Bauer shares update on redistricting decision

Today, State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) issued the following statement reacting to the news that Senate Republicans will not move forward on redistricting:

“During my recent town hall, many residents shared concerns about reopening this process mid-cycle. With this decision behind us, I am eager to focus on what Hoosiers truly need, lowering costs of living, improving access to government services and addressing the challenges that working families share with me every day as their representative.”

Bauer calls on Indiana Attorney General to take legal action to restore SNAP funding for Hoosier families

Today, State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) called on Indiana’s attorney general to take immediate legal action to compel the federal government to release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds currently frozen as the federal government shutdown continues.

Nearly 600,000 Hoosiers rely on SNAP benefits each month to put food on the table.

“Hoosier families are once again caught in the middle of a political fight they didn’t ask for,” Bauer said. “While Congress stalls, our state has the power to act. The attorney general should join other states in taking the necessary legal steps to ensure that families who rely on SNAP are not left without food.”

Bauer emphasized that the state has both the authority and responsibility to protect residents when federal gridlock threatens their basic needs.

“Our leaders must act with empathy and urgency,” Bauer said. “This is not about partisanship — it’s about people. No family should be forced to go hungry because of political games in Washington.”

She also reiterated her support for State Rep. Gregory W. Porter's (D-Indianapolis) proposal to temporarily use state contingency funds to ensure no lapse in food assistance while federal funding is restored.

Bauer noted that while the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program currently has limited short-term funding, that support could expire within weeks if the shutdown continues. “Mothers, infants, and young children should never have to worry about access to formula, healthy food, or basic nutrition,” Bauer said.

Hoosiers in need of food assistance are encouraged to visit feedindiana.org or call 2-1-1 to locate a food pantry nearby.

“No Hoosier should go hungry because of politics,” Bauer added. “It’s time for empathy and action.”

Bauer calls for oversight of new ICE detention center at Miami Correctional Facility

Today, State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) announced that she has sent a formal letter to Governor Mike Braun requesting formalized legislative oversight authority for the new federal immigration detention center at Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill.

This week, the first 15 detainees were transferred to the state prison, with up to 100 expected by week's end and plans for as many as 1,000 in total. Indiana has already committed $16 million in state resources for fencing, staffing, and upgrades to support the arrangement. While the state will be reimbursed $291 per detainee per day, Bauer warned those payments are contingent on full bed use and may not cover the upfront or long-term costs to taxpayers.

"Indiana has never before housed such large populations of federal immigration detainees in its prisons," Bauer said. "Without clear safeguards, we risk detaining people without guaranteeing their constitutional rights, due process or humane treatment. At the same time, taxpayers are already on the hook for millions in up-front costs."

In the letter, Bauer noted that while the Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) requires compliance with National Detention Standards and permits unannounced inspections by ICE or federal oversight bodies, it does not explicitly grant authority for the Indiana General Assembly or legislative committees to conduct formal oversight tours or audit reports. She requested that the Governor clarify by executive directive or legislative order that such authority will be recognized, and that inspection findings be published to the state legislature.

Bauer also called on the Governor to ensure:

1. Confidential legal access and interpretation services for detainees.

2. Transparency through public reporting of detainee numbers, transfers, medical care and grievances.

3. Publication of the full IGSA and all attachments.

4. Protection of human dignity and safety through access to medical and mental health care, safe conditions and effective grievance procedures.

"Transparency, accountability and access to counsel are the minimum safeguards necessary to uphold Indiana's values and legal responsibilities," Bauer said. "Formalizing legislative oversight authority will ensure ongoing accountability as this facility expands."

Bauer emphasized that as a member of the Courts and Criminal Code Committee, she will continue to push for legislative oversight of the facility and has asked colleagues to support a hearing on the issue.

Bauer and Garcia Wilburn condemn unprecedented NDAs, Call for transparency on Governor Braun’s ABA working group

Today, State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) and State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), both members of the Indiana House Public Health Committee, are calling on Governor Braun to end the secrecy surrounding his newly created Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy working group.

The “organized working group," established through Executive Order 25-31 amid rising Medicaid costs, is tasked with reviewing autism therapy service expenses in Indiana. However, lawmakers are concerned with how it is being carried out.

Garcia Wilburn submitted a formal letter requesting to serve on the working group but received no response. In a more recent development, the lawmakers confirmed that members are required to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in order to participate — an unprecedented step for such a policy review, effectively keeping the process hidden from both legislators and the public.

