Hamilton responds to continued redistricting push

Today, Speaker of the House Todd Huston and Senate Pro Tem. Rodric Bray announced the Indiana General Assembly will reconvene early for the 2026 session to discuss redistricting, starting Dec. 1.  

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), House Minority Caucus Chair, issued the following statement in response: 

“Hoosiers have made their voices loud and clear over the past few months that they do not want or need new congressional maps. New congressional maps don’t help families keep more of their hard-earned money. New congressional maps don’t bring down the cost of utilities, groceries, child care, health care or housing. New congressional maps serve only the political elites in Washington who want to maintain power at the expense of working Hoosiers. 

“Republicans have had 20 years to create an Indiana where Hoosiers can thrive. And yet, working families can barely survive. Let’s get serious about meeting the needs of our voters – not silencing them.”

Hamilton supports Rokita lawsuit against Lake Castleton Apartments management

Today, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed civil action against Lake Castleton Apartments' owners and management. The lawsuit alleges that the landlords endangered tenants with uninhabitable conditions such as broken air conditioners, mold, pest infestation, water damage and sewage backups. 

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), whose district Lake Castleton Apartments are located in, issued the following statement in support of the lawsuit:

“For years, I have supported legislative efforts to enforce safer housing standards so that property managers like those in Lake Castleton Apartments cannot jeopardize the safety of their tenants. Indiana is one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to tenants’ rights, and the legislature has taken steps backwards in recent years by preempting local governments from taking matters into their own hands. I am thankful to our Attorney General for taking legal action to hold this bad actor accountable. Hoosiers deserve to feel safe in the housing they pay their hard-earned dollars to live in.”

Hamilton reacts to redistricting not moving forward

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement reacting to the news that Senate Republicans will not move forward on redistricting:

“The thousands of calls and emails that Hoosiers from across the state made to their legislators have been heard. It is a relief that the Indiana General Assembly will be able to return our full focus to the issue that matters most to Hoosiers – bringing down the cost of living. I look forward to putting the discussion about redistricting behind us as we head into the 2026 legislative session.”

Hamilton reacts to updated session timeline, calls for action on cost of living

Today, Nov. 3, Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) announced that the House of Representatives will meet during the first two weeks of December to address "time sensitive issues." This will be part of the 2026 regular session. Last week, Republican Gov. Mike Braun called a special session to start today, Nov. 3, to redraw Indiana's nine congressional seats to wholly represent Republicans instead of the 7-2 Republican-Democrat current map.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement in response:

"Regardless of whether the General Assembly is convening for a special or regular session, I remain laser-focused on one priority: addressing the rising costs that are squeezing Indiana families. Whether it's soaring insurance premiums, escalating energy bills, or the burden of child care expenses and property taxes, Hoosiers are struggling to get by and deserve meaningful relief. Partisan redistricting does nothing to put money back in people's pockets or food on their tables. We're prepared to bring forward real solutions to these challenges, and I'm eager to see what concrete plans the majority party has to ease the financial strain on hard-working Hoosiers."

Hamilton denounces special session to silence Hoosiers voters

Today, Oct. 27, Gov. Mike Braun signed a proclamation calling a special session for the General Assembly to convene on Monday, Nov. 3 to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps in the middle of the decade, to go into effect for next year’s midterm elections. This unprecedented action follows the General Assembly redrawing Indiana’s congressional maps in 2021 following the 2020 U.S. Census.  

While Braun has called this special session, there is no enforcement mechanism that requires the General Assembly to answer his call and pass new maps. The legislature may gavel in on Monday and then gavel back out without completing any new business. It can also take up business unrelated to Braun’s stated purpose for the session.

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), House Democratic Caucus Chair, issued the following statement:

"Polling has made it very clear that voters across Indiana oppose mid-decade redistricting, yet here we are being summoned for an expensive special session that serves no public interest. After months of pressure from the political establishment, the governor has abandoned all respect for the will of the people.

“Republicans are aware that people are tired of their failed policies that have left working families struggling to make ends meet. Rather than redrawing maps to protect Washington insiders from the consequences of slashing healthcare and showering billionaires with tax breaks, we should be focused on helping Hoosiers that are struggling to afford utility bills, childcare and healthcare. 

“Our constituents elected us to be their voices at the Statehouse, not play political games to silence them. I'm hopeful that legislators from both parties will demonstrate the independence and common sense to reject this nakedly partisan scheme.”

Hamilton condemns child care voucher cuts, points to misplaced priorities

Today, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced via press release that Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher reimbursement rates will be cut anywhere from 10 to 35%, depending on age range.

