Summers announces bills for the 2024 legislative session

INDIANAPOLIS – Today, State Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) announced her agenda for the 2024 legislative session. This year, Summers' legislative priorities target race-based discrimination, maternal health, medical debt and minority business.

Rep. Summers has filed the following bills:
-    HB 1124: Prohibits race-based hair discrimination.
-    HB 1125: Requires the Indiana department of health to develop a program to award grants to certain community-based programs to reduce the prevalence of maternal mortality in Indiana. 
-    HB 1126: Funding of lactation rooms in public buildings.
-    HB 1128: Prohibition on lien for medical debt.
-    HB 1131: Prohibits the department of administration from considering a qualifying member's current or former status as a stay-at-home parent as a negative factor in determining whether to certify a minority business enterprise, veteran owned small business, or women's business enterprise. 

“While this session is going to be a short one, I am not taking my foot off the gas pedal. We cannot remain indifferent while Hoosiers face blatant discrimination and racial bias in the workplace, school or when out and about. Our state must not turn its back on mothers looking to protect and feed their children. We must not allow Hoosier's homes to be foreclosed when they cannot afford to pay off medical debt.” 

“Indiana citizens need practical solutions now. Our legislature has the power to find these solutions. We cannot stand passively by while Hoosiers are left to fend for themselves.”