Senate Bill
SB 78
Wireless communication device policy.
In plain English
Changes the rules for wireless communication device policies that school corporations and charter schools must adopt and use. Requires the department of education to publish model policy language and guidance on putting policies in place. Protects schools and school staff from civil liability, with some exceptions, for actions taken in good faith to follow their policy.
Written by AI from the official digest below, and checked only by automated rules. If they differ, the official digest and bill text control.
Official digest
Amends definitions, requirements, restrictions, and exceptions regarding wireless communication device policies adopted and implemented by school corporations and charter schools. Requires the department of education to publish model policy language and implementation guidance. Provides that, with exceptions, a school corporation, a school maintained by a school corporation, and a charter school, including school personnel, are immune from civil liability for any actions taken in good faith to comply with the school's wireless communication device policy.
Latest action: Public Law 107, March 5, 2026Full text and history at iga.in.gov
Authors and sponsors
Jeff Raatz, Greg Goode, Jake Teshka
Co-authors and co-sponsors: Gary Byrne, Linda Rogers, Lonnie Randolph, Julie McGuire, Matt Commons, Vernon Smith
Roll-call votes
4 recorded votes, oldest first. Third-reading votes decide whether a bill passes a chamber; amendment votes and procedural motions are listed too.
Senate · Jan 20, 2026
Third reading: vote to pass
Roll call text: SB 78 - Raatz - 3rd Reading
Passed
28 yes19 no2 did not vote
Republicans: 26 yes, 11 no, 2 did not voteDemocrats: 2 yes, 8 no
How each member voted
Yes (28)
- Blake Doriot (R)
- Brett Clark (R)
- Brian Buchanan (R)
- Cyndi Carrasco (R)
- David Niezgodski (D)
- Ed Charbonneau (R)
- Eric Koch (R)
- Gary Byrne (R)
- Greg Goode (R)
- Jeff Raatz (R)
- Jim Buck (R)
- Linda Rogers (R)
- Liz Brown (R)
- Lonnie Randolph (D)
- Michael Crider (R)
- Mike Bohacek (R)
- Mike Gaskill (R)
- Mike Young (R)
- Randy Maxwell (R)
- Rick Niemeyer (R)
- Rod Bray (R)
- Scott Alexander (R)
- Scott Baldwin (R)
- Spencer Deery (R)
- Stacey Donato (R)
- Sue Glick (R)
- Travis Holdman (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
No (19)
- Aaron Freeman (R)
- Andrea Hunley (D)
- Dan Dernulc (R)
- Eric Bassler (R)
- Fady Qaddoura (D)
- Greg Taylor (D)
- Greg Walker (R)
- J.D. Ford (D)
- Jean Leising (R)
- Jim Tomes (R)
- Justin Busch (R)
- Kyle Walker (R)
- La Keisha Jackson (D)
- Mark Spencer (D)
- Rodney Pol (D)
- Ron Alting (R)
- Ryan Mishler (R)
- Shelli Yoder (D)
- Vaneta Becker (R)
Did not vote (2)
- Chris Garten (R)
- Daryl Schmitt (R)
House · Feb 23, 2026
Second reading: amendment
Roll call text: SB 78 - Teshka - 2nd Reading
Failed
