Concerned about murder sentences, foreign farm ownership and medicine costs, student lawmakers approved 10 bills during the 52nd annual Eastern Indiana Model Legislature.

A few of the simulated bills affect schools directly, such as requiring they provide lunches and feminine hygiene products. 

Sessions took place in Hagerstown and Indiana General Assembly’s chambers in Indianapolis.

Several Centerville Senior High School students had leadership roles in Model Legislature, including Senate President Pro-Tempore Abram Jarvis, Lt. Gov. Cameron Stiggleman and Speaker of the House Sophia Soper. Supplied

Richmond Jaycees started the program in 1973. Current participants are Centerville, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Union County and Winchester high schools.

Each school has as many as 30 students represented, with a total of 100 House of Representatives members and 50 senators.

Students choose the political parties they want to be affiliated with or declare themselves as independent. Teens write their bills, seek committee approval so the two houses can debate them and then hope the governor will sign them.

Lucas Welty of Union County served as this year’s governor, assisted by Lt. Governor Cameron Stiggleman of Centerville.

Two additional Centerville students held the other top leadership positions: Speaker of the House Abram Jarvis and Senate President Pro-Tempore Sophia Soper.

Teens selected two students from each party as outstanding members. The Republicans chose House member Cohen Current of Centerville and Senate member Cody Hendrix of Union County. Democrats chose the House’s Adanech Jarvis of Centerville and Senate’s Xander Hoover of Winchester.

This year, Indiana State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) visited both chambers during the legislative day in Indianapolis. He observed debates, spoke with students and answered questions in both houses.

State Sen. Jeff Raatz speaks to students during the Model Legislature’s visit to the Indiana House of Representatives chamber inside the statehouse in Indianapolis.

What bills were signed into law?

Bill authors and topics from the simulated session were:

  • Riley Duke: Requires Indiana public/charter schools to provide feminine hygiene products in school restrooms at no cost to students
  • Xander Hoover: Keep Indiana schools lead free
  • Anna Nevels: Reduce surplus food waste produced by restaurants and other food-vending establishments
  • Mia Ashley and Karina Jarret: Change Indiana school attendance policy
  • Elizabeth Nevels: Require all previously homeschooled students transferring into public schools to complete standardized placement tests
  • Addison Talbot: Amend minimum sentences for first- and second-degree murder to 40 years
  • Ben Anderson: Require Indiana to pay for public school lunches
  • Ravyn Towns: Cap prescription drug prices, establish oversight and ensure affordable access to essential medications for Indiana residents
  • Abram Jarvis: Ban foreign governments or entities from owning any Indiana agricultural land
  • Lucas Sewell: Protect the arts department and other commonly neglected programs

Who’s who in Model Legislature?

2025 leaders and their schools are:

  • Governor: Lucas Welty, Union County
  • Lt. Gov.: Cameron Stiggleman, Centerville
  • Senate President Pro-Tempore: Abram Jarvis, Centerville
  • Parliamentarian: Addie Talbot, Centerville
  • Speaker of the House: Sophia Soper, Centerville
  • Parliamentarian: Elizabeth Nevels, Centerville

House of Representatives

Republicans

  • Floor Leader: Cohen Current, Centerville
  • Assistant Floor Leader: Brayley Erwin, Winchester
  • Caucus Chair: Amara Buell, Union County
  • Assistant Caucus Chair: Ravyn Towns, Hagerstown

Democrats

  • Floor Leader: Riley Duke, Centerville
  • Assistant Floor Leader: Madison Gransbury, Union County
  • Caucus Chair: Karina Jarrett, Winchester
  • Assistant Caucus Chair: Sam Morgan, Hagerstown
  • Whip: Izabella McDugle, Northeastern

Senate Republicans

  • Floor Leader: Paisley Steffee, Centerville
  • Assistant Floor Leader: James Dodd, Winchester
  • Caucus Chair: Aurora Allen, Hagerstown
  • Assistant Caucus Chair: Josiah Holman, Union County

Senate Democrats

  • Floor Leader: Mia Ashley, Winchester
  • Assistant Floor Leader: Jack Duke, Centerville
  • Caucus Chair: Oliver Caldwell, Hagerstown
  • Assistant Caucus Chair: Nathaniel Tolford, Union County

House Committees

  • Chairs: Sam Morgan, Hagerstown (Judiciary); Abram Jarvis, Centerville (Ways and Means); Riley Duke, Centerville (Welfare); Cohen Current, Centerville (Labor and Education); Samantha West, Union County (Public Health); Elizabeth Nevels, Centerville (Agriculture)
  • Outstanding Committee Members: Sam Morgan, Hagerstown (Judiciary); Major Reed, Winchester (Ways and Means); Riley Duke, Centerville (Welfare); Cohen Current, Centerville (Labor and Education); Anna Nevels, Centerville (Public Health); Adanech Jarvis, Centerville (Agriculture)

Senate Committees

  • Chairs: Sophia Soper, Centerville (Judiciary); Xander Hoover, Winchester (Public Policy); Lucas Sewell, Centerville (Finance); Mia Ashley, Winchester (Education)
  • Outstanding Members: Amos Smoker, Centerville (Judiciary); Violetta Torres, Winchester (Public Policy); Aurora Allen, Hagerstown (Finance); Jack Duke, Centerville (Education)
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A version of this article appeared in the October 15 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.