By Sydney Kokinis, Press Secretary—
INDIANAPOLIS —Last week, the Indiana General Assembly (IGA) officially started the 2025 legislative session. State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) has filed bills aimed at addressing key issues in education, wage transparency and environmental sustainability.
House Bill (HB) 1296 seeks to enhance the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. This bill would require the Department of Education (DOE) to establish guidelines and model policies for AI use in schools, create an inventory of AI platforms with detailed information on their capabilities, and implement a review process for teachers and school administrators to submit AI platforms for inclusion in the inventory.
Another piece of legislation, HB 1300, addresses wage transparency and aims to reduce pay disparities. Under this bill, employers would be prohibited from using an applicant’s previous wage history to determine their salary, with certain exceptions. It also mandates that employers disclose wage ranges for positions, ensuring a more equitable and transparent hiring process.
HB 1302 targets environmental concerns by limiting the use of single-use plastics in restaurants and third-party food delivery services. This bill would require these businesses to only provide non-plastic single-use items, such as straws, condiments and utensils when explicitly requested by customers.
House Joint Resolution (HJR) 2 would allow Indiana voters to propose changes to the Constitution of the State of Indiana and state statutes without needing approval from the IGA. Indiana voters would then be able to vote on constitutional amendments, in the same way as Ohio voters can, on issues such as abortion.
A full list of Errington’s legislation is below:
- HB 1295 Licensed electrologists
- HB 1296 Artificial intelligence inventory and policies
- HB 1297 Motor vehicle medical information program
- HB 1298 Contraceptive coverage
- HB 1300 Wage history and wage range
- HB 1301 Utility votes at RTO meetings
- HB 1302 Restriction on single-use food service items
- HB 1303 Sexual health education
- HB 1527 State efficiency standards
- HJR 2 Initiatives and referendums
Errington released the following statement regarding her legislative agenda:
“I am proud to introduce legislation that addresses some of the most pressing issues facing our communities today. From tackling environmental challenges and protecting applicants from wage disparities to leading the way on responsible AI usage in schools, these bills reflect my commitment to fostering a fairer, safer and more sustainable future for all. We must not only recognize the potential benefits of AI but also understand and mitigate its risks. We must support our educators, administrators and students with the tools and training they need to navigate this technology responsibly. Similarly, by promoting wage transparency and reducing reliance on outdated salary histories, we can work to close the wage gap and ensure fairness in hiring practices for all Hoosier workers.”
Listen to Sue’s interview on WMUN radio, broadcast on January 21, 2025.
