Pfaff celebrates roads and bridge funding for Vigo County

Vigo County will receive nearly $750,000 through the Indiana Department of Transportation’s (INDOT) Community Crossings Matching Grant Program to improve local roads and bridges. The $749,799.61 in funding will help upgrade infrastructure, making daily commutes safer and more efficient for working Hoosier families, businesses, and visitors in our community. State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) applauded the funding and emphasized its importance for Vigo County residents.

“I’m thrilled that Vigo County has secured nearly $750,000 to improve our local roads and bridges," Pfaff said. "Strong infrastructure means safer commutes, smoother roadways, and a boost to local economic development. Whether it’s getting to work, dropping kids off at school, or transporting goods, these improvements will help make daily life easier for hard working Hoosier families.”

The Community Crossings Matching Grant Program, announced today by Gov. Mike Braun and INDOT, awarded over $200 million statewide to support local infrastructure projects. The program is funded through Indiana’s local road and bridge matching fund, designed to assist counties, cities, and towns in maintaining and upgrading critical transportation networks.

In addition to celebrating this funding, Pfaff highlighted her ongoing efforts to secure long-term road funding solutions for Vigo County. She recently voted for House Bill 1461, now under consideration in the State Senate, which would allow for innovative funding methods to maintain and improve local roads.

“Terre Haute is quite literally the crossroads of America, and we need a road funding formula that reflects that reality," Pfaff said. "I will continue fighting for our fair share of state funding, including pushing to speed up construction of a third lane on I-70. Our community deserves reliable public infrastructure that keeps up with growth and demand.”

Porter comments on property tax proposal: ‘I’m hopeful but realistic’

Today, March 5, the House Ways and Means Committee is hearing testimony on Senate Bill 1, the Senate majority’s plan for property tax relief. The bill would cost local governments $1.4 billion over three years: $239 million in 2026, $485 million in 2027 and $688 million in 2028. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“I’m thankful for the work done on SB 1 thus far, but it still has a way to go before it’s perfect. The property tax growth Hoosiers have seen over the past decade is unsustainable. Hoosiers need a helping hand, but we can’t strip our communities. Your property tax dollars go directly to your neighborhood’s schools, firefighters, police and libraries. 

“Local communities would lose $1.4 billion in the next three years, with school districts losing about $371 million. Our public schools will be in a serious bind. The proposed school funding formula gives them next to nothing, and they’re losing millions in property tax revenue. Then, SB 518 will require our public schools to share the meager dollars they receive with charters. 

“These cuts will have a very real impact. There will continue to be potholes in your roads. Your fire and police departments will shrink. Your child’s class sizes will grow since schools can’t afford to hire teachers. 

“Not to mention, SB 1 prioritizes relief for businesses over Hoosier homeowners. Only about a third of the proposed relief would go to homesteads. I’m hopeful we’ll provide robust relief, but I’m also realistic about the needs of our communities.” 

DeLaney comments on property tax proposal: ‘This is a lose-lose’

Today, March 5, the House Committee on Ways and Means is hearing testimony on Senate Bill 1, the Senate majority’s plan for property taxes.  

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement as the committee began its fourth hour of testimony: 

“Senate Bill 1 would create a reduction in property taxes of an average of $48.10 per homeowner in 2026, eventually reaching $133.58 per homeowner in 2028. This is an inadequate response to the dramatic increase in property taxes on homeowners. It does not address the reduced percentage of property taxes coming from apartment owners and businesses. It seems that the Governor shares this concern as well. 

“At the same time, this bill will reduce funding for schools, police departments and fire departments across the state. Should this proposal go through, it will force local governments to either raise local income taxes or limit vital services. 

“Instead of a 'sweet spot,' this proposal as it stands is a lose-lose. This bill will not reduce property taxes enough to really help homeowners, but it will reduce the ability of localities to take care of the communities they serve. We need better solutions like cutting back the number of taxing units which stands at 2,384 as of today.”

Bauer comments on Gov. Braun’s Executive Order extending parental leave

Today, Mar. 3, Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order extending bereavement and parental leave for state employees.

State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) released the following statement: 

“Today, I’m encouraged to see that Gov. Braun has signed Executive Order (EO) 25-34, which establishes new paid leave policies for state employees who experience childbirth or stillbirth. Under this EO, eligible employed women will receive six weeks of paid childbirth recovery leave, or up to eight weeks if they deliver via C-section. This policy also extends to employees who experience the heartbreaking loss of a pregnancy after 20 weeks. These benefits are now available to all state employees, regardless of how long they’ve been employed.

