Andrade celebrates INDOT Community Crossings Matching Grants to improve roads and bridges in District 12

Last week, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced the recipients of the Spring 2025 Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. More than $200 million was awarded through the program and will go towards improving roads and bridges throughout the state.

Several communities in House District 12 represented by State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) received grants for Spring 2025. 

The matching grant winners and amounts include:

Munster - $1,500,000.00

Highland - $753,271.70

Griffith - $534,863.50

Schererville - $1,172,053.49

Andrade released the following statement celebrating the funding:

“I’m thrilled to share that House District 12 will receive approximately $4 million in state funding this year through the Community Crossings Matching Grant. Since day one in the Statehouse, I’ve been a strong advocate for prioritizing infrastructure improvements and holding our governments accountable for delivering essential services. This funding is a crucial step in maintaining the safety and reliability of our roads and bridges, helping to keep our communities secure and well-connected.”

Andrade supports public safety funding during state budget process

Over the last several weeks, State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) has been an outspoken advocate for public safety in Indiana’s state budgeting process.

Today, Feb. 19, the House adopted an amendment to the state budget that will fund the Stop the Bleed Program, a life-saving initiative that Andrade led in 2023.

Additionally, Andrade authored an amendment to establish a new Gun Safety Grant Program, which would have appropriated $100,000 to the Indiana Prosecuting Attorney Council, aimed at increasing access to gun safety locks. Unfortunately, this amendment was voted down by House Republicans.

Andrade issued the following statement regarding the amendments:

"In 2023, I was proud to author legislation that provided first responders with access to bleeding control kits. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I am grateful for bipartisan support in appropriating $120,000 to this life-saving program that was amended on HB 1001, the state budget bill.

“I am grateful to my colleagues who supported the Stop the Bleed Program. I will continue to champion our incredible first responders with necessary life-saving resources. Public safety initiatives like this are essential to protecting Hoosier lives.

"However, I am deeply disappointed that the House could not unite behind the Gun Safety Grant Program. Each year in Indiana, an average of 124 children and teens are killed by gun violence. In just the past 18 months, our Lake County Prosecutor’s data revealed seven children in Lake County alone have died in preventable accidents involving unsecured firearms. These deaths are not just statistics—they are real tragedies. This is unacceptable. There are solutions to this issue, but we cannot keep ignoring it.

“Every child’s death is avoidable with proper action. I am committed to finding solutions that will prevent these heartbreaking accidents and ensure the safety of our children. Until we take meaningful action, more families will face unimaginable grief. Gun violence is a preventable tragedy, and it’s time we take responsibility for the lives at stake. How many more children must die before we act?”

House Democratic lawmakers unveil ‘Hoosier Home Field Advantage’ legislative package

Today, several Indiana House Democratic lawmakers rolled out "The Hoosier Home Field Advantage," a set of legislative proposals designed to grow Indiana's sports economy.

State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster), House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne), State Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Indianapolis), State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) and State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) offered the agenda to unite Hoosiers across the political spectrum, pointing out that Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between love sports.

The legislation includes:

1. House Bill 1534: Requires school corporations and charter schools to offer a cash payment option at athletic events beginning July 1, 2025

2. House Bill 1541: Prohibits IHSAA from charging for streaming high school athletic events

3. House Bill 1517: Designates the day after the Super Bowl an annual state holiday called "American Professional Football Day"

4. House Bill 1292: Establishes the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission, which will work to attract a professional sports franchise to NWI and spur economic development and job creation

5. House Bill 1608: Requires the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to study methods and strategies to allow Indiana to become a leader in the development of the e-sports industry

Drafted amendments include:

1. An amendment by Andrade requiring the Indiana Sports Corporation to invest money received from the statewide sports and tourism bid fund as necessary to attract and promote professional wrestling events

2. An amendment by Gore to institute a sales tax exemption on children's athletic gear

"Indiana is already doing great in the sports realm, but Indiana House Democrats believe we can do even better and send our sports industry through the stratosphere," Gore said. "The 'Hoosier Home Field Advantage' is a legislative package designed to improve our sports economy and show Hoosiers that state government can be responsive to their lives and interests.

"My bill to make the Monday after the Super Bowl a state holiday will give hard-working Hoosiers an additional day off. Our national economy always takes a hit that day due to decreased worker productivity anyway. Additionally, we need to encourage kids of all economic backgrounds to participate in sports, which is why I have drafted an amendment that would provide all Hoosiers with a sales tax exemption for children's athletic gear."