The reimbursement cuts are as follows:

• Infants (0–12 months): 10% decrease

• Toddlers (13–36 months): 10% decrease

• Preschoolers (3–5 years): 15% decrease

• School-Age Children (K–12): 35% decrease

In the press release, the Braun administration characterizes the cuts as an inevitable outcome of the Holcomb administration's choice to put temporary COVID-relief dollars toward CCDF funding. However, Gov. Braun and Statehouse Republicans still found the funds to create a universal private school voucher program and cut taxes during this year's budget session – both choices that will not benefit the budgets of working families who rely on child care vouchers.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement condemning the provider cuts:

"While Gov. Braun and the Republican supermajority provide private school vouchers to billionaires, they have now put working Hoosier families in the impossible situation of deciding whether to have a job or stay at home and take care of the kids. I reject the Braun administration's claim that they had to do this. They did not. There was no requirement to blow a $200 million hole in our biennial budget this year by opening up private school vouchers to the wealthy. This amount would nearly cover the projected deficit of the child care voucher program, but Statehouse Republicans chose to prioritize the wealthy over working-class families.

"It's simple market logic. You reduce the amount of funding the state is paying to child care providers to serve low-income working families, and those providers are either going to close or stop offering their services to those families. Combined with cuts to pre-K voucher reimbursement rates from earlier this year, families with young children are going to be hit incredibly hard.

"I am especially disappointed by the path this will set our state's child care and early education system on. In recent years, we've been increasing reimbursement rates, but now, we're going in reverse. Modern workforce infrastructure, which I thought so-called pro-business Republicans agreed with me was necessary, requires affordable child care so that families are incentivized to have children and both parents can have full-time jobs, if they so desire. This is short sighted and will hurt kids, families and the long-term economic prospects of our state."

Hamilton thanks Braun for concern for utility ratepayers, calls on general assembly to follow suit

Today, Gov. Mike Braun called upon the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor to “evaluate utilities’ profits and find cost-saving measures to ease the financial burden on Hoosiers,” per a news release from his office. He also announced that he appointed a new Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor commissioner.  

Amid pending rate hike requests from Indiana utility companies such as AES, Hoosier consumers have been hit with record-high utility bills this summer, up 17.5% on average. 

House Democratic Caucus Chair Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), a member of the House Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications, released the following statement reacting to the announcement:  

“I appreciate Gov. Braun’s stated commitment to lowering utility costs for consumers and share that desire with him. I hope he will join me in calling upon House Republicans to support efforts from House Democrats to lower utility bills – which they have resoundingly rejected this legislative session.

“Changing the consumer ratepayer advocate commissioner does little to change the fact that the legal deck is stacked against Indiana utility consumers. Thanks to a slew of new laws championed by the Republican supermajority, utility companies are still allowed to pass on the cost of expensive experimental projects to consumers, and data centers are exempt from paying sales tax.”  

This year alone, House Democrats stood up for utility consumers by forcing House Republicans to reject measures that would objectively lower utility bills via second-reading amendment votes:  

• Prevent utility companies from passing on the development costs of small modular reactors to consumers; 

• Prevent utility companies from charging reconnection fees for the first two reconnections; and 

• Create a one-year moratorium on rate hikes for electricity, natural gas, water or wastewater. 

“I hope that my House Republican colleagues will join us in advocating for consumers over utility company profits in the future, especially as consumers begin to understand that AI companies are passing on the cost of doing business to everyday families,” Hamilton concluded.  

Hamilton comments on Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute report on state budget, education funding

Yesterday, July 14, the independent Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute (IFPI) released an analysis on the state's two-year budget for fiscal year 2026-27. The analysis shows that with inflation's effect on purchasing power, this year's state budget is a 7% actual reduction in spending from the FY 2024-25 budget. Of particular importance is IFPI's analysis of education spending with inflation factored in. K-12 education support has technically increased from the FY 24-25 budget, but thanks to inflation and the budget's requirement that schools bear the cost of textbooks themselves, there is actually a $400 million real cut in K-12 support.

House Democratic Caucus Chair State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement reacting to the report:

"This independent analysis of Indiana's new state budget confirms what Indiana House Democrats feared most. Republican lawmakers chose handouts to the wealthy over helping working families. This means fewer and worse services for Hoosiers. Our traditional public schools are getting squeezed from every direction: flat funding when you factor in rising costs, paying for textbooks themselves, a universal private school voucher program that funnels away over $1 billion, sharing property tax money with charter schools and now over $100 million in congressionally appropriated federal education funding being held up by the federal government. The list goes on.

"How can schools give kids a good education when they're being sold off piece by piece to special interests and asked to do more with less funding? Republican lawmakers have failed to answer this question. Instead, they've set our public schools up to fail, even though our public schools are the only school system in our state required to serve every child regardless of their ability.  

"I won't accept this as Indiana's future. During the 2026 legislative session, I'll fight for policies that truly invest in our kids' education - not ones that force schools to choose between textbooks and teachers. We'll push for real funding increases that keep up with inflation, not accounting tricks that hide cuts. House Democrats will keep working for policies that put students first, help families succeed and build an Indiana where Hoosiers can thrive."

