Partisan school board election bill amended, passed out of Indiana House committee
Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, offered an amendment to Senate Bill 287 that mirrors a bill he authored, House Bill 1230, which he did not call for third reading by the House before the bill deadline in the first half of the session.
Senate Bill 287, authored by Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville, Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, and Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, would change the school board election process to that of other elections, which would include a primary and general election. The school board candidates would have to declare a party.
Under Prescott's amendment, which passed 8-4 along party lines, the primary election process was removed from the bill and stated that in the general election, a school board candidate can choose to be listed as a Republican, Democrat, independent or nonpartisan.
The amended bill also states that voting a straight-party ticket doesn't apply to school board races because candidates from multiple parties could run for the school board, Prescott said.
Under the amended bill, if a major party candidate leaves a vacancy on the board, the seat should be filled through caucus, Prescott said. If an independent or nonpartisan candidate leaves a vacancy on the board, the school board can replace that candidate, he said.
Prescott's amendment would maintain the original bill's requirement that school board members be paid up to 10% of the lowest starting salary of a teacher employed in the district, which would shift the current $2,000 payment.
Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, asked Prescott why he chose to substitute his bill for Senate Bill 287. Prescott said the Senate passed its bill, so 'we just made a decision just to consolidate to one bill.'
Rep. Timothy Wesco, R-Osceola, who chairs the committee, said he preferred the Senate version of the bill, but he 'reluctantly' voted in support of Prescott's amendment.
Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City, offered an amendment to the bill that would allow a school board candidate to submit a profile about their qualifications and experience, but couldn't include references to a political party, to be posted on a school district's website.
On the ballot, Boy's amendment would require school board candidates to be listed as nonpartisan on the ballot.
The amendment would also prohibit political action committees from making contributions to school board candidates, Boy said, and individuals could only donate $100 in a calendar year.
'This would eliminate the necessity for a primary election. It would also eliminate undue political influence on candidates, and it would make it very obvious to people who was running and what they were standing for,' Boy said. 'It would eliminate a lot of the problems that we've got with the original bill and with the process.'
Wesco said because the committee first approved Prescott's amendment, approving Boy's amendment 'would create a very conflicted piece of legislation.'
Errington said Boy's amendment addressed many of the concerns raised in testimony last week, including PACs donating to candidates and avoiding conflict with the Hatch Act, which prohibits state and local government employees from running for partisan political office.
Boy's amendment failed 9-4.
Last week, 42 people signed up to testify on the bill. Those against the bill stated it would polarize school boards and discourage people from running for school boards.
Those in favor of the bill stated school board races are already political and requiring school board members to list their political affiliation would be similar to the way county coroners, surveyors and other local candidates list their affiliation.
Juanita Albright, president of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees, said she supports the bill because it gives voters, who don't always research candidates, more information about who is on the ballot.
'A school board is inherently political, whether we want to admit it or not,' Albright said.
Warsaw Community Schools Board President Heather Reichenbach said board members focus on education and never discuss their party affiliation. The board does a good job, she said, because the board operates as an apolitical body.
The amended bill passed Wednesday 8-5, with Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, joining all Democrats on the committee in voting against it.
Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, said she voted against the bill because it sends the signal that partisanship is more important than educating students.
'The focus needs to be on kids,' Pryor said.
Pressel said he voted against the bill because he's received conflicting information about whether or not the bill would create a conflict with the Hatch Act.
'That concerns me a little bit,' Pressel said. 'I am going to vote no in committee, and I'll reserve the right to change my vote on the floor.'
