DeLaney offers amendment to protect Hoosiers from federal funding cuts

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would allow the state surplus to be used to restore funding for state programs if they are impacted by federal funding cuts. The amendment failed along party lines by a vote of 29-65. 

DeLaney released the following statement following the defeat of his amendment on the House floor: 

“This is the most serious thing I have offered all session. We are in danger of falling off a funding cliff if the federal government cuts cost us billions of dollars. If the President is successful in cutting the programs he wants to, our legislature will face tough decisions to save our citizens from losing access to critical services. 

“One of my proudest moments in the Statehouse was when former Gov. Mike Pence expanded health care access for thousands of Hoosiers when he created the Healthy Indiana Plan. Now, we stand to lose tens of millions of dollars if the federal government cuts Medicaid, and thousands of Hoosiers face losing access to health care. 

“Health research. Veterans resources. Road funding. Infrastructure improvement. Agriculture support. Education programs. Hoosiers relying on these essential services will be in serious trouble if our new federal leadership is successful in cutting off funding. 

“Even my colleagues across the aisle acknowledge that our budget is at risk of Washington leaving us out to dry. We must protect Hoosiers from this potential financial catastrophe.”

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?”

Hamilton offers amendment to expand pre-k

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D- Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would expand eligibility for the On My Way Pre-K program. 

“In the last budget, the Republican supermajority carved out over $1 billion to expand the school voucher program to upper-income households," Hamilton said. "We are back two years later to craft the state budget with a proposal on the table to make the school choice voucher program universal (subsidizing private school tuition for even the wealthiest households), but we have done nothing to move the needle on pre-K. 

“Indiana remains one of only six states that lacks a state-funded pre-K program. Now, the wealthiest families in Indiana will have access to private school on the state dime, while 85% of our 4-year-olds still lack access to pre-K. Currently, to qualify for the state’s On My Way Pre-K program, a family of four must earn less than 127% of the federal poverty limit (FPL), or $38,100 per year. This amendment would increase eligibility to 400% of the FPL, or $128,600 for a family of four.

"My colleagues say they care about improving literacy and math skills for Hoosier students and this amendment helps achieve those goals. A Purdue University study found children in Indiana's On My Way Pre-K voucher program score higher in literacy skills, school readiness and language than children from similar economic backgrounds who attended lower-quality pre-K programs. It's time to make this program available to more Hoosier children.

“Expanding pre-K will not only improve academic performance but also boost our economy. According to research from Indiana University, investment in early care and learning provides a $4 return for every $1 spent. Parents forced to cut back hours or leave the workforce altogether because they can’t afford child care will be able to return to work earlier if they have access to pre-K. This small investment is a win-win for Indiana families and our economy.  It’s past time to join the majority of states and get this done.”

Dant Chesser fights for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser (D-Jeffersonville) supported an amendment to the state budget that would have reinstated funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Parton’s early literacy program mails free books to children under the age of 5 regardless of income or location. The program grew to all 92 counties in Indiana with a matching grant of $6 million in 2023. 

Dant Chesser gave the following floor speech in support of the program: 

“I fully support restoring and increasing state funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. I’ve received more calls from Hoosiers in my area about restoring this funding than any other cut in the state budget. As of 2023, one in five third graders lacked basic reading skills. This program is a much-needed investment in Indiana’s future. 

“Two years ago, the General Assembly expanded this program statewide to make books available to children under five in every Indiana zip code. Dolly’s Library is free to the children enrolled, and local Imagination Library partners only pay 50% of their local program cost with the remaining 50% paid by the state. 

“As we consider the role of public funding to support Hoosier families, I implore you to consider how we foster a culture of lifelong learning. It starts with the family. Helping families establish a love of reading is the best way to spark the fire of gaining the knowledge contained in books. Future educational metrics, future workforce readiness, and future entrepreneurial goals – many of these priorities already passed out of this chamber, depend upon our success in early childhood. I urge your support of this amendment.” 

House Republicans strike down ‘A Budget for the People’

On Feb. 19, House Republicans rejected efforts by the Indiana House Democratic Caucus to craft a state budget that truly supports Hoosiers. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) presented the proposal, which was offered as a master amendment to House Bill 1001. The amendment would have boosted programs centered on public health, K-12 education and more while still providing balanced tax relief. 

