During the 2023 session of the General Assembly, I sponsored a law that directed the Indiana State Board of Education to create new high school diploma requirements. In August, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) presented a revised proposal, which was published last week and takes into account previous feedback. IDOE is now seeking additional feedback from Hoosiers on this updated proposal. more »
State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) is highlighting the continued lack of transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their contributions to the high cost of health care for Hoosiers following a recent audit with a presentation to the Indiana General Assembly's Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force Tuesday, Oct. 8. more »
Recently, the Indiana Family Institute released their annual legislative scorecard for legislators in the General Assembly. I am proud to have been given a 100% rating based on my support for several pro-family bills this year. more »
State Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) presents Security Federal Savings Bank's Delphi Branch Manager Heather Nielsen with a certificate recognizing the bank's 90th anniversary. more »
The 2024 General Election on Nov. 5 is coming soon, and it is important for residents of Senate District 27 to be prepared to vote. more »
As our state economy continues to grow and change, the importance of work-based learning will only increase. As it does, the Indiana Career Scholarship Account (CSA) program will become more important in our efforts to prepare the workforce of tomorrow. Established by a law I sponsored in 2023, the program provides a $5,000 grant to allow high school students to participate in work-based learning opportunities as a supplement to their regular high school courses. more »
STATEHOUSE (Sept. 25, 2024) – State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) is being honored by Lakeshore Public Media with a Champion of Early Childhood Development award for his efforts to improve child care in Indiana. more »
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Indiana and the nation have struggled to get students back in the classroom. The rate of chronic absenteeism in the state reached an all-time high during the 2021-2022 school year and remains much higher than the 2019-2020 school year. To address this issue, I authored a law setting the groundwork for future legislation and requiring schools to create a truancy prevention policy. more »
Raatz Roundup: Protecting parental choice in education more »
State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper) was sworn in as state senator for Senate District 48 by Indiana Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter in the Senate Chamber today. more »