42 yes51 no7 did not vote
Republicans: 14 yes, 50 no, 5 did not voteDemocrats: 28 yes, 0 no, 2 did not voteIndependents: 0 yes, 1 no
How each member voted
Yes (42)
- Alaina Shonkwiler (R)
- Alex Burton (D)
- Ben Smaltz (R)
- Blake Johnson (D)
- Carey Hamilton (D)
- Carolyn Jackson (D)
- Cherrish Pryor (D)
- Chris Campbell (D)
- Chris Judy (R)
- Chris May (R)
- Chuck Moseley (D)
- Cory Criswell (R)
- Craig Snow (R)
- Dave Hall (R)
- Earl Harris (D)
- Ed DeLaney (D)
- Ethan Manning (R)
- Gregory Porter (D)
- John Bartlett (D)
- Kyle Miller (D)
- Kyle Pierce (R)
- Lindsay Patterson (R)
- Mark Genda (R)
- Matt Commons (R)
- Matt Pierce (D)
- Maureen Bauer (D)
- Mike Andrade (D)
- Mitch Gore (D)
- Phil GiaQuinta (D)
- Ragen Hatcher (D)
- Randy Novak (D)
- Robin Shackleford (D)
- Ryan Dvorak (D)
- Sheila Klinker (D)
- Steve Bartels (R)
- Sue Errington (D)
- Tony Isa (R)
- Tonya Pfaff (D)
- Vanessa Summers (D)
- Vernon Smith (D)
- Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D)
- Wendy Dant Chesser (D)
No (51)
- Alex Zimmerman (R)
- Andrew Ireland (R)
- Beau Baird (R)
- Becky Cash (R)
- Bob Behning (R)
- Bob Heaton (R)
- Bob Morris (R)
- Brad Barrett (R)
- Bruce Borders (R)
- Chris Jeter (R)
- Cindy Ledbetter (R)
- Craig Haggard (R)
- Dale DeVon (R)
- Danny Lopez (R)
- Dave Heine (R)
- David Abbott (R)
- Ed Clere (I)
- Ed Soliday (R)
- Elizabeth Rowray (R)
- Ethan Lawson (R)
- Garrett Bascom (R)
- Greg Steuerwald (R)
- Hal Slager (R)
- Heath VanNatter (R)
- Hunter Smith (R)
- J.D. Prescott (R)
- Jack Jordan (R)
- Jake Teshka (R)
- Jeff Thompson (R)
- Jenny Meltzer (R)
- Jim Lucas (R)
- Jim Pressel (R)
- Joanna King (R)
- Julie McGuire (R)
- Julie Olthoff (R)
- Karen Engleman (R)
- Kendell Culp (R)
- Lorissa Sweet (R)
- Martin Carbaugh (R)
- Matt Hostettler (R)
- Matt Lehman (R)
- Michelle Davis (R)
- Mike Aylesworth (R)
- Peggy Mayfield (R)
- Robb Greene (R)
- Ryan Lauer (R)
- Shane Lindauer (R)
- Tim O'Brien (R)
- Tim Wesco (R)
- Tim Yocum (R)
- Zach Payne (R)
Did not vote (7)
- Doug Miller (R)
- Justin Moed (D)
- Lori Goss-Reaves (R)
- Mike Karickhoff (R)
- Reneé Pack (D)
- Todd Huston (R)
- Wendy McNamara (R)
House · Feb 24, 2026
Third reading: vote to pass
Roll call text: SB 78 - Teshka - 3rd Reading
Passed
82 yes13 no5 did not vote
Republicans: 55 yes, 11 no, 3 did not voteDemocrats: 27 yes, 1 no, 2 did not voteIndependents: 0 yes, 1 no
How each member voted
Yes (82)
- Alex Burton (D)
- Andrew Ireland (R)
- Beau Baird (R)
- Becky Cash (R)
- Ben Smaltz (R)
- Blake Johnson (D)
- Bob Behning (R)
- Bob Heaton (R)
- Bob Morris (R)
- Brad Barrett (R)
- Bruce Borders (R)
- Carey Hamilton (D)
- Cherrish Pryor (D)
- Chris Campbell (D)
- Chris Jeter (R)
- Chris Judy (R)
- Chris May (R)
- Chuck Moseley (D)
- Cindy Ledbetter (R)
- Cory Criswell (R)
- Craig Haggard (R)
- Craig Snow (R)
- Dale DeVon (R)
- Danny Lopez (R)
- Dave Hall (R)
- Dave Heine (R)
- David Abbott (R)