"This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take my son to the WWE Royal Rumble that was hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium," Andrade said. "My son is a lifelong WWE fan, and I started taking him to pro-wrestling events when he was 5 years old and we continue the tradition of father-son time to this day. We had wrestling fans visit Indy from across the country and around the world for this electrifying event. That's why I'll be offering an amendment this session to require that the Indiana Sports Corporation invest money received from the statewide sports and tourism bid fund to attract and promote more professional wrestling events. This is a great economic growth opportunity for our state, and we need to take advantage of it."

"Parents have come to me expressing concern that some high schools no longer accept cash payment for entry into sporting events," GiaQuinta said. "This is an unnecessary barrier to Hoosiers enjoying the high school athletics that their taxes pay for, which is why I filed HB 1534 to require that schools offer a cash payment option. Likewise, Hoosiers shouldn't have to pay a fee to watch IHSAA's streaming of high school sporting events, which is why I authored HB 1541 to ensure that families and friends of athletes are able to watch them compete from afar without paying for it."

Harris' HB 1292 passed unanimously out of the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee on Monday, Feb. 3 and was recommitted to the House Ways and Means Committee. Miller's HB 1608 is scheduled to receive a hearing in the House Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Andrade outlines 2025 legislative agenda

With the official start of the 2025 legislative session, State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) has announced his legislative agenda, continuing to advance common-sense legislation that improves the lives of Hoosiers. The bills aim to enhance public safety, improve coverage for chronic diseases and expand sensory resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to use during emergency situations. “I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure every Hoosier has the resources and opportunities they need to succeed,” Andrade said.

Public Safety:

HB 1304 seeks to increase the penalty for car robbery, knowingly or intentionally taking a motor vehicle from another person, from a Level 5 Felony to a Level 4 Felony. Andrade, a champion for public safety, expressed his support for bipartisan action in reducing vehicle robberies. "In efforts to reduce the number of vehicle robberies and protect victims of such crimes, I am honored to join my colleagues across the aisle in proposing penalty enhancements and further safeguarding victims," Andrade said.

HB 1307 would establish the Sensory Kit Grant Program, providing grants to public safety agencies to purchase sensory kits designed to help individuals with an autism spectrum disorder or cognitive disabilities stay calm and focused during emergency situations. "This bill is inspired by individuals such as Ben Kodicek, Ben’s Blue Bags, and Logan Ruiz, Logan’s Love - Logan Speaks. Ben’s Blue Bags, is a sensory bag training program designed to show first responders how to provide better services to individuals on the autism spectrum in Indiana. In Memory of Logan, Logan’s Love - Logan Speaks works to keep Logan’s memory everlasting and give back to the Autism community. Both organizations are working to support individuals and families in the Autism and Disability communities,” Andrade stated.

Public Health:

HB 1552 would require state employee health plans (SEHP), accident and sickness insurance policies, and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for anti-obesity medication and intensive behavioral and lifestyle therapy. This legislation aligns with recent federal actions, including the Biden administration's proposal for Medicare and Medicaid to cover drugs used to treat obesity. Currently, Indiana has over two thirds (71%) of adult Hoosiers experiencing obesity - contributing to serious health conditions including Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, in 2022 alone, the economic impact of obesity in Indiana was estimated at $9.3 billion, with a total impact of $966 million on the state budget.

“With one of the highest adult obesity rates in the United States, and significant financial strain on the state, expanding Indiana’s Medicaid coverage to include obesity medication and treatment would be the proactive solution to reduce long-term costs, by saving roughly $8 billion, and improve Hoosier health outcomes,” Andrade said.

Mental Health & Student Support:

HB 1305 would require each school corporation and charter school to develop a plan to conduct developmentally appropriate, evidence-based mental health and substance use disorder screenings for students in kindergarten through grade 12. "Early detection is critical in addressing mental health challenges and substance abuse problems, and this bill will help ensure that our students receive the support they need at the earliest possible stage," Andrade said.

