Burton announces Working Hoosiers Agenda

Yesterday, Jan. 5, State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) unveiled the House Democrats’ 2026 Working Hoosiers Agenda. The agenda centers on bringing down the cost of living and prioritizes measures to build an Indiana where Hoosiers can get ahead rather than get by. 

Those measures include bringing utility costs down; lowering health care costs and protecting Hoosiers from medical debt; helping Hoosiers buy their first home through housing reform; delivering accessible, affordable and safe child care to working families; and keeping Indiana safe for all Hoosiers. 

Burton issued the following statement in support of the Working Hoosiers Agenda:

"Hoosiers are working hard, but for too many households the cost of living keeps climbing faster than earned wages. The Working Hoosiers Agenda is about putting people first by stabilizing and lowering monthly costs, protecting families from medical debt, helping first-time homeowners, supporting working parents, ensure child care affordability and making sure every Hoosier is safe in their neighborhood. This is a practical, people-focused agenda that prioritize working families, while advocating for policies that position a real shot at getting ahead."

See the full Working Hoosiers Agenda below: 

Priority 1: Provide immediate financial relief on utility bills

1. Eliminate the sales tax on residential utility use

2. Protect Hoosiers from being overcharged by limiting excessive utility company profit margins

3. Pause skyrocketing rate hikes

4. Get big utilities out of politics by ending the appointment of political cronies to consumer watchdog positions and banning spending on political contributions and gifts

Priority 2: Keep Hoosiers healthy through affordable health coverage and guardrails on medical debt

1. Cap insurance premiums

2. Implement a state health exchange

3. Stop medical debt from impacting credit scores

Priority 3: Create generational wealth by empowering more Hoosier homeowners

· Help Hoosiers save for their first home by creating tax-free savings accounts for home purchases

· Establish a first-time homebuyer grant program funded by a tax on investor-owned properties 

· Institute a property tax credit to deliver real and immediate relief for homeowners

Priority 4: Deliver accessible, affordable and safe childcare for working families

1. Create a public-private partnership program to split childcare costs between employers, the state of Indiana and parents

2. Save families money through a childcare tax credit

3. Fully fund Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers to keep daycare centers open and parents at work

Priority 5: Keep Hoosiers safe in their homes and neighborhoods

1. Fund the police, fire, and EMS by taking Senate Enrolled Act 1 back to the drawing board and inviting more public input

2. Keep violent offenders off the streets 

3. Deter violent crimes against law enforcement officers through sentencing enhancements