The bill moves to the House for consideration.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
5 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Gavin Newsom Scores California Supreme Court Win In Redistricting Battle
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The California Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a challenge from Republican lawmakers aimed at blocking Governor Gavin Newsom's proposal to redistrict the state's congressional map. Republican lawmakers in California urged the state's highest court to intervene to pause Newsom's redistricting plan, arguing that Democrats bypassed a rule mandating a 30-day waiting period before voting on newly introduced legislation. But in a ruling on Wednesday, the court declined to act. "Petitioners have failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time under California Constitution article IV, section 8," the court said in an order. Newsom has positioned the move as a counter to the Republican-led redistricting in Texas, and has called for a November special election to let voters decide on a map designed to flip up to five Republican-held seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaking in Los Angeles last week. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaking in Los Angeles last is a developing story. More to follow.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Where the redistricting fight goes from here: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, a newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today's edition, Ben Kamisar takes a look at the states where the redistricting fight could spread to next after Texas and California. Plus, Andrea Mitchell reports on Israel's looming operation in Gaza City. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. — Adam Wollner Where the redistricting fight goes from here By Ben Kamisar After a weekslong delay caused by Democratic lawmakers who fled the state in protest, the Republican-controlled Texas House is now poised to pass a new congressional map that aims to pad the GOP's majority in the U.S. House by as many as five seats. The new lines will still need to be approved by the state Senate and Gov. Greg Abbott before they can be enacted ahead of next year's midterm elections. But that will only mark the first chapter in a redistricting battle that has spread across the country. Democratic lawmakers in California are advancing a plan this week that seeks to offset Texas's effort with a map of their own that would add as many as five seats to their party's ranks in the House. They will need voters to approve the new lines in a special election this fall to circumvent California's independent redistricting commission. The spotlight has been on Texas and California, given the swings in power that could result from their newly drawn lines. But a handful of other GOP-led states are considering their own redistricting pushes that could have major implications in the 2026 battle for the House, where Republicans currently hold a slim three-seat majority. Ohio: The Buckeye State is required to redraw its congressional lines by law because state lawmakers approved a 2021 map without Democratic support. The timing could work out well for Republicans, who control the Legislature. Two of Ohio's three Democratic House members won re-election last cycle by less than 3 points. Indiana: The state's entire Republican congressional delegation has in recent days lined up behind a redistricting effort that's been encouraged by the White House. The GOP already controls seven of the nine congressional seats in the Hoosier State. Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, hasn't said whether he plans to call for a special session of the Legislature to take up a new map. But Vice President JD Vance traveled to Indiana earlier this month to meet with Braun. Missouri: Republicans have been pushing Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special legislative session for redistricting in the Show Me State, where Republicans control six of eight House seats. Florida: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said this week that people can 'anticipate' a mid-decade redraw because there has been a 'sea change in demography' since the 2020 census. The GOP represents 20 of the Sunshine State's 28 congressional districts. Israel moves forward with plan to take over Gaza City By Andrea Mitchell Almost two years into the war in Gaza, Israel is calling up thousands of army reservists to gain control of the last major civilian area: Gaza City. Troops are already beginning to clear people from their tents on the outskirts of the city, home to as many as a million residents, and force them south. Sixty-thousand reservists will be involved in the offensive, and the service of 20,000 troops already deployed will be extended. This comes despite a rare public clash between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hand-picked army chief of staff, who had said that the military is exhausted and that the offensive would endanger surviving hostages. That point was emphasized to NBC News by Orna Neutra, whose son Omer is believed to have been killed during the Oct. 7 massacre. She told me if Israeli forces gets close to where Hamas is holding the remaining hostages, the militants won't hesitate to execute them. She and her husband have been pressing for a peace deal to get their son's remains returned. Her view reflects broad opposition by the Israeli public to expanding the war. On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis marched in a nationwide strike against Netanyahu's plans, the largest protest in