“The people spoke,” Porter said. “They did what they were supposed to do. They came to this legislative body and pleaded for the funding they needed in this budget. Once again, those pleas fell on the deaf ears of a supermajority.”  

Porter’s master amendment includes:

1. Protecting Medicaid:

1. Providing an additional $300 million for the Medicaid program to cushion potential federal cuts.

2. Increasing the cigarette tax to fund 5,000 slots for the PathWays for Aging Waiver and 5,000 slots for the Health and Wellness Waiver. 

3. Protecting the C.H.O.I.C.E. program and increasing its allocation to $55 million per year. 

2. Supporting our Children: 

1. Providing at least a true 2% increase to all schools. 

2. Making the On My Way Pre-K program universal by increasing the income eligibility threshold to 400% of the federal poverty level.  

3. Providing $8 million to continue Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

4. Restoring the Health First Indiana program to its 2023 allocation of $150 million. 

3. Creating Balanced Tax Relief: 

1. Increasing the income tax credit from 10% to 12%. 

2. Increasing the renter’s deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. 

4. Fighting for Financial Equity: 

1. Restoring the Indiana Commission for Women with an allocation of close to $227,000. 

2. Restoring the Commission of Race and Gender Fairness with an allocation of roughly $1.8 million, of which $500,000 is used to provide court interpreters for non-English speakers. 

5. Improving Quality of Life 

1. Preserving our outdoors with $30 million for trails and $25 million for land preservation.

2. Increasing the funding for our veteran's service organizations by $1.6 million.   

“Our budget would have helped Hoosiers during these unprecedented times,” Porter said. “From education to public health, we can do more to grow the quality of life in our state. Their vote against this proposal was a vote against Hoosiers.” 

Bill to extend military income tax exemption heading to the Senate

Today, Feb. 18, House Bill 1280 passed out of the House unanimously and is heading to the Senate. HB 1280 extends the individual income tax exemption for military pay to cover members of the United States Space Force, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.

State Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Indianapolis), author of HB 1280, issued the following statement:

“Hoosiers who work every day to keep the people of our state and our nation safe deserve all the support available from Indiana’s government. That support includes allowing service members to keep more of their hard-earned money. The men and women who selflessly dedicate their careers to the United States Space Force, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps deserve to be included in the military income tax exemption and military retirement and survivor’s benefits.

“Supporting our uniformed service members is an issue that transcends political parties. I am thankful to my colleagues across the aisle for sharing my dedication to the well-being of Hoosier service members and veterans. I look forward to working with the Senate to get this policy passed into law and get more dollars into the wallets of Hoosier military families.”

Harris’ sports development bill passes House, advances to Senate

A bill establishing the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission has passed a House floor vote and now heads to the Senate for further consideration. Authored by State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D- East Chicago), this piece of legislation continues the work of his late father, Rep. Earl Harris Sr., who originated the idea of bringing a professional sports franchise to Northwest Indiana.

House Bill 1292 will study potential opportunities for attracting a franchise to The Region. The commission will be responsible for creating a master plan for the necessary infrastructure and facilities needed to attract and support a franchise.

 "We're in a prime location for economic development, and this bill takes a major step toward bringing professional sports to the Region. A professional sports franchise would not only generate jobs and revenue but also introduce a new identity for northwest Indiana" Harris said.

 "Over the past several years, we've taken significant strides to build up Northwest Indiana. From the Gary/Chicago International Airport to casinos to the upcoming convention center, we've put a lot of work into making Northwest Indiana the best it can be. This bill is just another step in that direction."

Boy’s HB 1376 passes out of the House of Representatives

Today, Feb. 18, State Rep. Pat Boy’s (D-Michigan City) House Bill 1376 passed on third reading in the House of Representatives.

This bill changes the definition of "emergency medication" in the Indiana Code. It expands access to life-saving medication in schools by clarifying that "a federal Food and Drug Administration approved opioid overdose reversal medication" can be made available in schools rather than only naloxone. This would expand the state's recognition of opioid reversal drugs.

