Garcia Wilburn calls for action on cost of living, not partisan maps

Today, Gov. Mike Braun signed a proclamation requesting the Indiana General Assembly to convene a special session on Nov. 3 to redraw Indiana's congressional maps in the middle of the decade, going into effect for next year's midterm elections.

This unprecedented action follows the majority party of the Indiana General Assembly redrawing Indiana's congressional maps in 2021 following the 2020 U.S. Census, and maps which the majority party touted to be fair and representative of the people.

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 Nov. 3 onward 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. 

On the heels of House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta's statement, State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) released the following statement in response:

"It is first important to note that we in Indiana hold close our traditions. Our tradition, and our long-held process, has been for decades that our redrawing of state and federal district maps has been held after the results of national census. This predictable process has been what Hoosiers have come to expect, and it was what they deserve. A sentiment often said in both the House and Senate chambers is that our state government is in no way like the politics of Washington, D.C. This is no longer true, and working families in our district are struggling to get by right now. They're struggling to pay their energy bills. They're struggling to pay their property tax bill. They're struggling to pay for health care. This isn't the time to play political games by pursuing an unprecedented redrawing of our congressional maps in the middle of the decade. Instead, our state government should be focused on the very real problems that Hoosier families are facing. That is what I have been doing and that is what I will continue to do, and this special session will only take me away from the very important work that I am privileged to do.

"I urge Hamilton County legislators to pose a united front and take a strong stance against redistricting. We can be patriots who are committed to our constituents and who are loyal to the importance of letting voters choose their representation. The leadership in our county is proof that there is a higher road our state can take instead of partisanship for partisanship's sake."

Ford and Garcia Wilburn release statement on denial of vote centers in Hamilton County

State Senator J.D. Ford (D-Carmel) and State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) issued the following joint statement after the Hamilton County Election Board failed to reach the unanimous vote needed to move to countywide vote centers for future elections:  

"We are disappointed with the result of yesterday's Hamilton County Election Board meeting, which struck down the possibility for Vote Centers in Hamilton County despite the measure being approved unanimously by both the Hamilton County Commissioners and County Council and receiving widespread public support. 

"Hamilton County families are busy people. From driving kids to soccer or band practice to commuting to work, it can be difficult for families to find the time to make it to their assigned polling place to cast their vote on Election Day, even though they know how important it is to be civically engaged.

“During the last primary election, Indiana ranked 50th in the nation for voter turnout. By advancing vote centers, Hamilton County would have been rolling out a proven method to make voting more accessible for all of those families who call Hamilton County home. 

"These are not new. Sixty-seven out of Indiana's 92 counties have adopted vote centers, and there is ongoing discussion to implement them statewide. 

"Furthermore, this move would have saved Hamilton County money in a time when our local governments are having to tighten their belts.  

"By allowing people to vote at any voting center in the county, Hamilton County would have reduced the number of needed polling centers from 235 to 57, reducing spending by thousands of dollars each election. Hamilton County is on the cutting edge of so many governmental reforms and programs, and we take pride in that fact. That's why it's disappointing to us that our community won’t benefit from this model that makes it easier for working families to make their voices heard during the 2026 elections. 

"We remain focused on finding ways to ensure secure, safe and free elections while also finding paths to increase turnout and accessibility." 

Bipartisan Leaders Beau Baird and Victoria Garcia Wilburn Condemn Murder of Charlie Kirk, Call for End to Political Violence

State Reps. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) and Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), co-chairs of the Indiana Future Caucus, shared their united condemnation of the murder of activist and commentator Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah yesterday. The Indiana Future Caucus brings together bipartisan lawmakers 45 years of age and under.

The co-chairs released the following statement condemning the shooting and calling for civility:

“Political violence is never okay. Taking someone’s life is never an acceptable way to settle differences of opinion.

“Earlier this year, our bipartisan caucus spoke out against the tragic murder of a Democratic Minnesota state representative and her husband. Today, we unequivocally condemn the murder of Republican activist and commentator Charlie Kirk.

