Harris: “1002 is a start, but Hoosiers need relief”

Today, Jan. 28, the Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 1002 after rejecting a dozen amendments from Indiana House Democrats to provide immediate utility bill relief. The bill aims to lower utility bills throughout the state. State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) voted yes on the bill, but issued the following statement urging the supermajority to do more for Hoosiers:

"House Bill 1002 is a start, but Hoosiers need relief now. In Northwest Indiana and throughout the state, Hoosiers are struggling to keep up with their utility bills. House Bill 1002 should have been an easy way to give consumers long-term relief from rising costs that both sides of the aisle could unanimously support. Instead, Indiana Republicans offered a weak bill that does the bare minimum to help Hoosiers struggling to get by. The amendments my colleagues offered would have gone a long way in providing real relief; from eliminating the sales tax on residential utility bills to banning disconnections during the coldest months of the year. It's a shame the supermajority couldn't do more for Hoosiers."

Bartlett bill to honor retired lawmakers passes through committee

Today, Jan. 27, House Bill 1122, authored by State Rep. John L. Bartlett (D-Indianapolis) passed through the House Committee on Roads and Transportation by a vote of 11-1 and now moves to the House floor. The bill would provide retired Indiana lawmakers who served in either the House of Representatives for 10 years or Senate for 12 years with a special license plate.

Bartlett issued the following statement on the bill's passage:

"We have a lot of folks from various public service professions who have retiree plates, and I think lawmakers should be among that group. This is a great way to honor the men and women who have dedicated large portions of their adult lives to bettering the state of Indiana, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this passed through the House."

Harris amendment to boost tourism added to bill in committee

Today, Jan. 22, State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) successfully amended House Bill 1210 in the House Ways and Means Committee. Harris' amendment allows an individual to petition for a tourism improvement district within a county, city or town. Following a petition, a local unit's legislative body may adopt the ordinance with support from local businessowners.

Harris issued the following statement:

"Tourism is a vital part of creating a robust economy, and anything that we can do to help communities attract more visitors is a step in the right direction. This starts with giving communities opportunities to build up their downtowns and metro areas to not only support current local businesses, but to encourage growth.

"The Region is a great example of this growth. From the Hard Rock Casino and the Gary/Chicago International Airport to the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission – which I created through legislation – and beaches and restaurants, there has been significant growth in northwest Indiana in recent years. This growth has opened the doors for several exciting opportunities, like the possibility of bringing the Chicago Bears to our community. I want to continue to grow The Region through tourism, and I want communities throughout the state to have that same opportunity. I'd like to thank my fellow members of the Ways and Means Committee for accepting this amendment, and I look forward to supporting House Bill 1210 as it moves through the General Assembly."

The bill passed through committee unanimously.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. We should be focused on it year-round

Since 2007, January has been the official Human Trafficking Awareness Month– a time set aside to consider the impact of the crime on the roughly 27.6 million people trafficked worldwide. From forced labor to sexual violence, it's important that we use this month to think about the victims and work toward solutions to this heinous crime.

However, this is something we should be doing year-round. Human trafficking is one of the worst imaginable crimes, and it's happening in all 50 states, U.S. territories and throughout the world. As the Crossroads of America, Indiana is a particularly vulnerable state for human trafficking, with traffickers transporting victims through the state via our highways. While reliable data can be difficult to find due to underreporting, roughly 185 victims of human trafficking were identified in Indiana in 2023 alone.

Both of us are active in our respective communities of Indianapolis and Northwest Indiana to raise awareness of human trafficking. Last year, Rep. Bartlett's House Enrolled Act 1416 was signed into law, requiring rest areas, gas stations and welcome centers to display human trafficking awareness information. When individuals are being trafficked, public restrooms are often the only time they are away from their abuser. This information, which includes the number for the National Human Trafficking Hotline, can help victims reach safety.

This session, Rep. Bartlett has filed House Concurrent Resolution 6, recognizing January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Indiana. We want to do everything possible to honor survivors of human trafficking, but we also need to be working hard to prevent the crime from happening in the first place. This starts by raising public awareness of the warning signs of human trafficking and the risk factors for victimization.

Individuals with unstable living situations, facing poverty or addiction or who have previously experienced other forms of violence are more at risk for being trafficked. People of all ages, races, genders and ethnicities are impacted by this crime.

Human trafficking is an abhorrent practice, and the horrifying realities of the crime make it an uncomfortable topic to discuss. We owe it to the victims and survivors, however, to keep talking about human trafficking and working to find solutions that will get more victims to safety and prevent others from becoming victimized in the first place. 

