A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning motor vehicles.
Summary
SB 115 requires Indiana’s driver education system to include instruction on what law enforcement officers do during a traffic stop and what drivers should do during one, including how to interact appropriately with an officer. The bill directs the driver education advisory board to consult with the commissioner of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the state police department on these topics, and it requires the bureau to include this material in any driver education manual it publishes.
The bill also amends the driver education curriculum standards to make traffic-stop instruction a required part of classroom instruction. In addition, it updates the advisory board’s duties to include advising on traffic-stop procedures and driver conduct during stops, alongside its existing role in advising on driver education policy, rules, and training standards. The bill is set to take effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
SB 115 would amend Indiana Code chapter 9-27-6 governing driver education. It adds a new statutory requirement that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles include traffic-stop procedures and driver conduct guidance in driver education manuals, and it expands the required curriculum standards to cover actions to take during a traffic stop and appropriate interaction with law enforcement. The bill also broadens the advisory board’s consultative responsibilities and ties those responsibilities to consultation with the state police department.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears procedural and safety-oriented rather than partisan or controversial. The measure is framed as a driver education and traffic safety update, suggesting a generally supportive intent to standardize instruction for new drivers. No formal opposition, amendments, or recorded vote history is provided here to indicate broader sentiment.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the bill’s focus on law enforcement interaction in driver education, which could raise questions about curriculum scope, how traffic-stop procedures are presented, and whether the instruction should emphasize compliance, rights awareness, or officer safety. Another possible issue is whether the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and driver education providers would face added implementation burdens in revising manuals and curriculum. However, the provided materials do not include committee debate or votes showing any specific objections or supporters.
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Urging The aha Moku Advisory Committee To Follow Its Adopted Rules Of Practice, Fulfill Its Statutory Duties, Establish Policies To Assure Consistent Standards Of Administrative And Managerial Accountability; And Convening A Working Group To Make Recommendations.
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