Israel in years. As the world focuses on Gaza, Israel's government announced final approval of thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, where settlers have been escalating their attacks against Palestinian residents. Rapidly becoming a tinderbox, the new settlements had been on hold for years because of opposition from the Arab world, European leaders and previous U.S. administrations. An estimated 700,000 Israeli settlers now live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The location of the new settlement is controversial because it would separate two major Palestinian cities, Ramallah and Bethlehem. All this is taking place as some of America's closest allies, including France, the United Kingdom and Canada, have said they may join the more than 145 countries that recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire. Israel has become increasingly isolated because of a monthslong blockade of food, water and fuel, followed by a trickle of aid delivered at only four sites in southern Gaza guarded by the IDF. The United Nations has said resulting clashes have led to 1,400 Palestinian deaths of people seeking food and 4,000 injuries. President Donald Trump, who recently told Netanyahu to 'finish the job' in Gaza, spoke admiringly of the prime minister Tuesday night in an interview with conservative radio host Mark Levin, calling him a 'war hero' for his strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Trump added, 'I guess I am, too. Nobody cares, but I am, too. I mean I sent those planes,' referring to the U.S. strikes in Iran. 🗞️ Today's other top stories 🇺🇦 Ukraine talks: U.S. and NATO military officials met to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as the White House worked to arrange a summit between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. But the Kremlin signaled it was in no rush to agree to such a meeting. Read more → 🏦 Trump vs. the Fed: Trump called on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign following allegations of mortgage fraud. Read more → 💲Bond-ing moment: New financial disclosures show that Trump has purchased at least $103 million worth of corporate and municipal bonds since he took office in January, including for companies that could be affected by his policies. Read more → 🖼️ Night at the museum: Trump said he has ordered his attorneys to conduct a review of Smithsonian museums, calling their portrayal of U.S. history too negative and focused too much on 'how bad Slavery was.' Read more → 📱Vibe check: The White House launched an account on TikTok, which Trump has repeatedly allowed to continue operations in the U.S. after Congress passed a law that would ban the app if its China-based owner did not divest. Read more → ✈️ Deportation agenda: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is pushing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to buy, own and operate its own fleet of airplanes to deport immigrants. Former officials said the move would be costly but could make it easier for the agency to potentially double the number of people it deports each month. Read more → ⚖️ Epstein saga: A federal judge in New York denied the Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Read more → 🤔 On second thought: Elon Musk is 'quietly pumping the brakes' on his plans to launch a third party and is focused on maintaining ties to Vice President JD Vance, The Wall Street Journal reports. Read more → 🔵 Feeling blue: Democrats lost ground to Republicans from 2020 to 2024 in each of the 30 states that track voter registration by political party, according to The New York Times. Read more → Follow live politics updates → That's all From the Politics Desk for now. Today's newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Bridget Bowman. If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at politicsnewsletter@ And if you're a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
What's next in the battle over redistricting as the Texas House passes new GOP maps
The Republican-controlled Texas House has passed new congressional maps that aim to pad the party's majority in Washington by as much as five seats in the midterm elections as battles over redistricting spread across the country. With Texas set to fully enact its new plan as soon as this week, urged on by President Donald Trump, California Democrats are moving quickly to implement a plan to carve up their state's maps in retaliation. Meanwhile, top Republicans in states like Indiana, Missouri and Florida continue to talk about tweaking their maps to create more Republican-controlled congressional seats in the 2026 elections. Ohio's redraw, which it must do under state law, could benefit the GOP, too. Governors in Democratic-controlled states are weighing responses, too, but in many cases, they're restrained by procedural hurdles or by other practical limits — some have already stretched their own gerrymandered maps as far as they could go — that could make a tit-for-tat more difficult. It's all expected to come to a head in a matter of weeks, against the backdrop of a race for the congressional majority in Washington that sits on a knife's edge. The final outcome in Texas Lawmakers in the GOP-controlled Texas House passed their map Wednesday, days after Democrats returned from a two-week "quorum break" in which they fled the state to hold up the bill. But they could only delay, not derail, the new Republican maps, which convert three deep-blue districts into deep-red ones and tilt two Democratic-held South Texas districts slightly further toward the GOP, too. State Rep. Todd Hunter, a Republican who represents Corpus Christi and co-sponsored the new map, kicked off the day with some straight talk. 