We all play a role in keeping our neighbors safe. Knowing the warning signs of human trafficking and looking out for those in your community who may be at risk is a great first start in doing so.

IBLC meets with Gov. Braun to discuss agenda, next steps for Indiana

On Jan. 7, members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) met with Gov. Mike Braun to discuss issues facing Hoosiers, including child care, health care, education and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), as well as action items to ensure Hoosiers get the relief they need.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the IBLC, issued the following statement regarding the meeting:

"Our meeting with Gov. Braun was productive. The governor expressed interest in collaborating with us to fix Indiana's health care system and to increase child care throughout the state. We're in the process of scheduling further meetings with him and his team, along with state agency representatives, care providers and community leaders throughout the legislative session to work together to make Indiana a state that works for everyone.

"The IBLC intends to get a lot of work done to help Hoosiers, and that will take cooperation and collaboration from folks across the aisle. If we're all willing to work together for the sake of bettering our state, I have faith that we can get meaningful legislation across the finish line this session."

Harris announces Working Hoosiers Agenda

This week, State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), unveiled his 2026 Working Hoosiers Agenda, along with the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus' (IBLC) "Working Families, Winning Futures" agenda. The agendas center on bringing down the cost of living and prioritizes measures to build an Indiana where Hoosiers can get ahead rather than get by.

Harris' agenda tackles barriers to homeownership, increases access to nutritional foods, expands health care access and helps more Hoosiers get a post-secondary education.

"As the representative for House District 2 and chair of the IBLC, I've had the opportunity to speak with Hoosiers throughout the state during the interim of 2025, and one thing is clear: Hoosiers need help to make ends meet.

"The facts speak for themselves. The average age of a Hoosier homeowner is now 40. The majority of Hoosiers with a bachelor's degree have an average of $30,000 in debt. Nearly 130,000 children in Indiana don't have health insurance. These folks aren't just statistics, they're our neighbors. And when our neighbors are struggling, our entire community struggles. My legislative agenda, along with the 2026 IBLC agenda, seeks to strengthen our communities by lifting up our neighbors."

 Harris' full legislative agenda includes:

• House Bill 1135, which establishes the Housing Downpayment Assistance Fund and limits the number of single-family residences that can be owned by one person or entity.

• House Bill 1136, which prohibits colleges and universities from raising tuition fees for students throughout the course of their education.

• House Bill 1154, which creates the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program to address food insecurity on college campuses

• House Bill 1159, which requires school corporations to conduct vision testing for prekindergarten students.

IBLC unveils “Working Families, Winning Futures” legislative agenda

Today, Jan. 6, members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), announced their 2026 legislative agenda: "Working Families, Winning Futures." The multi-pronged agenda aims to lower the cost of living, ease the burden of medical debt, address rising utility fees and lower the barriers to homeownership.

"For years, we've heard our colleagues in the Republican supermajority tout the strength of Indiana's economy," IBLC chair State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) said. "Unfortunately, Hoosiers aren't seeing that strength when they look at their bank accounts. The supposed strength of our economy was built on the backs of our most vulnerable: our working class, our sick and disabled and our working parents. An economy that prioritizes the few over the many is not strong; it's predatory. We want a strong state for business and innovation, but we can have that without leaving our working Hoosiers behind."

The "Working Families, Winning Futures" agenda includes:

House Bill 1317, authored by State Rep. John Bartlett (D-Indianapolis)

House Bill 1100, authored by State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville)

House Bill 1135, authored by State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago)

House Bill 1324, authored by State Rep. Ragen Hatcher (D-Gary)

Senate Bill 152, authored by State Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis)

Senate Bill 153, authored by State Sen. La Keisha Jackson (D-Indianapolis)

House Bill 1126, authored by State Rep. Renee Pack (D-Indianapolis)

House Bill 1026, authored by State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis)

House Bill 1111, authored by State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis)

Senate Bill 20, authored by State Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D-East Chicago)

House Bill 1181, authored by State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis)

House Bill 1081, authored by State Rep. Vernon Smith (D-Gary)

Senate Bill 166, authored by State Sen. Mark Spencer (D-Gary)

House Bill 1050, authored by State Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis)

"Too many Hoosiers are living paycheck to paycheck," Harris said. "This session, we're committed to helping Hoosiers thrive, not simply eke by every month. We're calling on Gov. Braun and the Republican supermajority to work with us to help all Hoosiers create a quality of life and economic opportunity for themselves."