“Families across Indiana depend on Medicaid services to access life-changing therapies. They deserve transparency and accountability, not secrecy,” Bauer said. “It is deeply concerning that decisions affecting real people are being made out of the public eye. If the governor truly values transparency, he should immediately remove the gag orders placed on this group and open the process to the families it impacts."

“Autism services are too important for closed-door politics,” Garcia Wilburn said. “This should be an open, bipartisan conversation, not one limited by NDAs. Hoosier families deserve to know what’s at stake and how decisions are being made. Especially when those decisions are being justified as cost-cutting fiscal conservatism, instead of centered on children’s needs."

“This is not the time to shut out voices or restrict information,” Bauer and Garcia Wilburn said in a joint statement. “We call on Gov. Braun to open the doors of this working group, invite bipartisan input, and put Hoosier families first.”

Bauer: ‘Hoosiers deserve representation, not rigged districts’

Today, State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) condemned the Indiana House and Senate Republicans’ willingness to bend to President Donald Trump’s pressure to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps in the middle of the decade, calling the maneuver “a blatant attempt to cheat Hoosiers out of fair representation.”

Bauer released the following statement:

“Trump isn’t even hiding it. These mid-decade redistricting efforts are about one thing: gaining seats for his party and rigging the system in his favor. What’s worse is that Indiana House and Senate Republicans are going right along with it and abandoning their own claims from 2021 that their gerrymandered maps were ‘fair’, ‘beautiful’ and represented Indiana well. If that was true then, what changed? The answer? Trump told them to do it.

“Let’s not forget, this trip follows Vice President J.D. Vance’s private meeting with Indiana Republican leadership, just weeks ago, where he pushed Trump’s redistricting agenda forward.

“This is not about representing Hoosiers — it’s about representing Trump. And it comes at the expense of taxpayers. If Republicans call a special session to do Trump’s bidding, Hoosiers will be the ones footing the bill. That’s money that should be invested in tackling the real challenges families face every day such as strengthening our schools, lowering property taxes, improving health care and making the cost of living more affordable. Instead, Republicans are tossing Hoosier priorities aside for Trump’s political agenda.

“Indiana Democrats will continue standing up against partisan power grabs and fighting for a government that works for Hoosiers, not politicians.

“Hoosiers deserve fair maps and leaders who are focused on making their lives easier and more prosperous. It’s time Republicans answer to the people of Indiana — not Donald Trump.”

Op-Ed: Protecting Infant Health Means Protecting Hip 2.0

Op-Ed: Protecting Infant Health Means Protecting Hip 2.0

By: State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend)

Word Count: 450

Indiana just marked a milestone: in 2024, our infant mortality rate dropped to 6.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. This is the lowest rate since records began in 1900, and progress worth acknowledging.

But it’s not enough.

Our rate still exceeds the national average of 5.6. Behind each number is a child who did not make it to their first birthday. With 517 infant deaths across the state, we still have far to go. Now, the same state leaders celebrating this fragile progress have made budget decisions that put it at risk. This year’s budget cut the very programs that helped us get here. Essential maternal and infant health initiatives are being scaled back at a time when families need more support, not less.

Nearly half of all births in Indiana are covered by Medicaid. HIP 2.0 is a lifeline, providing prenatal and postpartum care, well-baby checkups, breastfeeding and nutrition support, and safe sleep education. Cuts to these programs will hit low-income and rural communities the hardest, where options for care are scarce or non-existent. At the same time, federal support for the Safe to Sleep campaign has ended. Indiana’s local efforts to prevent sleep-related deaths continue, but without national resources and coordination, their reach is limited.

State public health funding has also been slashed. In my district, these cuts forced the closure of the Mishawaka health department office. That means families will face longer commutes, longer wait times, and greater demand on already strained nearby clinics. These are the real consequences of defunding healthcare.

Even Health First Indiana, a statewide initiative to improve maternal and child health services, saw its budget cut from $125 million to $40 million per year. That means fewer home visits, fewer mental health services, and fewer chances to intervene early to save lives.

We also cannot ignore the disparities. In 2023, Black infants in Indiana died at a rate of 13.8 per 1,000 births. That is more than double the rate of white infants, whose mortality rate was 5.1. In my district, the 46628 ZIP code had the second-highest infant mortality rate in the state between 2019 and 2023. That reality demands targeted, sustained investment.

We know what works. When we invest in families, we save lives. Infant mortality is the number one indicator of health status in the world. Now is not the time to retreat. Protecting infant health means protecting HIP 2.0. It means funding public health, not gutting it. It means ensuring that every Hoosier family, no matter their ZIP code, has access to care, support, and a fair start in life.

Let’s act with urgency and compassion. When children’s lives are at stake, shifting into reverse is not an option.