Hamilton calls on Braun to leave democratically elected IU officials in office

In the early hours of Friday, April 25, the Indiana General Assembly sent a final version of the state budget to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Statehouse Republicans added a provision at the last minute to give the governor control over all trustee appointments for Indiana University. On the House Floor, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) called on Governor Braun to leave the three democratically elected alumni trustees in office. 

“I am calling on Gov. Braun to respect the democratic process that has successfully served Indiana University for approximately 150 years,” Hamilton said. “Different perspectives are what keep our universities strong. 

“This move was done behind closed doors in the 11th hour to deliberately avoid the full democratic process, including input from the public. 

“Gov. Braun, I implore you not to follow the supermajority’s tendency to create a solution in search of a problem. Leave the democratically elected IU Trustees in the positions that they were entrusted with by thousands of IU alumni.” 

Hamilton opposes the 2025 state budget: ‘This isn’t what Hoosiers need’

In the early morning hours of April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, cuts to child care and pre-k programs as well as the expansion of the voucher program. 

“In this moment of economic uncertainty, the average Hoosier family deserves a state willing to support their very real needs,” Hamilton said. “Instead, this budget chooses to invest in the wealthiest 3.5% of families. 

“The budget passed by Statehouse Republicans hands nearly $100 million in new taxpayer dollars to the wealthiest families in Indiana every year starting in 2027 to send their children to private schools they are already attending. Meanwhile, our public schools—the backbone of our communities—continue to be underfunded. Adjusted for inflation, Indiana now spends less per student than we did 15 years ago. That’s not progress. That’s disinvestment.

“If we wanted to help working Hoosiers, we would expand access to child care and pre-k. Child care is unaffordable—or simply unavailable—for tens of thousands of parents trying to stay in the workforce. This is when the state should step up and support working families. Instead, this is a step back. On My Way Pre-k saw a 5% cut in funding and a reduction in eligibility. The state views a family of four making $40 thousand a year as too rich to qualify for child care vouchers, but any billionaire now qualifies for a private school voucher. 

“Investing in child care, early learning and our public schools pays back for families, employers and our state’s economy. A massive subsidy to Indiana’s uber-wealthy is simply not fiscally responsible. 

“This budget is about priorities. And the message is loud and clear—we’re prioritizing ideology over educational outcomes. Wealth over need. Politics over working families. This isn’t fiscally responsible. It’s not equitable. And it’s not what Hoosiers are asking for.”

Hamilton celebrates additional road funding for Marion County

Today, the House of Representatives voted to send House Bill 1461 to the governor’s desk to sign or veto. First, this bill brings $50 million in road funding from the state to Marion County if the city agrees to match that amount. Second, this bill adjusts the road funding formula to more equally serve densely populated areas. The road funding model has historically harmed densely populated areas by allocating funding per road mile instead of by lane mile. This means a two-lane county road received the same amount per mile as a busy urban corridor (such as Binford Blvd or Keystone Blvd) that are 4-6 lanes across. Now, a large portion of the formula is based on lane miles.

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), a member of the House Committee on Roads and Transportation, issued the following statement: 

“The passage of this bill brings long-overdue, transformative road funding parity to Indianapolis. Until now, under the state road funding model, Indianapolis has been a donor county to the rest of the state, receiving back only 11 cents for every dollar paid in. Moving forward, our capital city will have the resources we need for our roads to be properly maintained.

“As a member of the Roads and Transportation Committee, I’m proud to have played a role in moving this critical bill forward. I’m grateful to Mayor Hogsett’s team, City-County Council leadership, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their partnership. Chairman Pressel carried a heavy load with HB 1461, and he delivered. This is a major win for the nearly 970,000 Hoosiers who call Indianapolis home.” 

Hamilton opposes bill to make school board elections partisan

Monday, March 31, the House passed Senate Bill 287 by a vote of 54 to 40, with only Republicans in support. The bill makes Indiana’s school board elections partisan, requiring candidates to run as Democrat, Republican, Independent or with a blank space next to their name. The bill now heads to the Senate to approve the changes made in the House. 

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement upon the passage of the bill: 

“Forcing school board candidates to declare a political party affiliation invites the culture wars of Washington, D.C. into Hoosier classrooms. This change risks transforming these local races in a way that ultimately harms our schools and communities.

“Our schools deserve the most qualified leaders. This bill would significantly reduce the pool of candidates by excluding federal employees—including military members and others whose roles are funded wholly or partially by federal resources—due to restrictions under the Hatch Act that prohibit them from engaging in partisan political activity.

“In addition, many of today’s school board members serve because the role is nonpartisan. They want to give back to their communities—not engage in partisan politics. Requiring a party label will discourage these dedicated individuals from stepping forward.

“Our communities are already facing deep divisions. We should be focused on uniting people to improve education, not politicizing it further. This bill does nothing to help our schools—it only limits who can lead them.”