Prioritizing child care is prioritizing Indiana’s economy and future

Every parent in the state knows that Indiana is in the middle of a child care crisis. In 2024, we were ranked the worst state in the nation for access to child care. With nearly seven million people in the state, Indiana has just 772 licensed child care facilities as of last year. Indiana only has enough child care providers to serve 61% of our state's children.               

                Since this report was released, Gov. Mike Braun's administration has stopped giving new child care vouchers and slashed the number of spots in the state preschool program in half. Last month, child care advocacy group Early Learning Indiana estimated that providers are losing around $3.8 million in funding statewide thanks to enrollment decline and cuts to their reimbursement rates from the state. This is unsustainable, and if we don't do something to fix it, we will likely see a catastrophic number of care facilities forced to shut their doors.

Unfortunately, finding reliable child care is only half the battle. Right now, Hoosier parents spend, on average, $677 each month for child care. That's about 6% of the average Hoosier's monthly income. At a time when many Hoosiers are struggling to make ends meet thanks to rising utility bills and an ever-growing cost of living, spending nearly $700 a month on child care is simply impossible for many of our neighbors. I've heard numerous times from my Republican colleagues that parents in need should simply rely on their families and friends to watch their kids. This not only downplays the child care crisis we're in, but it disregards the circumstances of the many Hoosiers who don't have the blessing of that familial safety net. The numbers speak for themselves: 40% of parents who left the workforce in 2024 cited a lack of reliable child care. Nationwide, women are typically the ones forced out of the workforce, being up to eight times more likely than men to have employment issues due to child care issues. Not surprisingly, Black women and Latinas are disproportionally impacted.

A parent being priced out of the workforce due to the high cost of child care can have long-lasting, devastating financial consequences for individual families. But it also has ramifications for the entire state. A 2024 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Early Learning Indiana found that the state loses roughly $4.22 billion each year due to child care issues. This includes $1.17 billion annually in lost tax revenue.

We don't have to live like this. This month, while the House of Representatives was debating House Bill 1032 – the redistricting bill – the House Democratic Caucus offered a minority report. This legislation would have stripped the bill of any language related to mid-decade redistricting and replaced it with policy to eliminate the waitlists for and fully fund the Child Care and Development Fund and fully fund On My Way Pre-K vouchers, among other items related to cost of living. House Republicans blocked the measure by a vote of 64-24. Just a few years ago, when Indiana Republicans rushed to be the first state in the nation to ban abortion after the fall of Roe v. Wade, I heard countless times that Indiana is a "pro-life state."

Our Republican supermajority can't call themselves "pro-life" while simultaneously blocking any effort to create a good quality of life for Hoosiers. Child care is a critical part of our cultural infrastructure, and we need to be doing whatever we can in this legislative body to ensure Hoosiers can access it.

When we come back for session Jan. 5, I plan on finding solutions to Indiana's child care crisis. Our families deserve a fighter in the Statehouse, and that's exactly what I intend to be. Hoosiers today and in years to come depend on us in the Statehouse working together to create a better system for all families.

IBLC: ‘It’s time to move on and fight for Hoosiers’

Today, Dec. 11, the Indiana Senate rejected a congressional map proposal that would have carved up the state of Indiana for the sole purpose of benefitting the Republican Party. House Bill 1032 was voted down by 31-19.

 State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement following the vote:

"Now that the issue of redistricting is finally behind us, it's time to move on and fight for Hoosiers. This has been a distraction for months, and now, I'm looking forward to working with my caucus and the IBLC to make life better for people throughout the state. The cost of living is simply too high, utility rates are soaring and child care is completely unaffordable – if you can find child care at all. There's no shortage of issues that Hoosiers are facing every day, and it's time we get to work to fix them."

Bartlett: ‘Rigging maps and silencing voices is no way to lead’

Today, Dec. 5, Indiana House Republicans passed House Bill 1032, their gerrymandered congressional map, after months of pressure from Washington, D.C. The map carves up like-minded communities to make elections less competitive to benefit the Republican Party. HB 1032 now heads to the Senate for their consideration next week.

