Pryor offers amendments to cut Hoosier utility bills

Today, House Democrats offered an array of amendments to give Hoosiers financial relief and expand protections for their utility services. State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) offered four amendments to protect vulnerable Hoosiers and add oversight and accountability measures for utility companies. All four amendments were rejected by the supermajority. 

See below for the amendment descriptions: 

• Amendment #5 protects vulnerable Hoosiers by requiring utility companies to implement a program that would prohibit disconnections for individuals who have a medical condition where they rely on life support devices like respirators, ventilators, dialysis machines, refrigerated medications or other medical treatment. 

• Amendment #6 requires utility companies to include information about payment assistance programs in the monthly bills of senior customers. 

• Amendment #7 holds utilities accountable for reliable service by requiring they reimburse customers for certain financial losses suffered as the result of an outage.

• Amendment #8 adds oversight by requiring public utilities to get approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission before making certain profit enhancing moves such as selling stock, being sold, reorganizing or acquiring another utility. 

“My constituents and people across the state have made it crystal clear that utility rates are simply too expensive,” Pryor said “In Indiana, utilities operate as a regulated monopoly, meaning that ratepayers are not protected by the free market and have no other option if they are unsatisfied with the price of their service. It is up to the state to protect our consumers from being exploited while utility companies increase their profit margins. That is why I offered amendments today to increase oversight of utility companies and hold them financially responsible for shoddy services. 

“Having heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is dangerous for people with certain medical conditions to go without heat or air conditioning if they face a disconnection. One of my amendments today would have prohibited disconnections for this population of people. Additionally, I offered an amendment that requires utilities companies to provide information on monthly utility bills of seniors about energy assistance programs.

“Although my colleagues across the aisle have realized we must address the skyrocketing price of utilities, this bill does not go far enough to help Hoosiers with their high utility bills. I believe that my amendments and the other amendments offered by House Democrats would have significantly strengthened the system and provided relief for Hoosiers. I am disappointed that my amendments were not accepted, but I look forward to continuing to advocate for more affordable utility costs for my constituents and Hoosiers across Indiana.”

Pryor bill to restore property tax deduction to veteran spouses amended into other bill

Today, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) successfully amended the language in House Bill 1023 into another bill in the House Ways and Means Committee. Now, House Bill 1210 includes Pryor's language to restore a property tax deduction to surviving spouses of World War I veterans. The deduction was removed in Senate Enrolled Act 1 (2025).

HB 1210 passed out of committee today and now heads to the floor for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

Pryor issued the following statement upon the bill's amending and passage out of committee:

"I am grateful to Vice Chair Craig Snow for working with me to fix an oversight that left surviving spouses of World War I veterans without the property tax deduction they count on to make ends meet. Restoring this deduction will have minimal fiscal impact to the state but make a big difference in the lives of the surviving spouses of those who fought in the Great War.

"The state legislature should do everything we can to thank veterans and their spouses for the sacrifice they made to our country. Ensuring that veteran spouses have a roof over their head is a foundational part of that, and I'm glad we could move this legislation forward today."

House Committee on Insurance passes Pryor bill to obtain quicker access to lifesaving prescriptions for advanced cancer patients

Today, Jan. 20, the House Committee on Insurance passed House Bill 1114. The bill, authored by State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), prohibits state employee health plans, the healthcare marketplace and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from requiring step therapy or "fail first." "Fail first" requires patients to try a drug preferred by their insurance company and fail to respond before they receive coverage for the prescription originally recommended by their doctor.

“I am very proud to have authored this bill to help ensure that cancer patients get the care that works best for them immediately,” Pryor said. “People battling advanced cancer do not have time to go through the trial-and-error process that the 'fail first' system requires. Patients deserve access to the care their doctor prescribed without dangerous delays from their insurance company. According to the CDC, Indiana is among the states with the highest cancer death rates. This bill will help combat that unfortunate reality by getting people the care they need quickly instead of the care that is cheapest for insurance companies.”

Pryor was joined in committee by advocates on behalf of Susan G. Komen and the Indiana Oncology Society who voiced strong support for the bill.

“As House Bill 1114 moves out of committee, I look forward to continuing to advocate for access to potentially lifesaving care for metastatic cancer patients,” Pryor said. “I’d like to thank my co-authors Rep. Martin Carbaugh, Rep. Lori Goss-Reaves and Rep. Robin Shackleford, as well as Susan G. Komen and the Indiana Oncology Society for their support. I urge my constituents and all Hoosiers to do their part in protecting cancer patients by voicing their support for HB 1114.”