Bauer on HB 1001: ‘Republican budget quietly undermines health care access across Indiana’

Today, April 25, the Indiana General Assembly approved the final version of House Bill 1001, advancing the state’s next two-year budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) voted against the bill, citing serious concerns about significant cuts to public health funding and the introduction of new barriers to care that will harm Hoosiers statewide, especially new mothers, seniors, low-income families and those living in rural or underserved areas.

“This budget sends a clear and troubling statement about our priorities,” Bauer said. “Budgets are moral documents, and this one reflects the state's choice for austerity over accessibility, bureaucracy over community care.”

Bauer highlighted several alarming provisions within the budget:

1. Cuts to Local Public Health Funding: Public health grants will be slashed from $150 million to just $40 million annually over the next two years. This funding was adopted by all 92 counties in the state for preventative care to improve maternal and infant health, address chronic disease prevention, and other necessary clinical needs. Additionally, new restrictions limit the use of more than 10% of these funds for capital expenditures.  This hardly makes "Indiana Healthy.'"

2. Cuts to 'Housing First' Program: Although there have been several failed attempts to include language that criminalizes homelessness in Indiana within various pieces of legislation, this budget completely eliminates the Housing First Program. A program that provided rental assistance and supportive services to individuals and families with serious, persistent mental illness, chronic chemical addiction, or a serious and persistent mental illness with a co-occurring chemical addiction who are also facing a housing crisis or exiting a residential treatment program.

3. Statewide Payment Restrictions: The budget expands site-of-service payment limits across Indiana. This change will reduce reimbursement rates for hospitals providing outpatient services outside traditional facilities, putting increased financial pressure on rural hospitals and community clinics already operating on a tight budget.

4. Mental Health Funding Penalties: A new provision disqualifies community mental health centers from receiving state or local funding if they offer competitive compensation to attract skilled clinical staff. These risks driving qualified professionals out of Indiana and further jeopardize access to already fragile mental health care services.

5. Medicaid Changes: The budget introduces administrative shifts that transfer financial risk onto healthcare providers within the Medicaid program, without enhancing patient support or provider reimbursement. These changes could ultimately result in fewer dollars reaching the people and providers who need them most.

“These policy changes don’t just hurt institutions – they hurt people,” Bauer said. “This budget quietly undermines healthcare access across Indiana. At a time when Indiana ranks among the worst states for maternal mortality and access to mental health care, we should be investing more, not less, in the systems that keep our families healthy.”

Bauer reaffirmed her commitment to fight for policies that support health equity, strengthen health care access and protect frontline health providers.

Bauer comments on RFK Jr., Braun, Dr. Oz ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again’ plan

Following Gov. Mike Braun's "Make Indiana Healthy Again" announcement, State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) called attention to the failings of the plan and Gov. Braun and Statehouse Republicans’ previous missed public health opportunities. 

Bauer issued the following statement:

"In 2023, the Indiana General Assembly made a historic investment in Indiana's public health by funding Health First Indiana at $75 million in fiscal year 2024 and ramping the program up to $150 million in fiscal year 2025. Gov. Braun's 'Make Indiana Healthy Again' announcement today rings hollow – in his budget request, he decreased this critical, needle-moving funding by $50 million each fiscal year. In 2025, all 92 counties in Indiana opted into the Health First Indiana funding, and with these cuts, we are ‘Making Indiana Sick Again.’ Research shows that in just preventative health services made possible by this funding, the state saved $95 million.

“It's not leadership to bring your D.C. friends in for a flashy announcement but then fail to put your money where your mouth is when it comes to actually funding local public health programs.

"House Democrats, by contrast, backed up our commitment to public health by offering an amendment to the budget to restore this funding to $150 million annually, which House Republicans rejected. In addition, Democrats have fought to have a larger conversation about Hoosiers’ health for years, yet our efforts were blocked by House Republicans. If Democrats’ concerns were heard, we could have programs to improve Hoosier health such as improving access to healthy food and addressing food deserts already at work in our communities.

“I appreciate Gov. Braun’s focus on health outcomes and preventative care, but this is a conversation that Indiana House Republicans have had many opportunities to get serious about for years now. I hope they’ll join House Democrats and me on those efforts moving forward.” 