“In 2022, I authored legislation to expand bereavement and parental leave through House Bill 1244. This bill would have provided full-time employees of state agencies or political subdivisions with 150 hours of paid leave and part-time employees with 75 hours of paid leave upon the birth of their child or their spouse’s child, the adoption of a child, or in the tragic event of a stillbirth.

“Unfortunately, despite the clear need for these measures, the bill did not receive a hearing. In the 2022 Special Session, I proposed an amendment to HB 1001 that mirrored my efforts in HB 1244, once again advocating for expanded parental leave for state employees. This amendment was met with staunch opposition and ultimately voted down with a 29-62 outcome.

“It is disheartening that the legislative Republican majority chose a record of disregarding the voices of working families and the emotional needs of parents during such critical life events. Their lack of support for these essential benefits reflects a troubling disconnect from the realities faced by Hoosier families. While I am pleased to see progress with today’s EO, it is evident that our work is far from over.

“This expansion of paid leave is a significant step forward, but it should not overshadow the fact that there has been a consistent resistance from Republican lawmakers to prioritize the well-being of working families. I, along with my fellow Indiana House Democrats, will continue to push for comprehensive parental leave policies. Parents deserve the time to celebrate the arrival of a child or to grieve the loss of one without the fear of jeopardizing their employment.

“As we move forward, I remain committed to strengthening employee benefits for all Hoosiers. I will persist in filing legislation to ensure that working parents receive the support they need to balance their family responsibilities and careers. It is my hope that we can foster a bipartisan dialogue that truly reflects the needs of the families we serve.”

Op-Ed: Indiana House Democrats want to lower your cost of living. House Republicans should get on board.

During last year’s election cycle, I spent a lot of time on the road around the state, talking with voters about their hopes and their fears. What I heard from Hoosiers across the board was that they’re worried about the cost of living here in Indiana.  

From housing and utilities to health care and education, Hoosiers are sick and tired of life’s essentials costing more like luxuries.  

To help Hoosiers save more of their hard-earned money, the Indiana House Democratic Caucus launched our Working Hoosiers Agenda earlier this year. We’re dead set on lowering costs for Hoosiers, and as such, we’ve offered amendments the past two months for all 100 state representatives to vote on to do just that. 

We offered an amendment to increase the earned income tax credit from 10% to 12% to keep more money in your wallet.  

It’s hard to become a homeowner these days, and to that end, Democrats offered an amendment to create a low-interest first-time homebuyer program. We also tried to give renters relief through increasing the renter’s tax deduction by $1,000. 

Nearly a third of Hoosiers rely on Medicaid and its various programs – HIP, Hoosier Care Connect, Hoosier Healthwise – for health insurance coverage. Indiana Republicans implemented waitlists for children with severe disabilities and seniors who rely on Medicaid. We proposed eliminating these waitlists. Additionally, with President Trump’s promise to cut Medicaid on the federal level, we wanted to set aside $300 million to protect Hoosiers’ health care benefits. 

As for utility costs, we offered amendments to impose a rate hike moratorium, prohibit utilities from charging reconnection fees for customers and prevent utilities from disconnecting service on weekends, holidays, and days during which customer service representatives are not available to customers. We also voted to prohibit utility monopolies from offloading planning costs for uncertain investments onto customers. 

To continue prioritizing working Hoosiers, we proposed raising the income eligibility for pre-K vouchers to the same level as K-12 private school vouchers: $230,880. Pre-K is one of the best ways for young Hoosiers to get ahead in their education. On the other hand, Republican-advanced universal K-12 private school vouchers, with a price tag of $1.3 billion to Hoosier taxpayers, will do little to improve education outcomes.  

Sadly, Indiana House Republicans did not join us in supporting these common-sense proposals to help working Hoosier families get ahead. On top of this, Republican lawmakers advanced legislation that will set working people back.  

Republican-authored House Bill 1174 will expand the predatory lending industry by allowing loan sharks to add misleading fees on top of their already-exploitative interest rates.  

Additionally, House Republicans passed House Bill 1007, the big utility monopoly bailout bill we tried to improve by adding more consumer protections. House Democrats opposed this bill because it is not the responsibility of utility customers to foot the bill for investor-owned companies' business experiments.  

Worse yet, the House Republican budget leaves everyday Hoosiers out to dry. It expands private school vouchers to our state's wealthiest families, leaving less money to educate the nine out of 10 Hoosier kids who choose public schools. The Indiana GOP cuts public health investments, flatlines veterans' funding and cuts child care affordability programs. This is a budget that doesn't care about your wallet.  