'The underlying goal is this plan is straightforward: improve Republican political performance,' he told his colleagues, adding that the crux of the changes to the maps center on five districts that 'now trend Republican in political performance.' 'While there's no guarantee of an electorate success, Republicans will now have an opportunity to potentially win those districts,' he added. After a handful of lawmakers remained in the chamber overnight to protest House leadership for requiring Democrats to agree to police escorts to ensure they don't try to skip town again, Democrats took to the floor to criticize their Republican colleagues over the maps. They questioned whether their Republican colleagues were truly not factoring in the racial compositions of districts, as they claimed, warning Democrats will have "their day in federal court." They also hit out at their scheduling in the special legislative session, which put redistricting on the calendar ahead of voting on relief for the victims of the July floods in the Hill Country. 'This is Donald Trump's map. It clearly and deliberately manufactures five more Republican seats in Congress because Trump himself knows the voters are rejecting his agenda, and instead of respecting that rejection, he's changing the rules," said state Rep. John Bucy III of Austin, a Democrat. "Instead of listening to the people, he's trying to silence them, and Texas Republicans have been more than willing to help.' California Democrats move to retaliate California's Legislature held an hourslong hearing Tuesday as Democrats there speed toward passing legislation that would call for a fall special election putting redistricting on the ballot. Voters will decide whether to override the state's independent redistricting commission and approve temporary, Democratic-drawn maps for the rest of the decade. Those maps are the political inverse of the ones in Texas — endangering a handful of incumbent Republicans and putting Democrats in position to net up to five seats from the new map, according to estimates from the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. The hearing turned contentious amid interruptions and partisan clashes between lawmakers. Republicans repeatedly accused Democrats of wasting state resources — a statewide special election would cost significant money — and for bucking the agreement that empowered the state's independent redistricting panel in the first place. 'California should lead the way — when other states decide to do something else, we shouldn't react to them; we should prove by example that we can do this better. That we create the foundations for the rest of the nation,' said Assemblyman David Tangipa, a Republican from the Fresno area. Steve Bennett, a Democratic legislator from Ventura, lashed out at Texas Republicans' mid-decade redistricting by comparing it to power grabs by 'autocrats' like Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We prefer the agreement we all had to play by the old rules," he said. "But when autocrats change the rules and the norms that we are using to decide who has power, we can either fight back or we can potentially permanently lose the ability ever to fight back again." Democrats need to get the maps passed through the Legislature soon to bring the question to the voters this fall if they want to enact the maps in time for the 2026 midterms. Republicans are seeking to delay that, with a group of lawmakers suing this week, arguing that Democrats haven't given the public the required time to review legislation before voting. Other states weigh jumping into the fray While the spotlight remains on California and Texas, redistricting remains a live ball in other states. Ohio must redraw its lines by law, since the Legislature approved its 2021 map without Democratic support. The timing could work out well for Republicans, who control the Legislature and could stand to gain depending on how the maps are drawn. Two of Ohio's three Democratic House members won re-election last cycle by less than 3 percentage points. Indiana's Republican members of Congress have in recent days announced their support for a redraw there, where the party already controls seven of the nine congressional seats. Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, hasn't said whether he plans to call for a special session of the Legislature. But Vice President JD Vance traveled to Indiana this month to meet with Braun as the redistricting debate swirled. In Missouri, Republicans have been cajoling Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special legislative session for redistricting there, where the GOP controls six of the eight congressional seats. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said this week that people can 'anticipate' a mid-decade redraw because there has been a 'sea change in demography' since the 2020 census. Outside of California, where their efforts are subject to approval from voters, Democrats face a smattering of other challenges if they want to redraw maps in other states. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who has vocally supported the Texas House Democrats' attempts to delay the redistricting process in their state, hasn't ruled out a redistricting push in his backyard. But Democrats already hold 14 of the state's 17 congressional districts there. New York Democrats are also interested in redrawing the lines there, but they face logistical hurdles to change the state constitution, which would most likely mean no changes until 2028 at the earliest. This article was originally published on
