A U.S. District Court judge in Indianapolis dismissed a lawsuit challenging a controversial new state law that university professors say violates their constitutional rights.

The higher education bill that academics say guts tenure protections heads to the desk of Gov. Eric Holcomb.

It passed the Senate Thursday 33 to 12.

Professors and Indiana University officials are among those who have come out against a bill, SB 202, that its author said aims to increase intellectual diversity on campus and reform tenure.

Lawmakers reach the halfway point of the 2024 session and send the first bill to the governor, the Senate advances a bill that could change tenure in higher ed, and legislation heads to the House to expand access to disaster relief.