Pryor looks forward to collaboration on utility affordability bill

Today, Jan. 13, the House Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications heard testimony on House Bill 1002 which addresses utility affordability. Bringing down the cost of utilities was a major portion of the House Democrats’ 2026 Working Hoosiers Agenda as Hoosiers across the state face record-high energy costs and rate increases. HB 1002 will be up for amendments and a vote at the next committee meeting. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), House Democrat Floor Leader and a member of the House Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications, issued the following statement: 

“I am glad that my colleagues across the aisle have acknowledged the affordability crisis Hoosiers face when it comes to utilities. While House Bill 1002 is a step in the right direction, we have an opportunity here to provide real, substantial relief for ratepayers. We can start by truly holding utilities responsible for the service they provide.

"Eliminating excessive reconnection fees should also be a priority. Reconnects are now done with the push of a button, so there is no need to charge people when service can be reconnected by someone while sitting at their desk. Disconnections should not be allowed to happen when temperatures reach levels that are dangerous to human health. 

“Additionally, we should set up an assistance program for vulnerable Hoosiers during the hottest months of the year like we have for the coldest months of the year. This summer, we saw dangerously high temperatures for several weeks at a time in Central Indiana. 

“I am glad the bill was held to allow time for amendments. Addressing the rising cost of utilities is a major part of the House Democrats’ Working Hoosiers Agenda, as well as my own legislative priorities. I look forward to continuing to work on this bill in the coming weeks.” 

Pryor announces support for Working Hoosiers Agenda

Monday, Jan. 5, the Indiana House Democratic Caucus announced its 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.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) has filed her 2026 legislation with the Working Hoosiers Agenda in mind, specifically focusing on bringing down the cost of utilities and health care.

"Hoosiers across the state and all over the political spectrum can agree on one key fact: life has gotten too expensive," Pryor said. "I am focused on making life more affordable for Hoosiers by bringing down the skyrocketing cost of utilities, child care, health care, and housing."

House Bill 1111 would protect ratepayers from having to pay to reconnect their service and give ratepayers bill credits if they experience service disruptions. The bill also bars utilities from turning off service in residences that are home to people who are older than 65 or younger than 17. Additionally, it requires utilities to identify new residential customers who are 62 or older and provide them with information regarding relevant senior assistance programs.

"Protecting ratepayers has been one of my top priorities throughout my legislative career," Pryor said. "Since utilities are a regulated monopoly in Indiana, consumers have no choice if they are unsatisfied by the service they are receiving. This bill holds utilities accountable for providing that quality service by transferring the cost of disconnections and outages to the company, not the consumer. Additionally, this bill protects vulnerable Hoosiers from being exploited or facing unsafe living conditions if they are forced to go without power." 

House Bill 1112 requires state employee health plans to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations. The bill also provides that diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations cannot be subject to any copays, deductibles or other cost-sharing requirement. House Bill 1114 prohibits health care providers that grant coverage for advanced, metastatic cancer and associated conditions from requiring patients to prove history of failure of other prescription drugs before providing coverage for certain prescription drugs.

"Screening for cancer increases the chance of early detection and therefore the chance of survival," Pryor said. "Hoosiers shouldn’t have to break the bank to receive a potentially lifesaving tests. For those who have been diagnosed with cancer, the burden of fighting that illness is stressful enough. Insurance companies should not be placing additional hardships on cancer patients by making them jump through hoops to get their prescriptions covered."

House Bill 1113 requires landlords repair or replace an essential item within 24 hours of being notified by the tenant that the item is missing or broken. It also provides that tenants can request an enforcement authority to conduct an inspection, replace or repair the essential item within 24 hours and order a civil penalty to be paid by the landlord. It also requires all new rental agreements include provisions allowing tenants to be reimbursed for lost deposits and have their rental agreements terminated if certain repairs aren’t made within seven days.

"Indiana has some of the weakest renter protections in the country. With rent prices placing significant strain on Hoosiers, the last thing they need is to end up living in poor conditions. This bill adds accountability for problematic landlords who do not keep their properties up to the adequate standards."