Bauer votes against Republican tax hike on Hoosiers

Today, April 10, Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill (SB) 1 with an amendment that will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion a year and cut police, fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and public school services by $1.4 billion over three years. While the bill was rewritten with a second reading amendment on Wednesday with little time for policymakers or the public to review the real fiscal impact, it’s clear that SB 1 will not provide tangible property tax relief for Hoosiers. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to “do more with less” while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats’ concerns that SB 1 will bankrupt vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

“SB 1, which is being pushed by Republicans as 'property tax relief' is a threat to our communities across the state. Cities and towns will lose critical property tax revenue – money we use to fund schools, police, fire departments, libraries, and road maintenance. While the bill is masked as a property tax cut, it fails to provide any real tax relief to working families. The reality is that this legislation will lead to significant increases in Hoosiers' income taxes, and local governments will be forced to fill in the lost revenue elsewhere to fund essential resources while the state gets to evade responsibility.

“In St. Joseph County alone, SB 1 is expected to cut $108,875,000 over the next three years. The consequences of this bill are too risky: libraries in rural Indiana have stated they will have to consider shutting their doors or going virtual only and entire school corporations will be dissolved without any local input from their constituents. The bill caps fire territory tax rates at $0.40 per $100 of assessed value. Our own fire chiefs have told us that this cap would lead to personnel cuts and force fire stations in suburban areas to close.

“It forces public schools to share their local property tax dollars with charter schools even if those charter schools don’t serve the same neighborhoods or take on the same responsibilities. South Bend Schools alone could lose over $22 million in just a few years.

“The Republican party in Indiana continues to cut local resources, telling us that there’s ‘no money’ for real, tangible tax relief for working families: renters, first-time homebuyers, veterans, and seniors. We’re told the state can’t afford to expand the homestead credit or offer support to seniors on fixed incomes. Simultaneously, this bill hands out the largest tax breaks in business personal property tax cuts to a select few while our local services are left to scrape by.

“Our state is not broke—our priorities are. Due to poor fiscal management, the state has pulled hundreds of thousands from our general reserves to cover previous Medicaid budget shortfalls. Agencies across Indiana are being told to cut 5% from their budgets, meaning fewer resources for health care, transportation, and public safety.

“I’ve spoken to families across our district: seniors trying to keep up with rising assessments, renters who dream of owning a home, parents worried about their child’s school losing funding. These voices matter, and they’re being ignored in favor of rushed policy and political headlines.

“We cannot afford to gut the foundation of our communities. If we care about education, if we care about public safety, if we care about keeping our towns vibrant and livable, we have to say no to this version of SB 1.”

The bill now heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. During the House session on Wednesday, April 9, Gov. Mike Braun signaled that this was the Indiana GOP's final property tax plan, despite House Democrats still working to make the bill better on the House floor via amendments, which were all voted down by the majority.

House Republicans pass bill to cut access to Medicaid, Bauer fights for vulnerable Hoosiers

Today, April 8, the Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 2, the Republican plan for Medicaid, by a vote of 66-28. The bill aims to slash participation in the Medicaid Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) program by increasing eligibility checks, establishing work requirements and limiting marketing for its services.

State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) released the following statement on the bill’s passage:

“I’m grateful that my amendment language to exempt full-time students from the proposed work and volunteer requirements was accepted in the Committee on Ways and Means. However, I remain deeply concerned about the sweeping authority this bill gives the Secretary of the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to restrict advertising for HIP. When paired with political theater - like wearing a MAGA-style hat before a Senate committee - it starts to look less like a public health strategy and more like an attempt to advertise D.C.-style politics here in Indiana. Hoosiers deserve genuine support, not out-of-state playbooks.

“Advocates, including representatives from The Arc of Indiana and the Logan Center, voiced serious concerns and called for additional protections for individuals with disabilities - concerns that went unaddressed by the majority.

“This legislation poses significant risks that we must not overlook. There’s a persistent misconception that Medicaid enrollees are committing fraud. In reality, they are often the victims, not the perpetrators. Less than 0.1% of the money recovered from Medicaid fraud is attributed to Medicaid members themselves. Meanwhile, whistleblower lawsuits allege that managed care entities have defrauded the state for ‘tens, likely hundreds' of millions of dollars.

“Rather than address these systemic issues, SB 2 adds to the administrative burden already inflating Medicaid costs—costs that often exceed the actual cost of care. We must reduce inefficiencies, not create new barriers that prevent people from accessing health coverage.

“Instead of feeding into misguided provisions and focusing on real solutions that protect our most vulnerable Hoosiers, we should be building a stronger Medicaid program- not tearing it down.”

House Public Health Committee Democrats vote against bill growing wasteful government bureaucracy

 Today, March 18, Democrats on the House Committee on Public Health stood against Senate Bill 2. The bill increases restrictions to qualify for the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) by implementing a 20-hour-a-week work and/or volunteer service requirement and prohibits advertising of Medicaid programs. Now that the bill has passed the Public Health Committee, it will head to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.  

