After stalling in the Senate last year, lawmakers came into 2025 energized to enshrine House Bill 1217 into law. But after passing the House, the Senate, in dramatic fashion, lifted the cap from the initial 7% to 10% plus inflation and exempted many single-family homes entirely, moves advocates said “gutted” the proposal.

The partisan school board bill passed the Senate by one vote and heads to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk. The Senate voted 26-24 on Thursday to give final legislative approval to Senate Bill 287, which will require school board candidates to declare a political party when running in a general election.

The controversial school choice bill allows for taxpayer money to be used to help qualifying students pay for private school tuition.