“As a nation, we must move beyond this horrifying trend of harming or killing those you disagree with and return to a culture of spirited debate and respect for different viewpoints. The Indiana Future Caucus represents the bright tomorrow we can create for Hoosiers — and political violence should not exist in that future.

“Our prayers are with Charlie’s wife Erika, his children, and all who loved him during this heartbreaking time.”

The Indiana Future Caucus connects Gen Z and millennial lawmakers committed to working across party lines to deliver results for their communities. Currently, 32 millennial lawmakers serve in the Indiana General Assembly.

A forthcoming release will share more details about the caucus’s recent leadership transition.

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.”

Garcia Wilburn stands with disability advocates against Medicaid waiver service cuts

Today, Aug. 15, State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) held a press conference with disability advocates to oppose the State of Indiana's proposed Medicaid waiver service cuts to recreational therapy.

Recreational therapy allows individuals with disabilities to build confidence, strengthen social connections, reach greater independence and more. The State is proposing capping recreational therapy service hours to just six hours a month for individuals on the Medicaid Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) waiver, which would be a devastating blow to the Hoosiers who use these services and their families. Public comment for these changes closed last week after dozens of Hoosiers submitted testimony asking for the cuts to be reversed.

Garcia Wilburn was joined by Ashley Searcy, the mother of Sadie, a waiver recipient; Tyler Neimeyer, a certified recreational therapeutic specialist (CTRS); and Lori Schweyer, a CTRS. Advocates also attended the press conference to show their support for recreational therapy services.

"Recreational therapy services are not optional," Garcia Wilburn said. "Rather, they are a vital part of ensuring Hoosiers of all abilities lead their richest, most vibrant possible lives. The need for continued access to recreational therapy is urgent, and we simply cannot 'do more with less' when we essentially have been left with nothing. 

"My constituents with disabilities and their families benefit directly from recreational therapy and other disability services, especially when their child “ages out” of their parents’ health insurance and find themselves now in an income-qualified situation. They will be reliant on Medicaid for these services.

"For our disability community, health care is an issue that transcends income. If these cuts go through, families will need to start choosing between these vital services and other essentials like groceries and gas. That is unacceptable.

"These proposed caps may not even be legal. Previously when the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration tried to implement caps on therapy services, the proposal was found to be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court found that these arbitrary limits would cause people with disabilities to be segregated from their community.

"Finally, I want to talk about misplaced priorities and how this issue presents an opportunity for Indiana to find our way again. You will probably hear from the administration that these cuts were necessary amid a budget shortfall and the Medicaid shortfall from two years ago. However, we continue to find and use state dollars for creating more government oversight, and governmental roles in the executive branch.

"The money is there – it's just a question of whether we have the bravery to spend it where Hoosiers really need it or whether we will continue bending to the will of special interests. My friends in the disability community today have presented a compelling case for why they need to be a priority. Today, I call on Gov. Braun and his administration to do the right thing and prioritize Hoosiers. We can have a state where Hoosiers with disabilities lead their fullest possible lives – but only if we have the courage to put them first."

Garcia Wilburn calls for dignity and respect in immigration conversations, enforcement

Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that Camp Atterbury, a military training facility licensed to the Indiana National Guard, will soon be used as an immigrant detention facility. Nationally, concerns have been raised about inhumane conditions at a Florida detention center, raising the question of whether federal authorities will treat detainees with dignity at Camp Atterbury.

In the wake of the Camp Atterbury announcement, State Rep. Andrew Ireland (R-Indianapolis) posted on X celebrating the news and suggested that Indiana's detainment facility be called "Cornfield Clink," a nod to President Trump's decision to refer to the Florida facility with inhumane conditions as "Alligator Alcatraz." In a follow-up post, he made a meme out of the supposed joke.

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), a law-and-order advocate, daughter of migrant farmers and person of faith, released the following statement calling on State Rep. Ireland to uphold the decorum of his office:

"As elected officials, we are tasked with upholding the Indiana Constitution and the U.S. Constitution as well as a standard of decorum befitting a public servant elected to represent over 60,000 Hoosiers. Given the reports out of Florida and elsewhere about inhumane, overcrowded conditions in immigration detention centers, it's disappointing to see State Rep. Ireland making a tasteless joke applauding another one of these facilities opening south of Indianapolis.

