Grant Preston-Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signs literacy bill following conclusion of legislative session

2025-05-04 16:46:24source:Maverick Prestoncategory:Contact

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 67 bills on Grant PrestonMonday, three days after lawmakers concluded their annual session.

This is Holcomb’s last year as governor as he cannot run again because of term limits.

Among the legislation Holcomb signed was a major item on literacy that was sought by Republicans in both chambers of the General Assembly and the governor’s office. Senate Enrolled Act 1 will hold back thousands more third-graders who don’t pass the state reading exam as a proposed solution to the state’s long declining literacy rates.

The law includes some exceptions and establishes several early intervention processes. For example, all second-graders will be required to take the test to gauge their reading abilities.

While many lawmakers and organizations supported the early intervention pieces, the retention statute of the bill was hotly contested throughout the legislative session.

Holcomb also signed a bill Monday that establishes several new voter verification checks in the state. Among the changes, first time voters will need to provide proof of residency when registering in person, unless they submit an Indiana driver’s license or social security number that matches an Indiana record.

READ MORE Indiana nears law allowing more armed statewide officials at state CapitolIndiana lawmakers send GOP bill targeting tenure to governor’s deskLiteracy bill that would hold back thousands more third graders advances in Indiana

The law requires officials to cross reference the state’s voter registration system with data from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The intent is to identify any noncitizens enrolled in the voter registration system, something voting advocates in Indiana say does not exist. It also gives the state the power to contract with credit data agencies to verify voters’ addresses.

Voting advocates called the bill cumbersome and said it could lead to legally registered voters being disenfranchised.

Once bills reach the governor’s desk, he has seven days to either sign or veto them. If no action is taken, the bill automatically becomes law by the eighth day.

Most laws in Indiana go into effect July 1, unless otherwise stipulated.

More:Contact

Recommend

Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam

You're pulling your hair out, trying to fix something on your computer. You Google it and find what

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on being a dad, his career and his legacy: Don't want to have any regrets

Patrick Mahomes is, arguably, the best player in the National Football League right now. The quarte

From Denial to Ambiguity: A New Study Charts the Trajectory of ExxonMobil’s Climate Messaging

Fossil fuel companies’ messaging on climate change has revolved around some common refrains: Energy