Sen. Leising files bills for cursive writing, management of historic sites

State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) recently filed two bills for the 2026 legislative session.

Leising stated that it is time to shift the focus toward the start of the upcoming session in January.

Leising filed a bill that would require the teaching of cursive writing while also mandating the teaching of printing and spelling in Indiana schools.

As part of a law Leising authored in 2023, a statewide survey found that 91% of private schools taught cursive writing, while only 52% of public schools taught it. A 2024 study suggests writing letters by hand at a young age helps students read better as they learn.

"Many constituents have told me that not only are their children not being taught to use paper and pencil to write in cursive or print, they have also told me many schools no longer teach spelling," Leising said. "It is important that our students learn these vital skills. Writing allows students to understand how letters work together to form words and is the key foundation for learning to read."

Leising also filed a bill that would transfer the management of historic sites from the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites Corporation to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The bill would create a division of historic sites as part of the DNR, which would be tasked with managing the sites. Leising filed a similar bill during the 2025 legislative session.

"We have 11 historic sites in our state, and they have not been maintained as they should,” Leising said. “The Department of Natural Resources previously managed these sites until 2011. I believe the DNR has the resources available to take good care of our historic sites and maintain them properly for the future of Indiana."

As the 2026 legislative session approaches, Leising encourages residents of Senate District 42 to contact her with any questions or comments they may have. Leising can be reached by filling out a "Contact Me" form online at www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Leising or by phone at 800-382-9467.