State Rep. John L. Bartlett (D-Indianapolis), issued the following statement:

"This week, we saw House Republicans shirk their responsibilities to the Hoosiers who elected them. They didn't pass these maps to benefit anyone living in our state, they passed them because folks in Washington, D.C. told them to. If this bill passes in the Senate, people throughout the state will be harmed. African Americans and minority Hoosiers will suffer the most, with two of the state's largest minority populations – Lake and Marion counties – being specifically targeted with this map. Despite losing representation, our communities will still be expected to pay taxes. The Boston Tea Party – and the idea that there should be 'no taxation without representation' – is a founding tenet of our country. House Republicans are undermining our systems, our democracy and our history with this map proposal. Rigging maps and silencing voices is no way to lead. If you have to cheat to win, you're not fit to hold office.

"On Thursday, our caucus offered 16 amendments – including one of my own – to prevent some of the harms that are guaranteed to come if this map becomes reality. The supermajority voted against all of them. They have no interest in helping Hoosiers, which is the only thing I'm interested in doing here at the Statehouse. I hope our senators have the backbone to stand up against this power grab and prioritize the needs of their constituents."

Harris: ‘Indiana Republicans have put politics ahead of Hoosiers’

Today, Dec. 5, Indiana House Republicans passed House Bill 1032, their gerrymandered congressional map, after months of pressure from Washington, D.C. The map carves up like-minded communities to make elections less competitive to benefit the Republican Party. HB 1032 heads to the Senate for their consideration next week.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), issued the following statement:

"There is nothing positive I can say about this map proposal or how House Republicans have conducted themselves this week. Democrats gave them every opportunity to reverse course and focus on issues such as health care, utility bills, child care – and other problems impact Hoosiers every day. Instead, they rushed their map through our chamber because they believe there would be political consequences if they didn't. They have put politics ahead of Hoosiers, and there is no forgiving that.

"If the Senate passes this map, it will have a disproportionate impact on Black and Brown Hoosiers, especially in Lake and Marion counties. As a lawmaker, I take great care to 'do no harm' when it comes to governing. The supermajority heard our concerns about the harm this map would do and voted for it anyway. This isn't leadership, it's a dereliction of duty.

"Beyond the suppression of Black and brown votes, we have no idea how much this map would end up costing local governments and counties. Yesterday, I offered an amendment to simply look at how much mid-decade redistricting would cost Indiana, and House Republicans couldn't even pass that. This is one of the most irresponsible pieces of legislation I have ever seen passed through this chamber. It's a sad day for Indiana, and I hope my colleagues in the Senate do the right thing and reject this power-grab."

IBLC condemns passage of House Bill 1032

Today, Dec. 5, Indiana House Republicans passed House Bill 1032, their gerrymandered congressional map, after months of pressure from Washington, D.C. and Gov. Mike Braun. The map carves up like-minded communities – disproportionally impacting communities of color – to make elections less competitive to benefit Indiana Republicans' longstanding one-party rule. HB 1032 heads to the Senate for their consideration next week.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement on behalf of the bicameral caucus:

"This week, IBLC members in the House of Representatives sat and listened to our colleagues in the Republican caucus tout the need for a congressional map wholly favoring their party. Beyond the fact that this is disenfranchising the over 40% of Hoosiers who don't identify as a Republican, the bill's author admitted in committee that he didn't factor in the potential impact for Black and Brown Hoosiers while proposing the map. He also refused to tell his fellow committee members how much involvement officials in Washington, D.C. had in making the map. Disregarding the harm your legislation could pose to already marginalized people throughout the state is a horrific way to yield power. Members of our caucus offered several amendments on Dec. 4 to try to mitigate some of these harms, all of which were voted down by the supermajority. Other amendments to study the financial cost of mid-decade redistricting and alleviate the financial burden that will be faced by local governments and counties were also rejected by House Republicans. They are legislating with the misguided belief that they don't have to answer to Hoosiers.

"And for the last several months, our offices have heard from Hoosiers throughout the state. The overwhelming majority of the calls and emails our members have received have been in fierce opposition to mid-decade redistricting. Hoosiers don't want new maps. They want more affordable health care. They want someone to reign in the utility companies charging egregious rates each month. They want to be able to afford to feed their families without having to ration their medication. Members of the House Democratic Caucus offered House Republicans countless opportunities to focus our efforts on creating a stronger economy and quality of life for our constituents. Instead, Republicans remained committed to working for D.C., regardless of what Hoosiers need.

"As this bill heads to the next chamber, IBLC members in the Senate will remain committed to fighting back against this power grab and work toward a state where everyone has a chance to thrive. We hope that the Senate Republican Caucus prioritizes Hoosiers above political games and rejects this map. The future of Indiana depends on them."