Finally, House Bill 1023 restores a property tax deduction for surviving spouses of WWI veterans. This deduction was deleted in Senate Enrolled Act 1 from the 2025 Session. Restoring this deduction will have minimal fiscal impact to the state and will make a big difference in the lives of the surviving spouses of those who fought in the Great War.

See the full Working Hoosiers Agenda below:

Priority 1: Provide immediate financial relief on utility bills

• Eliminate the sales tax on residential utility use

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

• Pause skyrocketing rate hikes

• 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

• Cap insurance premiums

• Implement a state health exchange

• 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

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

• Save families money through a childcare tax credit

• 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

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

• Keep violent offenders off the streets

Pryor comments on IURC appointments

Today, Dec. 12, Gov. Mike Braun announced three new appointees to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), member of the House Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications, issued the following statement: 

“No matter where in Indiana you live or what side of the political spectrum you are on, Hoosiers agree that utility costs are far too high. Utility rates have increased exponentially in the last decade. The pace at which utility companies are increasing prices on consumers is simply unsustainable. Nobody should have to sacrifice essentials like food or medication simply to keep the lights on. 

“Gov. Braun has stated that he is committed to making energy more affordable for Hoosier families. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is a crucial line of defense against utility companies exploiting consumers to raise their profit margins and ensure that consumers are delivered reliable service. I hope to see these new appointees stand up for Hoosier consumers and I look forward to seeing the governor’s specific proposals to lower rates. Come January, I hope to work with my colleagues across the aisle to solve kitchen table issues like this and help Hoosiers keep more of their hard-earned money.” 

According to the administration’s announcement, the commissioners are set to begin work on January 12, 2026.

Pryor relieved by rejection of mid-decade redistricting

Today, Dec. 11, the Indiana State Senate voted down House Bill 1032, the gerrymandered congressional map. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), House Minority Floor Leader and a member of the House Committee on Elections and Apportionment, released the following statement: 

“For four months, the conversation has been centered around whether Republicans in the Indiana General Assembly will redraw our congressional maps. Finally, we can put this mess behind us to focus on what Hoosiers really need, like more affordable utilities, healthcare, childcare, housing and groceries. 

“The rejection of House Bill 1032 is a win for all Hoosiers. Everyone benefits from having their voice heard in our democracy and getting to choose who represents them in congress. I am glad that Marion County and my district will stay united under one congressional district so that our unique needs will be advocated for. 

“This relieving outcome was only reached because of all of the many Hoosiers who showed up from across the state to advocate against mid-decade gerrymandering. Whether you wrote a letter, made a phone call, showed up to a town hall or joined a protest, thank you for elevating this issue and standing up for our state. I look forward to fighting to make life better and more affordable for all Hoosiers this January." 

Pryor decries House passage of Republicans’ racially gerrymandered congressional maps

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 give the Republican party an advantage in Indiana’s congressional elections. HB 1032 heads to the Senate for their consideration next week. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), House Minority Floor Leader and a member of the House Committee on Elections and Apportionment, released the following statement: 

“What happened today is a disgrace to this state. The author of this bill has been repeating over and over that this map was drawn purely for political performance, and that no consideration was given to the minority populations in the communities they decided to divide. Making the deliberate choice to ignore racial populations is just as bad as targeting them. Either way, a conscious effort was made to suppress the voting power of Black and brown Hoosiers. 

“These maps were drawn behind closed doors by political insiders who are not interested in the needs of Hoosiers, only maintaining their own power. Hoosiers have been telling us for months that they don’t want this. They want to be able to afford their utility bills, health care, child care, housing and groceries. Yet, the Republican supermajority in the House has told Hoosiers through their actions that they do not care about what is best for our state. If the D.C. establishment comes calling, that will be the priority.”

Pryor: ‘This map silences minority voices’

Today, Dec. 2, Indiana House Republicans passed House Bill 1032 out of the House Committee on Elections and Apportionments by a vote of 8 to 5. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), House Minority Floor Leader and a member of the House Committee on Elections and Apportionment, issued the following statement: 

“House Republicans openly stated today that these maps took nothing into consideration besides boosting the political performance of their party. There was absolutely no consideration of the Voting Rights Act, the State Constitution, or the United States Constitution. This blatant power grab violates every principle of fairness in our democracy, and my colleagues across the aisle aren’t even trying to hide it. 