"I'm sad that one of my colleagues believes it appropriate to laugh at families being torn apart with no respect for the due process afforded to all people in our country. I believe in law and order carried out with care, concern and dignity. The casual dismissal of due process by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in arresting and deporting people without cause is a gross betrayal of our judicial system, institutions and the Constitution we are tasked to hold dear as public servants. New reporting from Axios released today showed that ICE has significantly increased its arrest of people with no criminal charges in Indiana over the past six months, up from 6% of arrests in January to 23% of arrests in June.

"Unfortunately, this hateful, anti-Christian attitude seeped into the legislative process this year during the discussion of immigration enforcement legislation. During the House Judiciary Committee's discussion of House Bill 1531, one testifier said that he was opposed to all immigration, not just undocumented immigration. At the time, I sounded the alarm that the tenor of this discussion would bear out unintended consequences for our state and precipitate hate against all immigrants, and I am sad to have been proven correct.

"I am generations of Americans. My family grew up poor, and my parents, if they were working today, could have been in Indiana's farm fields amid the ICE arrests of migrant farm labor. As American citizen stories of careless deportation are emerging, my parents could have been among them. I have been told time and time again by my legislative colleagues that Indiana is a pro-life, Christian state. I struggle to understand how belittling the real and devastating challenges faced by immigrants is befitting of any lawmaker representing a supposed pro-life, Christian state.

"I call on Rep. Ireland and my other General Assembly colleagues to recommit to a culture of respect for human dignity, civility and decorum befitting the office. We have many debates about tough topics at the General Assembly in which lawmakers can have legitimate, principled disagreement, but there is no need for those conversations to be cruel and hurtful.

"Finally, I want to close by sharing remarks from Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). As a Catholic, I appreciate his moral call during this difficult time for immigrants and those who know and love them:

"'Law enforcement actions aimed at preserving order and ensuring community security are necessary for the common good. However, the current efforts go well beyond those with criminal histories. In the context of a gravely deficient immigration system, the mass arrest and removal of our neighbors, friends and family members on the basis of immigration status alone, particularly in ways that are arbitrary or without due process, represent a profound social crisis before which no person of good will can remain silent. The situation is far from the communion of life and love to which this nation of immigrants should strive. …

"'On behalf of my brother bishops, I want to assure all of those affected by actions which tear at the fabric of our communities of the solidarity of your pastors. As your shepherds, your fear echoes in our hearts and we make your pain our own. Count on the commitment of all of us to stand with you in this challenging hour.'"

Garcia Wilburn comments on passage of federal bill stripping health care from thousands of Hoosiers

Upon the U.S. House of Representative's vote to send the "Big Ugly Betrayal" bill to President Trump's desk for signing, State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) issued the following statement in response:

"As a member of the Indiana House Committee on Public Health and a health professional, I understand the critical role that Indiana's Medicaid programs, including Hoosier Healthwise, the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) and home-based waiver services play in keeping Hoosier families, children and seniors healthy. Thanks to the 'Big Ugly Betrayal' and other federal health care policy changes, 17 million Americans will become uninsured over the next decade, including an estimated 267,996 Hoosiers.

"Let's be perfectly clear: The vast majority of Medicaid recipients work and contribute to their communities. Most others in the program are disabled, elderly, blind or are simply children. The administrative burden that will be placed on the State of Indiana to execute these cuts will slow down eligible Hoosiers' ability to receive care in a timely manner. This will exacerbate existing, treatable conditions and ultimately drive up the cost of care for the state without improving outcomes. Hoosier families struggling to get by want a helping hand, not a handout. These cuts pull the rug out from under them.

"Additionally, 12 rural Indiana hospitals have been identified as potentially closing because of the Medicaid cuts in this bill. In a year when Indiana has already significantly cut its successful county-based public health program, I have grave concerns for the direction our state's health statistics will head if more rural health care deserts are created.

"I have been vocal all year about the danger in sweeping changes to our hospitals, our Medicaid and the lack of patient-centered decision-making in the drastic changes to how we provide care to those with autism. These federal changes will undoubtedly hurt all Hoosiers, irrespective of insurance type. The state will be left to pick up the pieces and once again 'do more with less.'" 