- Doug Miller (R)
- Earl Harris (D)
- Ed DeLaney (D)
- Ed Soliday (R)
- Ethan Lawson (R)
- Garrett Bascom (R)
- Greg Steuerwald (R)
- Gregory Porter (D)
- Hal Slager (R)
- Hunter Smith (R)
- Jack Jordan (R)
- Jake Teshka (R)
- Jeff Thompson (R)
- Jim Lucas (R)
- Jim Pressel (R)
- Joanna King (R)
- John Bartlett (D)
- Julie McGuire (R)
- Julie Olthoff (R)
- Justin Moed (D)
- Karen Engleman (R)
- Kendell Culp (R)
- Kyle Miller (D)
- Kyle Pierce (R)
- Lindsay Patterson (R)
- Lori Goss-Reaves (R)
- Lorissa Sweet (R)
- Mark Genda (R)
- Martin Carbaugh (R)
- Matt Commons (R)
- Matt Lehman (R)
- Matt Pierce (D)
- Maureen Bauer (D)
- Michelle Davis (R)
- Mike Andrade (D)
- Mike Aylesworth (R)
- Mitch Gore (D)
- Phil GiaQuinta (D)
- Ragen Hatcher (D)
- Randy Novak (D)
- Reneé Pack (D)
- Robb Greene (R)
- Robin Shackleford (D)
- Ryan Lauer (R)
- Shane Lindauer (R)
- Sheila Klinker (D)
- Sue Errington (D)
- Tim O'Brien (R)
- Tim Wesco (R)
- Tim Yocum (R)
- Tony Isa (R)
- Tonya Pfaff (D)
- Vanessa Summers (D)
- Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D)
- Wendy Dant Chesser (D)
No (13)
- Alaina Shonkwiler (R)
- Alex Zimmerman (R)
- Ed Clere (I)
- Elizabeth Rowray (R)
- Ethan Manning (R)
- Heath VanNatter (R)
- J.D. Prescott (R)
- Jenny Meltzer (R)
- Matt Hostettler (R)
- Peggy Mayfield (R)
- Ryan Dvorak (D)
- Steve Bartels (R)
- Wendy McNamara (R)
Did not vote (5)
- Carolyn Jackson (D)
- Mike Karickhoff (R)
- Todd Huston (R)
- Vernon Smith (D)
- Zach Payne (R)
Senate · Feb 25, 2026
Final vote: concurrence or conference report
Roll call text: SB 78 - Raatz
Passed
36 yes12 no2 did not vote
Republicans: 33 yes, 6 no, 1 did not voteDemocrats: 3 yes, 6 no, 1 did not vote
How each member voted
Yes (36)
- Brett Clark (R)
- Brian Buchanan (R)
- Chris Garten (R)
- Cyndi Carrasco (R)
- Dan Dernulc (R)
- David Niezgodski (D)
- Ed Charbonneau (R)
- Eric Bassler (R)
- Eric Koch (R)
- Gary Byrne (R)
- Greg Goode (R)
- Greg Taylor (D)
- Greg Walker (R)
- Jeff Raatz (R)
- Jim Buck (R)
- Jim Tomes (R)
- Linda Rogers (R)
- Liz Brown (R)
- Lonnie Randolph (D)
- Michael Crider (R)
- Mike Bohacek (R)
- Mike Gaskill (R)
- Mike Young (R)
- Nick McKinley (R)
- Randy Maxwell (R)
- Rick Niemeyer (R)
- Rod Bray (R)
- Ron Alting (R)
- Ryan Mishler (R)
- Scott Alexander (R)
- Scott Baldwin (R)
- Spencer Deery (R)
- Stacey Donato (R)
- Sue Glick (R)
- Travis Holdman (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
No (12)
- Aaron Freeman (R)
- Andrea Hunley (D)
- Daryl Schmitt (R)
- Fady Qaddoura (D)
- J.D. Ford (D)
- Jean Leising (R)
- Justin Busch (R)
- Kyle Walker (R)
- La Keisha Jackson (D)
- Mark Spencer (D)
- Shelli Yoder (D)
- Vaneta Becker (R)
Did not vote (2)
- Blake Doriot (R)
- Rodney Pol (D)
Source: Open States, compiled from the Indiana General Assembly's official roll calls. The official record at iga.in.gov controls. Spot an error? Let us know.