As we enter the second half of this year's state legislative session and consider Senate-passed bills, House Democrats remain committed to lowering the cost of living and saving Hoosiers money. We're fighting for an Indiana where you can get ahead financially and make your goals a reality. We'll keep inviting Indiana Republicans to support Democratic proposals to create a future where all Hoosiers can thrive. 

Op-ed: Fighting Addiction by supporting HB 1358 & FDA-Approved non-opioid alternatives for Hoosiers

As an elected Indiana state representative, my unwavering commitment is to the health and safety of constituents, especially the most vulnerable among us. The opioid epidemic has devastated countless families in my district and across our state and doesn’t care about your color, socioeconomic status or who you voted for in the last election. That is why I introduced HB 1358, a bill designed to reduce opioid prescriptions and promote the use of FDA-approved non-opioid medications.

Despite the decision by super-majority Republicans not to give my bill a hearing, I hope to amend this language into a bill before the end of the current legislative session this April. It would prevent the State of Indiana from imposing greater coverage restrictions on a non-opioid drug prescribed for the treatment or management of pain than the coverage restrictions placed on an opioid drug prescribed to treat or manage pain for the Medicaid program or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It would ensure that state-run healthcare programs have equal access to non-addictive, non-opioid alternatives to pain management for the Hoosiers they serve.

A few weeks ago, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved suzetrigine (marketed as Journavx). This first-of-its-kind non-opioid medication offers patients a new way to manage pain without risking opioid addiction. It is the first new class of pain management medication in more than 20 years and represents a significant advancement in treating acute pain. HB 1358 seeks to integrate innovative, non-addictive treatments into our state government practices and programs.

The opioid epidemic has already cost us too many lives, and by adopting HB 1358, we can give healthcare providers more tools to treat pain without relying on opioids. It is good public policy. Our state should be offering safer alternatives. By adopting the language in my bill, we can ensure that medical advancements are accessible to all Hoosiers, promoting better health outcomes and a brighter future for our communities.

Hatcher stands up for Indiana’s underrepresented communities in response to HB 1008

Last week, State Rep. Ragen Hatcher (D-Gary), voiced her opinion on House Bill 1008 and said Indiana should prioritize Hoosier before trying to help other counties in other states. The bill would establish the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission, a commission with five members appointed by the governor and five appointed under Illinois law, to discuss adjustments to the boundaries between the two states. 

Hatcher initially supported the bill in committee to draw attention to the similarities between Indiana's underrepresented communities and the 33 Illinois counties attempting to secede. The City of Gary has been historically disenfranchised by the state legislature. The most recent example of the legislature's overreach is last year's HB 1235, which attempts to kill a lawsuit, Gary v. Smith & Wesson, that would hold firearm manufacturers accountable for predatory marketing. Hatcher voted against HB 1008 on the House floor, echoing the belief that Indiana should care for its own before expanding its boundaries.

Hatcher said the following on the House floor:

“In committee, I supported the core idea behind this bill because as a representative from Gary and as a Democrat in Indiana, I deeply understand what it feels like to be underrepresented in the Statehouse. I understand what it means to be overlooked time and time again. Legislation directly affecting Gary has been introduced and advanced by lawmakers from other areas without input from those of us who represent the communities of Northwest Indiana. 

“Just last session, this body once again inserted itself into a 25-year lawsuit, by blocking our city's attempt to hold gun manufacturers accountable for the violence plaguing our streets. This body has enacted tax policies that have left our public schools and infrastructure underfunded. Education policies passed here have led to an increase in charter and voucher schools in our community, which operate with far less oversight and accountability to the students they serve. We can't even vote for our own judges. Now, even this year, even in this session, Gary remains under the scrutiny of this legislature. Decisions regarding the Gary Airport Board and casino funds are being made without any meaningful consideration of the plans, vision or input from our city's elected leadership, leaders chosen by the very people who call Gary home.

“During the hearing on this secession bill, I listened to the testimonies of the people from Illinois, and I related to their concerns. I understood their frustration. They live in an area where they feel politically underrepresented. Where they struggle to have their voices heard. But their challenge stems from living in a state dominated by a Democratic majority. We in Indiana face the opposite reality. Here, urban areas are underrepresented in this chamber, even though the majority of Indiana's tax base comes from the Democratic side of the aisle. Yet, as a superminority, we have little say on critical issues like the state budget or education policy.

“I urge this body to listen, not just to those from another state who are seeking a place in Indiana, but also to the voices of communities that are already here. Let's give the same attention and consideration to the concerns of Indiana's own underrepresented regions as we're giving to those from outside our state border.”

