A bill that includes two dissimilar issues — college degree elimination and social media restrictions on children — passed the House Tuesday but faces an uncertain future.
The bill passed 67-28 with lawmakers supporting social media restrictions for children under age 17. Democrats objected to requiring universities to eliminate degree programs if annual earnings didn’t exceed high school earnings.
Diplomas for hundreds of graduates sit ready to be handed out before the start of the commencement ceremony at Purdue University Northwest, on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Hammond. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Post-Tribune)
Earlier, the Senate removed the social media portion of the bill in its deliberations, but a House education committee added it back in this month. It’s up to a joint conference committee to determine the bill’s fate.
The House revised the bill after the death of Hailey Buzbee, a Fishers teen, who disappeared after she was allegedly picked up by a man she met online.
The teen’s dad, Beau Buzbee, pleaded with the House education committee to revive the social media language in the bill.
Some lawmakers said Tuesday they wished the social media segment of the bill was a standalone bill.
“I support the policy, but I’m not sure this particular approach gets us where we need to be,” said Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington.
Many Democrats opposed eliminating college degrees based on the wages netted by the degree. It sets a threshold that requires them to be higher than the wages of a high school graduate, or about $35,000.
It’s tied to President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress this year that links federal student loans to degree earnings.
Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, said his neighbor plays in the Indiana University marching band and music is her passion.
“I’m just really, really concerned that in some fashion, or another this bill could get Kayla caught up with having to choose between her passion or having to go in another direction,” he said.
Music was on a preliminary U.S. Department of Education of degrees that might be cut at IU.
In all, 16 programs at 11 state colleges and universities were identified in the preliminary federal list. It also named 21 undergraduate certificate fields, including many cosmetology schools.
Locally, bachelor degree programs impacted at IUN and at Purdue University Northwest were English Language and Literature General.
Also on the preliminary list is PNW’s computer software and media applications degree.
“This body is trying to micromanage the actual decisions students make. Why can’t we trust a student to decide which degree they’re going to get. I thought we were all about freedom, options…?” said Pierce.
Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, said the U.S. debt is nearing $39 trillion and 40% of Americans have college debt.
“All we’re doing is loaning money to kids who can’t pay it back. As a parent, I call this tough love. We have to eliminate these programs that set kids up for a lifetime of debt,” he said.
The social media portion of the bill calls for tech companies to require parental consent for a child to create an account if they’re under 17.
The kids couldn’t receive direct messages from non-followers and algorithms would be adjusted so they couldn’t be targeted by specific advertisements.
House sponsor Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, said the bill likely would not include the popular Snapchat messaging app often used by teens. It’s believed to be one of the apps Hailey Buzbee’s alleged killer used to communicate with her.
Rep. Joanna King, R-Middlebury, said she supports the bill because of its social media language.
“It focuses on destructive algorithms designed to increase time on a platform that disproportionately affect minors and the state has a duty to protect minors,” she said.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