“Hoosiers do not want this. In the House Committee on Elections and Apportionment, we heard almost five hours of testimony from the public, and the sentiment was overwhelmingly in opposition. While I was glad to hear from the many people who came to testify today, the reality is that the vast majority of Hoosiers will be given no opportunity to weigh in. When the stakes are this high, people deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard, but this whole process has been shrouded in secrecy. 

“Let’s be very clear: these maps are racially gerrymandered. Dividing up the two most diverse communities in the state is a deliberate attempt to silence minority voices. Marion County is split into four different districts. Two of those span to Southern Indiana. It doesn’t just hurt Indianapolis to be divided in this way, but almost half of Indiana’s 92 counties will now be represented by people who also have to consider Indianapolis when advocating for their district. The necessary solutions to the unique challenges faced by communities across the state cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach.” 

Pryor comments on proposed maps

Today, Dec. 1, Indiana House Republicans released their proposed new congressional map hours before the House is set to convene for an extra session. After months of pressure from Washington D.C., the new map draws Indiana’s two congressional Democrats out of their seats. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), House Minority Floor Leader and a member of the House Committee on Elections and Apportionment, issued the following statement: 

“After months of having to guess what the newly gerrymandered map proposal would look like, we finally have it. Let me tell you, it’s even worse than I imagined.

“Marion County has been split into four separate districts. Part of my district has been lumped in with Newton and Jasper counties in Northwest Indiana. Slivers of Indianapolis are attached to districts that reach all the way down to the Kentucky border, right across the river from Louisville. 

“Make no mistake: this map seeks to silence Black voices. Marion County, the most diverse area of the state, has been split up so that we have no representation. The last I checked, we are still expected to pay taxes. This nation fought a war to end taxation without representation only to turn around 250 years later and oppress their own citizens in the same way. 

“In no way do Hoosiers benefit from this cracked map. How can congresspeople be expected to advocate for the needs of their district when the communities they represent are so far apart? House Republicans are focused on pleasing Washington and maintaining control, because they have failed policies and are clueless about how to help Hoosiers with the high cost of living they have created.   

“While minority communities have been deliberately targeted, all Hoosiers will suffer from this gerrymandered mess.” 

Pryor reacts to announcement of House convening on Dec. 1 to consider redistricting

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. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), House Minority Floor Leader and member of the House Committee on Elections, issued the following statement in response: 

“After months of intense pressure from Washington, my Republican colleagues in the Statehouse have officially caved and the House has been called into session starting on Monday. This extra session is a performance to show that loyalty to the party matters more than the needs of Hoosiers.

“As a legislator expected to vote on these maps in a matter of days, I have yet to see a confirmed proposal. The public will have no chance to weigh in on an issue that directly impacts them. 

“Hoosiers have made it very clear that they did not ask for new maps. The General Assembly needs to redirect our focus from silencing our own voters to helping working families keep more of their hard-earned money. Gerrymandering does nothing to solve the real problems Hoosiers face like the affordability crisis.”  

Pryor calls on Braun to waive property tax late fees in light of record-setting government shutdown

Monday, Nov. 10, was one of the biannual property tax due dates in Indiana. Approximately 24,000 federal workers in Indiana have missed several paychecks due to the record-setting government shutdown. The fate of over 570 million Hoosiers' SNAP benefits and close to 155,000 mothers, infants and toddlers WIC benefits are unclear.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement calling on Gov. Braun to pause property tax late fees:

“Hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers have been greatly impacted by this government shutdown. Federal workers who own homes may not have the capacity to pay their property taxes to the government because their paychecks were withheld. Even with the agreement to reopen the federal government, it may take some time for workers to get back pay. Because of that, families who have lost critical benefits may be forced to choose between paying their property taxes and putting food on the table for their children. 

“On Oct. 27, I sent a letter to Governor Braun proposing a list of solutions to help Hoosiers impacted by the government shutdown. One of those items was to issue an executive order to waive penalties for families who cannot make their property tax payments on time. We saw former Gov. Holcomb take this action via executive order during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis. 

“Last year, Republicans finally recognized that property taxes had gotten out of hand and Hoosiers couldn’t keep up. However, their ‘solution’ failed to provide substantial relief for homeowners. Governor Braun campaigned on lowering property taxes. He even went so far as to propose a property tax freeze. 

“Since taking office less than a year ago, Governor Braun has issued 73 executive orders. The governor was willing to make bold declarations about lowering property taxes when he was courting people’s votes, but has failed to deliver. Waiving late fees for property taxes is the least we can do to help Hoosiers struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.”