Porter votes no on House Republican state budget

Today, Feb. 20, the House passed the state budget with a vote of 66 to 27. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), the ranking minority member of the House Ways and Means Committee, voted no on House Bill 1001. 

Porter released the following statement on his no-vote: 

“I cannot in good conscience support this budget proposal from the majority party. When we drill down to the foundation of the bill, it’s not solid by any means. It’s not sound because so many cornerstones, essential programs for Hoosiers, are absent or underfunded. 

“This proposal will not move our state forward, in fact, it may pull us backward. The funding for K-12 will not support our schools. Medicaid is hanging in the balance from potential federal cuts. Local public health programs that support our mothers and daughters will receive less funding. 

“We need a budget that provides the greatest good for the greatest number. This is not a budget for the greatest good of the people.” 

Moed supports bill to provide significant road funding increase to Indy

Today, Feb. 20,  House Bill 1461 passed a vote in the House chamber and heads to the Senate for consideration. The bill was successfully amended to include a provision that provides an additional $50 million to Marion County for secondary streets if the city matches the allocation from local funds. The bill also creates a new funding formula for local governments based on total lane mileage, resulting in more funding coming to Indianapolis. 

State Rep. Justin Moed (D-Indianapolis) has been a long-time advocate for improving Indiana’s road funding formula. For the past five years, Moed has filed a bill to significantly increase road funding for Marion County. This session he filed HB 1085 which contains language similar to HB 1461.  

Moed released the following statement: 

“After years of advocating for a change to our road funding formula, we’ve finally made significant headway. Our current system is imbalanced for high-population centers like Indianapolis. It doesn’t consider how many lanes or how busy a road is to decide the amount a local government needs, leaving our city short-changed in funding.  

“I applaud Speaker Huston and Rep. Pressel for working with a bipartisan group of mayors and representatives from Central Indiana to help bring more fairness to the way our state funds local roads. If HB 1461 becomes law, cities will be better funded to maintain and repair neighborhood streets."

Summers’ trauma-informed care bill passes out of House of Representatives

Today, Feb. 20, House Bill 1241 passed out of the House of Representatives and heads to the Senate for further consideration. The bill, authored by State Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis), creates a Trauma-Informed Care Commission to review best practices for providing health care to trauma victims.

 "A recent study found that 41% of Hoosier children have suffered significant hardships, from divorce to violence to substance abuse, which have impacted their personal and academic lives and their mental health," Summers said. "This bill is a good first step at helping individuals and their families heal and preventing these traumas from occurring in the first place. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this across the finish line for Hoosiers in need."

DeLaney keeps his word, opposes funding increase for Secretary of State

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would revert the funding for the Secretary of State’s office to what was allotted in 2023. 

This comes after a tense exchange between DeLaney and Secretary Diego Morales in the House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 15 about his employment of a relative, awarding of ‘spot’ bonuses and awarding no-bid contracts to potential campaign donors. The video of the exchange has over 2.1 million views across social media platforms. The amendment failed on party lines by a vote of 26-68. 

“In January, I demanded answers from Secretary of State Diego Morales about the financial shenanigans in his office,” DeLaney said. “ I was met with deafening silence. He refused to admit that he hired his brother-in-law for a newly created position and paid him over $100,000. He refused to admit that he offered no-bid contracts to companies that became major campaign contributors. He refused to explain his spot bonus program. 

“On that day in January, I promised to vote against sending any additional funding to the office of the Secretary of State. 

“Hoosier taxpayers deserve to know that their dollars are being used responsibly. This man cannot be trusted with state money. I cannot in good conscience vote for any measure that gives another cent to Secretary Morales.

“With the push from my colleagues across the aisle to ‘drain the swamp’ and reduce bureaucratic waste and corruption, I am surprised at the willingness to give our Secretary of State additional funding in this already-tight budget.”  

DeLaney offers amendment to support first-time homebuyers

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would require the state treasurer to establish a first-time homebuyer loan program. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 29-67. 

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

“I am troubled by the fact that we have made it halfway through session without addressing the barrier our young people face to homeownership. The average age of a first-time homebuyer in this nation is reported to be 38. That is unacceptable. 

“Nobody loses from investing in young people. By offering reduced-interest loans for first-time homebuyers, we would make our state more attractive for young families. In turn, this will boost our workforce, economy and property tax base. 

“The bottom line is that the market is failing young families trying to settle down and build generational equity. If we cannot act to provide a backstop when the markets don’t work, then why are we here?”