Garcia Wilburn to advocate for sexual assault survivors in 2025 legislative session

As the 2025 legislative session fast approaches, State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) has unveiled two of the 10 bills she intends to file this session, both supporting sexual assault survivors.

One piece of legislation would establish a sexual assault survivor bill of rights, which advocates called for during a 2024 Corrections and Criminal Code Interim Study Committee. One advocate testified during committee that her efforts to seek justice and receive a full investigation were met with hostility and additional trauma from not being supported by the criminal justice system. This includes provisions such as addressing Indiana's rape kit backlog and guaranteeing that victims can obtain a copy of the law enforcement report concerning the sexual assault. 

"From our extensive rape kit backlog to a reporting process that further violates victims, Indiana has work to do when it comes to truly supporting survivors of sexual assault," Garcia Wilburn said. "The legislature has not been in session since March, and since then, I've focused on meeting with survivors and advocates, members of our very own community. One in every five Hoosier women has been sexually assaulted and I know we can improve the sexual assault investigation process in our state. I believe that a sexual assault survivor bill of rights that affirmatively states what promises Indiana must keep to survivors is a necessary step to ensure that we move past statements of support to implementing statewide change."

The second bill would create a sentencing enhancement for sexual battery that is committed against a law enforcement officer. Under the bill, this crime would result in a Level 4 felony, whereas other instances of sexual battery incur a Level 6 felony.

"Our law enforcement officers need to know that the state has their back if they experience the horror of sexual battery while in the line of duty," Garcia Wilburn said. "Putting on the badge is no light undertaking, and the sad reality is that there are individuals out there who want to harm and violate our officers. My hope is that this legislation would serve as an additional deterrent for those who would commit an unimaginable crime against a brave member of our blue family."

The 2025 legislative session is set to begin on Jan. 8, 2025.

Garcia Wilburn invites youth to attend Council on Youth Mental Health

Hey, young people of Carmel, Fishers, and Nora: It's okay to not be okay. But there are things you can to do feel better and help those around you struggling with the same mental health problems as you.

In light of recent reports showing Indiana youth face an unprecedented mental health crisis, State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn is inviting House District 32 youth to attend a youth mental health discussion with her on Monday, Nov. 18.

"We're Listening: Youth Council on the State of Youth Mental Health" will include:

• A free pizza dinner;

• An open dialogue with Rep. Garcia Wilburn on the mental health and wellbeing of you and your friends;

• Tools for advocating for more mental health support from the Indiana state government; and

• A workshop on how to cope and deal with mental health issues.

"This discussion and workshop is specifically for some of my youngest constituents – middle and high schoolers," Garcia Wilburn said. "As a mom and someone who works with kids all the time, I can see that your generation is struggling. I want to hear from you on what challenges you're facing. I'll also provide you with the tools to cope and help you move from hopelessness to hope by discussing how you can advocate for better mental health resources from our state government so that you and other kids in the future don't have to deal with this same struggle. I hope to see you there!"

"We're Listening: Youth Council on the State of Youth Mental Health" will take place on Monday, Nov. 18 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Fishers Public Library (5 Municipal Drive, Fishers, IN 46038) in the Center Room. While the event is for middle and high school-aged youth, parents are of course encouraged to attend.

Garcia Wilburn joins fellow Behavioral Health Commission legislators to discuss final 2024 report, opportunities for legislative action

Today (Oct. 1), State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) joined the three other legislators serving alongside her on the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission (BHC) and Commission Chair Jay Chaudhary to discuss the BHC's final 2024 report and its policy recommendations for improving behavioral and mental health in Indiana.

Garcia Wilburn passed a law in 2023 to require all first responders undergo mental health and resiliency training and plans to work on additional behavioral health legislation during the 2025 legislative session.

Garcia Wilburn released the following statement on today's press conference:

“The work of the Behavioral Health Commission is meaningful to me both as a clinician and researcher. I was extremely proud of the bipartisan fashion of today's press conference with State Sens. Michael Crider and Andrea Hunley and State Rep. Cindy Ledbetter, because behavioral health progress need not be partisan.

“Today, I talked about the importance of growing the behavioral and mental healthcare workforce pipeline in the short and long term. We need to create a system that works for those operating within it in a sustainable way. All 92 counties, including Hamilton and Marion Counties, are designated mental health workforce shortage areas.    

“Indiana has several barriers that prohibit certain healthcare providers from providing the behavioral health services they could be administering, so we need to work to break down the institutional silos and licensing issues that are keeping us from making progress while still ensuring patients receive quality care. I also personally want to work to provide more support to our frontline first responders so that we continue to fight the high rates of suicide, burnout and PTSD that these professions face. Finally, we need to make sure that students know that behavioral health careers are scientific, evidence-based professions that they can pursue, especially as we contemplate the high school diploma redesign.”