

 Legislative Process & Current Status

All three bills are in early stages, currently sitting in their respective committees awaiting hearings and votes. The standard legislative process will include committee hearings, committee votes, floor debate in each chamber, and potential amendments. With this session expected to conclude by the end of February, outcomes remain uncertain.

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