Ind. Code § 21-49-7-1 Applicability
Sec. 1. This chapter does not apply to a foreign student who is admitted to or enrolled in a qualifying program at a state educational institution as of August 14, 2026.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code ch. 21-49-7
Ind. Code ch. 21-49-7
in effectInd. Code § 21-49-7-2 "Agent of a foreign adversary"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "agent of a foreign adversary" means a person:
(1) who either:
(A) is an agent, a representative, an employee, or a servant; or
(B) acts in any capacity at the order, request, or under the direction or control;
of the government of a foreign adversary; and
(2) whose activities are directly or indirectly financed in whole or in part by the government of a foreign adversary.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-3 "Approved postsecondary educational institution"
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "approved postsecondary educational institution" has the meaning set forth in IC 21-7-13-6.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-4 "Foreign adversary"
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "foreign adversary" includes the following:
(1) The People's Republic of China.
(2) The Russian Federation.
(3) The People's Republic of North Korea.
(4) The Islamic Republic of Iran.
(5) A foreign government listed in 15 CFR 791.4.
(6) A country designated as a threat to critical infrastructure by the governor under IC 1-1-16-8.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-5 "Foreign student"
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "foreign student" means an individual who is:
(1) a citizen of a foreign adversary; and
(2) not a United States citizen or an alien who is admitted into the United States for lawful, permanent residence or has been granted asylum in the United States.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-6 "Qualifying program"
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "qualifying program" refers to one (1) of the following fields of study at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, or postdoctoral level:
(1) Chemical engineering.
(2) Electrical engineering.
(3) Industrial engineering.
(4) Mechanical engineering.
(5) Artificial intelligence.
(6) Computer science.
(7) Microbiology.
(8) Virology.
(9) A field of study designated by the commissioner for higher education under section 11 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-7 "State educational institution"
Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "state educational institution" has the definition set forth in IC 21-7-13-32.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-8 Admission of foreign students into qualifying programs; research security review
Sec. 8. (a) Beginning August 15, 2026, a state educational institution may not admit a foreign student into a qualifying program until the state educational institution has completed a foreign influence and research security review for the foreign student.
(b) A foreign influence and research security review required under subsection (a) must include, at a minimum, a review of the following information concerning the foreign student:
(1) All current and past affiliations, paid or unpaid, including academic, research, government, and commercial affiliations.
(2) All outside support related to the foreign student's education, training, or research activities, including foreign funding sources such as tuition aid, travel aid, complimentary travel, scholarships, or stipends.
(3) Any agreements, including intellectual property agreements, employment agreements, consulting agreements, or other obligations that relate to the foreign student's research, education, or training.
(4) Any planned external collaboration, supervision, or research reporting relationship or requirement with a person outside of the state educational institution.
(5) Whether the foreign student or the foreign student's parent, sibling, or spouse, including those related by blood or marriage, are any of the following:
(A) An employee of the government of a foreign adversary.
(B) A member of a political party of a foreign adversary.
(C) A member of a united front organization or a similar association or organization that is sponsored or supported by the government of a foreign adversary and exists to encourage support of the government of the foreign adversary.
(6) Whether the foreign student was previously employed by the government of a foreign adversary or served in the military or security services for the government of a foreign adversary.
(c) If a state educational institution obtains information while conducting a foreign influence and research security review on a foreign student that indicates the foreign student is an agent of a foreign adversary, the state educational institution may not enroll the foreign student.
(d) A state educational institution may not admit a foreign student who refuses or fails to provide the state educational institution with any information necessary to complete a foreign influence and research security review under this section.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-9 Attestation; unenroll
Sec. 9. (a) A foreign student who is admitted into a state educational institution after a foreign influence and research security review is completed under section 8 of this chapter must sign an attestation stating that the foreign student has not accepted and will not accept any direct or indirect financial support or funding from a foreign adversary before the state educational institution may enroll the foreign student in the qualifying program.
(b) If a state educational institution obtains information that a foreign student has accepted direct or indirect financial support or funding from a foreign adversary, the state educational institution must immediately unenroll the foreign student.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-10 Disclosures
Sec. 10. A foreign student who is enrolled in a qualifying program at a state educational institution must immediately disclose the following to the state educational institution:
(1) Any changes to the information regarding the foreign student provided in section 8(b)(5) or 8(b)(6) of this chapter.
(2) Any contact with an agent of a foreign adversary.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-11 Designation of qualifying programs
Sec. 11. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the commissioner for higher education may designate a field of study as a qualifying program.
(b) The commissioner for higher education must provide the board of trustees of each state educational institution and approved postsecondary educational institution with notice of the designation of a field of study as a qualifying program under subsection (a) not later than six (6) months prior to the start of the next academic term.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 21-49-7-12 Reporting requirements
Sec. 12. (a) Not later than November 1, 2026, an approved postsecondary educational institution shall provide to the commission for higher education the following information:
(1) The number of foreign students enrolled in a qualifying program at the approved postsecondary educational institution as of August 15, 2026.
(2) The number of foreign students enrolled in a qualifying program at the approved postsecondary educational institution for each academic year for the preceding ten (10) years.
(b) This section expires July 1, 2027.
As added by P.L.131-2026, SEC.3.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/21Fetched: 10/17/2026