The Indiana General Assembly has merged Senate Bills 289 and 235, intensifying efforts to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the state’s educational institutions.
The unified bill proposes prohibiting mandatory DEI training in K-12 public schools and restricting DEI programs within state universities. The bill would also prohibit agencies from funding DEI offices or employees and from awarding contracts to entities that mandate DEI training.
The bills, co-authored by State Sens. Gary Byrne (R-District 47) and Tyler Johnson (R-District 14), seek to promote individual merit and prevent the propagation of divisive concepts in education, according to proponents.
Byrne emphasizes that SB 289 prohibits “any stereotype or generalizations based on race, sex, ethnicity, religion or national origin,” and that the bill would prevent schools from compelling students to adopt certain beliefs or from hiring outside contractors to promote specific ideologies. Byrne maintains that this approach would ensure that education remains focused on individual academic achievement rather than group identities.
Similarly, Johnson, author of SB 235, seeks to ban DEI initiatives in state agencies, educational institutions and any organization receiving state funds.
He argues such programs can lead to division and discrimination by emphasizing group characteristics over individual qualifications. Johnson believes that eliminating DEI programs will foster a merit-based environment, where individuals are evaluated solely on their abilities and achievements, echoing a similar executive order by Gov. Mike Braun.
Opponents of the merged bill have raised concerns about the legislation’s potential harm to marginalized communities and its broader implications for the state of Indiana. They argue that the combined bill not only suppresses meaningful discussions on systemic inequality but also imposes undue burdens on educators and state agencies.
State Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-District 40) criticized the process of merging the bills, calling it a “bad precedent” and lamenting the loss of debate on proposed amendments. Yoder emphasized the importance of discussing policies individually to ensure they benefit Hoosiers.
Similarly, State Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-District 46), who introduced amendments to reduce the bill’s impact on teachers, warned that its requirements would create confusion and increase workloads. Hunley highlighted that educators would be obligated to post all instructional materials related to nondiscrimination, diversity and bias — terms left undefined in the legislation.
Hunley also pointed out the contradiction inherent in the bill by referencing a mandated state history lesson about President Benjamin Harrison, which requires discussing topics like race and civil rights. She questioned how such standards could be met under the new restrictions.
Critics from community organizations and business leaders echoed these sentiments. Meisha Wide, executive director of the Children’s Policy and Law Initiative of Indiana argued that the legislation would stifle progress toward inclusive environments and perpetuate negative historical narratives.
Russ Skiba of the University Alliance for Racial Justice described the legislation as “state-sanctioned censorship,” asserting that it silences discussions on systemic racism and oppression.
Economic implications were also highlighted, with business leaders warning that suppressing diversity could harm Indiana’s competitiveness. Vanessa Green Sinders of the Indiana Chamber emphasized the importance of diversity in workforce development, while the Indy Chamber’s 2025 Legislative Priorities report underscored the state’s critical talent gap and struggles with graduate retention.
The merged Senate Bills 289 and 235 are advancing to their third and final reading in the Indiana Senate, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. If passed, the legislation will move to the Indiana House of Representatives for consideration.
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
