Jeff Butts, the new executive director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, delivered a rapid-fire rundown Thursday of 17 education-related bills pending in the General Assembly, which has four days left before adjournment.
Butts spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the School of Education at Indiana University Northwest in Gary.
Dr. Jeff Butts, new Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, was the keynote speaker at the NWI Superintendents’ Forum at IU Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)
For many local school chiefs, it marked the first time they met Butts, who began his new role last month after serving as superintendent at Wayne Township schools in Marion County. He serves as a lobbyist for the association in the General Assembly, sending frequent updates on bills.
Overall, he said 76 House and Senate bills impacted education.
The fate of many bills is still uncertain, including Senate Bill 76, a contentious measure that could see schools facing punishment for failing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The bill cleared both chambers, but the House amended it so it heads back to the Senate on Monday for a concurrence vote.
Dr. Jeff Butts, new Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, was the keynote speaker at the NWI Superintendents’ Forum at IU Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)
The bill compels public universities and local governments, including schools, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
Schools traditionally were treated as “safe havens” from immigration enforcement. That changed last year when the Trump administration rescinded the policy.
The state attorney general could fine schools and cities $10,000 for not complying, under the bill’s provisions.
“It does have an impact to change the safe haven that our schools have become and our ability to work directly with law enforcement…” Butts told school administrators.
Dr. Jeff Butts, the new Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, addresses the audience as he was the keynote speaker at the NWI Superintendents’ Forum at IU Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)Dr. Jeff Butts, the new Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, addresses the audience as he was the keynote speaker at the NWI Superintendents’ Forum at IU Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)
Schools previously allowed law enforcement officers into the school if they showed a judicial warrant. U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) can now show an administrative warrant issued by one of its local offices, under the bill.
An ICE office is being set up in Carmel, just outside Indianapolis.
“It does not have to go through the judicial system,” Butts said. “Keep an eye on it,” he said, referring to the bill.
An amendment from Rep. Ed Delaney, D-Indianapolis, that would have exempted schools from the bill’s requirements failed in the GOP-dominated House.
Dr. Jeff Butts, new Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, was the keynote speaker at the NWI Superintendents’ Forum at IU Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)
Butts also highlighted Senate Bill 199, a multi-pronged bill that sets out restrictions on social media for children and requires universities to eliminate degree programs that don’t meet a certain income threshold.
Butts said the bill could be drawing pushback from Meta, which announced last week it’s building a $10 billion data center in Lebanon, north of Indianapolis.
“You can imagine a company that just announced a $10 billion investment in the LEAP district in Lebanon doesn’t like this bill very much,” Butts said.
Meta’s core platforms include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
The bill requires parental permission for children 17 and younger to use social media providers such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
The bill’s supporters say social media algorithms make kids addicted to sites and compromise their safety and well-being.
The bill has passed both chambers with amendments.
Butts’ former district launched a bell-to-bell cell phone ban last year, and he said it increased classroom engagement and reduced disciplinary incidents.
There’s now a statewide bell-to-bell ban proposed in Senate Bill 78 that’s passed both chambers.
Originally, the bill required schools to purchase a device to hold the phone, disabling it from use. The superintendents’ organization and the Indiana School Boards Association argued against creating another expense for schools and they prevailed.
“We were able to get the bill to a good place,” Butts said.
Under the current provisions, a cell phone can be stored in a locker or a backpack, but it’s off-limits during the school day.
Not all education-related bills survived, although it’s possible they could be inserted into other bills before the legislature adjourns at the end of February.
Butts said Senate Bill 182 would have limited recognition to two sexes determined at birth, leaving transgender people to use a public restroom based on their sex at birth.
The bill passed the Senate but wasn’t heard in the House.
Butts said House Bill 1137, which would ban schools from serving “ultra processed” food and drink if the food contained one or more of the 13 ingredients listed in the bill.
The list included red dye 40, often used by turkey and pork farmers who pushed back against the bill, Butts said.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