HB 1309 would establish the Pediatric Mental Health Professional Recruitment Pilot Program, which aims to increase the availability of pediatric mental health care services across Indiana. The bill would provide incentives to students who agree to provide pediatric mental health services in participating counties, including Lake County, Marion County, and counties with populations under 65,000. "As pediatric mental health needs rise, it’s essential that we recruit more professionals to meet this growing demand, especially in underserved areas," Andrade added.

Support for Educators:

HB1306 would increase the maximum amount of the income tax credit for an individual employed as a teacher for amounts expended for classroom supplies from $100 to $300 per taxable year. “To support our educators, I’m authoring a bill to increase the income tax credit for teachers from $100 to $300 per year for classroom supplies. This bill aligns with the current federal tax code to help teachers offset out-of-pocket expenses as they prepare their classrooms for success,” Andrade said.

A full list of Andrade’s legislation is below:

HB 1304: Robbery

HB 1305: Mental health and substance use disorder screening

HB 1306: Tax credit for teacher’s classroom supplies

HB 1307: Sensory kit grant programs

HB 1308: Nutrition supports Medicaid waiver

HB 1309: Pediatric mental health

HB 1310: Statewide stroke plan

HB 1313: Reentry support pilot program

HB 1551: Collective bargaining for construction trades

HB 1552: Coverage for treatment of chronic diseases

Andrade comments on new BMV Self-Service Kiosk in Highland

Earlier today, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (IBMV) announced that a BMV Connect Kiosk was installed at the Strack & Van Til grocery store located at 9632 N. Cline Ave., Highland, IN 46322. The kiosk is available for use seven days a week, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. For more information, visit IN.gov/BMV. 

Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) released the following statement on the BMV’s announcement:

“While this may not have been an ideal solution when faced with the closure of the BMV branch in Griffith, it's a step forward in improving convenience for the residents of Highland, Griffith and surrounding communities. The BMV Connect Kiosk is a welcome addition, offering local access to services and saving time for many. I encourage all residents to take advantage of this new resource to streamline their BMV transactions and make their lives a little easier." 

Andrade invites veterans and their families to Annual Veteran Turkey Giveaway

On Friday, Nov. 22, State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster), in partnership with U.R.W. Recycling and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana (NWI), will be giving away free turkeys and a bag of groceries to veterans and their families on from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. CST at the American Legion Post 180 (2703 Jewett Ave., Highland, IN 46322). Turkeys will be available while supplies last!

Andrade released the following statement leading up to the event:

“The Annual Veterans Turkey Giveaway event is a way for us to show our unwavering support and appreciation for the individuals who dedicate themselves to serving and protecting our communities. To our active-duty members and veterans - thank you for your courage, dedication and the sacrifices you’ve made to protect our freedoms. We are deeply grateful for your service, and we hope this gesture brings comfort and joy to you and your loved ones during the holiday season.”

Andrade celebrates INDOT community crossing matching grants to improve District 12 roads and bridges

On Nov. 7, Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced the recipients of the Fall 2024 Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. Nearly $140 million was awarded through the program, which is funded by the state’s local road and bridge matching fund.

Several communities in House District 12 will receive Community Crossings grants for Fall 2024. These funds can be used to build and improve local infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges.

The matching grant winners and amounts include:

Griffith: $325,000.00

Munster: $660,442.49

Schererville: $1,048,124.52

State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) issued the following statement celebrating the funding awardees:

“I am excited to share that House District 12 will receive almost $4 million in state funding for crucial community infrastructure improvements. This investment will go towards repairing roads and bridges, as well as initiating new projects to enhance our community. I am dedicated to securing the resources needed to strengthen our infrastructure and provide communities with the support necessary to drive transformative projects.”

Andrade disappointed in the closure of Griffith BMV Branch

Today, Sept. 5, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (IBMV) announced the closure of the Griffith BMV Branch. This decision follows the public hearing the BMV hosted on Aug. 14 where community feedback on the proposed closure was collected. After reviewing the responses, the IBMV Commissioner has decided to move forward with closing the Griffith location.

State Rep. Mike Andrade released the following statement regarding the decision:

“I want to thank the community members who shared their input at last month’s public hearing. BMV branches play a vital role in connecting residents with state resources and often represent their primary interaction with government services. With the Griffith BMV Branch closing, residents will now need to travel outside their community to access these essential services.

“I am deeply disappointed by the IBMV’s decision and will work to ensure that a Connect Kiosk, which offers many common BMV transactions, remains available for the Griffith community.”