Boy released the following statement on the bill's passage:

"In 2022, the DEA reported nearly 75,000 deaths as a result of opioid overdoses in our country. This is a crisis that needs to be addressed at the highest levels. House Bill 1376 expands the definition of 'emergency medications' to include all drugs that could potentially provide life-saving treatment in the event of an opioid overdose. While this is a great step forward, more work needs to be done on this issue."

"These medications need to be more readily available," Boy continued. "The lives of too many Hoosiers hang in the balance. I am hopeful that the step we took today will lead to more conversations about what we can do to help people battling addiction in our state. I am absolutely committed to finding solutions that will end the needless loss of life caused by opioid overdoses in Indiana."

House Bill 1376 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

Porter introduces ‘A Budget for the People’

Today, Feb. 18, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), presented the Indiana House Democratic Caucus’ budget proposal in his master amendment to House Bill 1001. The caucus’ goal is to reinstate critical programs cut by the Republican supermajority while prioritizing the desires of Hoosiers–including fully funding K-12 public education, protecting Medicaid and providing for our veterans. 

Porter pointed to several highlights of the House Democratic budget proposal that Hoosiers spoke out about during the budget process, including: 

• An additional $300 million for the Medicaid program to protect Hoosiers from potential federal cuts. 

• Eliminating the waitlists for the PathWays for Aging Waiver and the Health and Wellness Waiver to ensure health care coverage for roughly 11,000 Hoosiers. 

• Providing at least a true 2% increase to ALL schools. 

• Increasing the allocation for the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other veterans service organizations. 

• Increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit from 10% to 12% and increasing the Renter’s Deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. 

• Making the On My Way Pre-K program universal. 

He also pointed out worrisome inclusions in the Republican budget, including:

• Traditional public schools would only get a 1.3% increase since the funding would be shared with the voucher program and charter schools. Many school districts would receive cuts. 

• Zero funding for the College Success Program (CSP), which benefits Indiana’s minority and low-income college students. 

• A cut of $50 million in the Health First Indiana Program, which was used by Indiana’s counties to improve their local health programs. 

• Zero funding to continue Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. 

• Increasing the amount virtual charter schools receive from 85% to 100%, putting Hoosiers’ hard-earned dollars at risk. Two virtual charters were sued by the state to recoup $154 million, and the trial is still ongoing. 

“You spoke. We listened. We acted,” Porter said. “The House Democrat state budget has one purpose in mind: to help our people. It’s the inherent purpose of this body to help Hoosiers and improve their quality of life. That purpose extends to how we spend our money. It’s taxpayer’s money and it should be spent on programs they want. The state is simply the holder of the purse strings.  

“For the past couple of years, our government has operated like a corporation. We’re investing in massive development projects, kicking people off their health care plans to cut costs and cutting our agencies by 5% while those in charge get a 150% raise. We need to prioritize K-12 public education, Medicaid and other programs that improve quality of life. Let’s create a state budget for the people that truly benefits them.”   

Pryor’s amendments struck down in Ways and Means Committee

Today, Feb. 17, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) offered several amendments to the state budget during the House Committee on Ways and Means. These amendments were focused on increasing the quality of life of working Hoosiers, first responders and new mothers. 

Three of the amendments Pryor offered focused on supporting working Hoosiers by expanding the allocation for mass public transportation from $45 million to $65 million, increasing the renter’s deduction by $1,000 and exempting breastfeeding items from state sales tax. 

“Indiana recently ranked as the 6th highest state in the nation for the percent of adults who experienced difficulty keeping up with everyday expenses,” Pryor said. “Part of this affordability crisis comes down to the high cost of renting and lack of access to public transportation. 

“Indiana is one of the worst states in the nation to be a renter. I offered an amendment to give Hoosier renters some relief with an increased renter’s deduction. In Indianapolis, a quarter of all renters are severely cost-burdened, meaning they are forced to spend half of their income on rent. When people are paying a majority of their income to keep a roof over their heads, they struggle to keep up with the increasing cost of living in terms of utilities and groceries. This amendment would have put money back into the pockets of Hoosier renters. 

