Indiana lawmakers are continuing an effort to change how teachers pay union dues through paycheck deductions with a new law. It tweaks previous legislation that a federal judge said likely violated the constitution.

Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed House Bill 1041 late Monday. He said in his veto letter, the bill sent to him fell short of providing clarity and one consistent state policy regarding the fairness in K-12 sports in Indiana.

Controversial bills aligned with national political battles on cultural and social issues in schools dominated conversations at the Statehouse this session. But lawmakers also conducted plenty of other legislative business that didn't get as much attention -- including several notable changes for education.

Under Indiana's long-standing state definition of rape, an assault has to include threat or force, serious bodily injury, or involve drugs.

The Indiana State Teachers Association said it found out less than a week before the legislative session ended early Wednesday about emails sent through a form on its website not reaching the accounts of lawmakers, The Indianapolis Star reported.

A wide-ranging bill to restrict what teachers could say about race and racism stalled and died last week after vocal opposition from a broad coalition, a series of gaffes by lawmakers, and ultimately, an ideological split in the supermajority.

A measure to remove a legal defense for Indiana schools and public libraries accused of sharing harmful material failed during this year's legislative session. The Senate voted down the proposal as its final move before adjournment.

Indiana surpasses 22,000 dead, as the rate of new deaths slows. Gov. Eric Holcomb signs the General Assembly’s less restrictive COVID-19 vaccine mandate bill. And he ended the state’s public health emergency, which had been in place since March 2020.

Lawmakers in the Indiana Senate effectively killed a controversial school curriculum and parent oversight bill Monday. The bill is dead, but lawmakers said some sections of it may return as part of other legislation before the session ends.

House Bill 1077, as it now stands, keeps Indiana’s handgun carry permit system in place. And it adds a new, “provisional” license – a temporary permit a person can use to carry a handgun in public while the state processes their application for the permanent handgun license.