Ranking Minority Member Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis), Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend), Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) and Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), who serve on the Public Health Committee, released the following statement after hearing testimony on SB 2 and voting against it:

“Hoosiers work hard, and that's exactly what we heard today in committee from Hoosiers who rely on Medicaid for health care. Senate Bill 2 would only spend more money on Medicaid, rather than saving money as claimed by the bill authors, by creating more administrative hurdles and unintended coverage disruptions for eligible individuals.

“HIP is funded 90% by federal dollars and is an investment in our state’s economy and wellbeing. This ‘Big Brother’ monitoring of Hoosiers will cost more money than it will save, and it will make health care less accessible to Hoosier families by making applications harder and lengthier. In fact, Georgia's efforts to institute work requirements for Medicaid utterly failed, with administrative spending costing more than actual health care services for enrollees. These mandates have historically led to coverage losses, particularly among individuals facing barriers to employment, such as those with chronic health conditions or caregiving responsibilities.

“SB 2's complete ban on marketing and advertising for Medicaid would hinder working Hoosiers from understanding their health care options. This bill would cause unimaginable harm to our communities and disenfranchise thousands of families in our state.

“Indiana already ranks 45 out of 50 states in public health funding. We have the highest maternal mortality rate among our neighbors with 41% of births in our state being covered by Medicaid. 1 in 4 Indiana counties are maternity care deserts. Instead of tackling these health care disparities, the House today advanced a bill once again restricting these essential services.”

Bauer: ‘Environmental policy should be driven by science, not political pandering’

Today, Mar. 12, Gov. Mike Braun signed Executive Orders 25-37 and 25-38 on environmental policy in Indiana.

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

“As the former state lead of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) and an advocate for environmental protections that safeguard the health of the public we serve, I express grave concern with Gov. Braun's executive orders. These directives aim to limit and undermine the ability of the Indiana General Assembly to enact laws and regulations that best serve our state and its residents.

“Deferring Indiana's clean water and air regulations to Washington D.C. contradicts the principles once championed by the state's Republican leadership. Before Gov. Braun became a D.C. politician, he served in the state legislature, where he understood that we - not Washington, D.C. - know what is best for our communities.

“I would also remind Governor Braun that Indiana already has a 'no more stringent than' law, making EO 25-37 redundant. Meanwhile, HB 1037, which prevents local governments from enacting stronger stormwater management policies, is currently moving through the Indiana General Assembly, further limiting local rule. The opposition to 'environmental justice' is, in reality, resistance to righting the wrongs that have persisted due to weak environmental regulation – such as those that plagued LaSalle Park/Beck's Lake on the westside of South Bend. Known simply as 'The Lake,' this site in a predominantly Black neighborhood endured years of hazardous industrial dumping from the 1930s to the 1950s. Clean-up at this site did not begin until 2022, led by the City of South Bend and Honeywell International Inc., with critical support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Superfund site. 

“Transforming this former dumping ground – where children once swam and played – into a safe community space should not be mischaracterized as part of conservatives' fear of 'environmental justice.’ Ensuring that children have safe places to play, free from lead-contaminated soil, is the right thing to do and should not be a topic of political debate.

“We commend the federal government’s continued investment in South Bend’s Superfund sites. These efforts demonstrate a commitment to addressing long-standing environmental hazards that have disproportionately impacted vulnerable communities. Robust environmental regulations and federal funding are essential to remediating toxic waste sites and protecting public health. Weakening state regulations threatens to derail these vital initiatives, putting Hoosier families at even greater risk. Instead of rolling back protections, Indiana should work alongside federal agencies to expand cleanup efforts and ensure that all communities have access to clean air and water.

“Environmental policy should be driven by science, not political agendas or fear of doing what is right. Gov. Braun's actions today align with the Trump administration's repeated efforts to slash funding and cut jobs at the EPA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Weakened federal protections disproportionately endanger communities already burdened by pollution while also jeopardizing key industries, such as agriculture and tourism, sectors that are vital to Indiana's economy and workforce. Sustainable economic growth relies on responsible environmental stewardship, not reckless deregulation.

“I am proud to stand on the right side of history by supporting policies that prioritize the health and well-being of my community. Instead of enabling unchecked pollution and environmental deregulation, we must champion clean air, safe drinking water, and resilient infrastructure. Environmental policies should be strengthened – not gutted – if we are to protect Indiana’s future generations. Indiana House Democrats are ready to work with Gov. Braun on pragmatic solutions that enhance efficiency without compromising the health of our residents or the integrity of our natural resources.”