“Additionally, I offered an amendment to increase the allocation for mass public transportation. With the increasing cost of living, many people simply cannot afford the cost of owning a car and paying for gas. This is why it is so important to make sure that we have adequate public transportation. Access to public transportation has been shown to significantly increase quality of life as people can reach employment opportunities, grocery stores, resources, doctor's appointments and more. 

“I also offered an amendment to make breastfeeding items exempt from the state sales tax. Charging a sales tax for necessary items such as breast pumps creates barriers for new mothers that increases the difficulty of an already challenging time. These items provide the basic need of food to our newborn babies.”  

Pryor also offered an amendment using the language from House Bill 1352, authored by State Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond), to establish the Indiana first responders mental health wellness fund and program. 

“The rate of suicide amongst first responders is significantly higher than the rest of the population. These brave individuals put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities. From running into a burning building, to resuscitating someone after a car accident, to showing up to a crime scene, first responders regularly experience traumatic situations. This amendment, which inserts language from HB 1352 authored by Rep. Carolyn Jackson, would establish a fund to help first responders access mental health resources that could save their lives.” 

All of Pryor’s amendments were struck down by the Republican supermajority. 

Dant Chesser bill to create options for Medicare Supplement Insurance heads to the Senate

Today, Feb. 17, House Bill 1226 passed a vote on the House floor and heads to the Senate for consideration.  Authored by State Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser (D-Jeffersonville), this bill provides cost-saving opportunities to seniors by allowing them to take advantage of “The Birthday Rule.” This allows those enrolled in Medigap coverage the chance to shop for Medical Supplement Plans without underwriting within 60 days of their birthday, as long as they maintain the same type of plan. 

Dant Chesser gave the following statement:

“I’m excited that this bill passed the House and is headed to the Senate. I authored this legislation after hearing from a constituent who needed to find affordable insurance. Jeffersonville is on the state border, and ‘The Birthday Rule’ exists in Kentucky but not our state. Thanks to those who brought this forward to close Indiana’s gap in our Medicare coverage. 

“Our health care system is extremely difficult to navigate. Insurance is confusing, and it gets even more convoluted when states have differing protections. HB 1226 will streamline the process of Medicare Supplement insurance and cut costs for our seniors. In other states where ‘The Birthday Rule’ exists, seniors have saved close to $800, which makes a difference to those on a fixed income. They’re able to shop around for a program that works best for them, and this bill protects them from discriminatory prices due to medical history or health status. 

“I promised myself I would do something to provide our seniors with some relief. For those dependent on Medicare coverage, HB 1226 can streamline Medicare Supplement insurance and make it a little bit more cost-effective. I look forward to the consideration of my bill in the Senate.” 

Shackleford’s HB 1065 passes out of the House of Representatives

Today, Feb. 17, State Rep. Robin Shackleford’s (D-Indianapolis) House Bill 1065, which aims to ease the financial burden for cancer patients participating in clinical trials, passed out of the House of Representatives and will go to the Senate for further consideration. If passed into law, the bill would create the Cancer Clinical Trial Participation Program. This program would allow independent third parties, such as patient groups, corporations or government entities, to cover ancillary costs for patients taking part in clinical trials in Indiana.

“Every year, millions of Hoosiers face a cancer diagnosis. The extreme emotional and physical burden that comes with a cancer diagnosis should not be accompanied by financial hardship. The Cancer Clinical Trial Participation Program would provide funding for people who wish to travel to take part in a potentially life-saving clinical trial. Several other states have started programs like this and had great success. No one should miss out on the opportunity for live saving treatment because of the financial burden,” Shackleford said.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Indiana, with an estimated 2.4 million Hoosiers, or approximately two in five people, eventually facing a diagnosis. Despite the importance of clinical trials in discovering new treatments, less than 7% of eligible patients currently participate. Barriers to participation include the cost of travel, lodging, and missed work, which can be a significant burden on patients and their families.

"This bill is an example of how bipartisanship can work to bring tangible benefits to our constituents," Shackleford continued. "My hope is that the two parties can continue to work together on issues like this so we can improve public health in our state for all people."