Public Indiana colleges and universities will eliminate 19 percent of their degree programs to meet requirements added to the state’s budget, according to the Commission for Higher Education.

The Indiana School for the Deaf received a 5 percent cut in the new state budget and recently laid off more than a dozen staff.

The Braun administration has directed agencies to withhold 5% of their funds from specific budget line items — rather than allowing department heads to identify areas for reserves.

The deal follows concerns raised during the 2025 legislative session over propose budget language that could have stripped the nonprofit of its biggest asset.

Indiana's "historic" public health funding was scaled back in the final version of the state budget — going from $100 million to just $40 million appropriated for the Health First Indiana initiative. One expert said public health programs take years to build and this decrease could stall important progress.

Gov. Mike Braun said his first 100 days in office has been a "wonderful opening act" while reflecting Wednesday on a legislative session in which the state budget saw major cuts and property tax reform that didn't go as far as Braun wanted.

Lawmakers finish the 2025 session with a state budget that covers a massive revenue shortfall. A measure meant to address high health care costs goes to the governor. And school board races will turn partisan under a narrowly-approved bill.

Lawmakers ended the 2025 session early Friday morning by passing a new state budget that Republicans say takes care of Indiana's priorities — and Democrats argue moves the state backward.

The two top priority bills this legislative session will have huge impacts on the financial futures of state and local governments, and many Indiana residents.

Workforce development leaders in Indiana say potential state budget cuts could threaten the future of programs that support students.