Garcia Wilburn celebrates opioid settlement win, calls for investment in recovery courts

Indiana will receive up to $100 million in new opioid settlement funds following action by 55 attorneys general, including Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, to secure a $7.4 billion settlement from the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma for their role in America's opioid epidemic. This money will be disbursed over the next 15 years to state and local governments to combat the effects of the opioid crisis, according to a press release from Attorney General Rokita.

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), a behavioral health professional and recovery advocate, renewed her call for Indiana to establish a Family Recovery Court Fund, which could be funded by opioid settlement dollars. Family recovery courts are certified problem-solving courts that target cases of abuse or neglect wherein a parent or primary caregiver suffers from a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders, but they struggle to receive consistent funding and have often relied on counties prioritizing them in their budgets. This legislative session, Garcia Wilburn passed House Bill 1107 unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee to create such a fund, but it subsequently stalled out in the House Ways and Means Committee – meaning that it did not become law this year.

Garcia Wilburn released the following statement on the new settlement dollars and how they could be put to good use in recovery courts:

"First, I'm thankful that Indiana will receive $100 million in new opioid settlement dollars, and I thank Attorney General Rokita and his fellow attorneys general across the country for their work to secure this outcome. These dollars can be put to use in our communities for addiction recovery, prevention and solutions, including recovery courts.

"Family recovery courts reduce the cost of addiction to the taxpayers by solving addiction outside of our courts and prison systems. They're a great investment that have resulted in many success stories across our state of babies born substance free and families made whole again. The 2026 legislative session is the time to take action and create a family recovery court fund. This will allow courts across the state to fund family recovery courts sustainably into the future. Amid a state budget shortfall and this new infusion of settlement funds, setting up this recovery court fund won't take money out of our state budget but will help Hoosiers reach recovery with existing dedicated funds. That's a win in my book – and one that's entirely achievable during the 2026 legislative session."

Garcia Wilburn votes ‘no’ on inefficient budget that cuts public health, early learning

Today, April 25, the House of Representatives passed a final version of House Bill 1001, the two-year state budget. State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) voted 'no' on the budget out of a concern for public school, public health and early learning funding and a belief that budget writers could produce a better budget to shield Hoosier families during uncertain economic times.

Specifically, HB 1001:

1. Increases traditional public school funding by only 3.3% in 2026 and 1.6%  in 2027, while brick-and-mortar charters receive a 4.8% increase in 2026 and a 3.7% increase in 2027. Traditional public schools will have limited state funding growth while losing $744 million in property tax revenue because of Senate Enrolled Act 1.

2. Pauses the expansion of the private school voucher program for only one year, then implements universal vouchers in 2027. Vouchers will increase by 10.1% in 2026 and 23.4% in 2027.

3. Decreases the eligibility level for On My Way Pre-K from 150% of the federal poverty level to 135% of the federal poverty level. Fewer working families will be eligible to qualify for pre-K.

4. Reduces the funding for the Health First Indiana program to $80 million, a $145 million cut from the 2023 biennial budget.

Garcia Wilburn released the following statement after her 'no' vote:

"I will always give credit where credit is due – it was heartening to see an increase in the cigarette tax in this year's budget, which is something I have been advocating for since becoming a lawmaker due to the positive public health impacts of this policy.

"However, that wasn't enough to convince me that this budget is the best we could do as the General Assembly.

"It's inefficient to keep growing the funding for three different school systems alongside our constitutionally mandated traditional public school system, which delivers great results for House District 32 families. This budget tells HD 32 families that the school corporations they overwhelmingly choose – Carmel Clay Schools, Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation and MSD Washington Township – are not a priority, and I can't support a budget that does that. Additionally, amid potential funding cuts for Medicaid and the dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education, I believe special education needed an extra-large boost, which it doesn't receive in this budget.  

"I also struggled to support a budget that axes critical public health funding by $145 million over the next two years and lowers the income eligibility requirement for families to qualify for On My Way Pre-K. Hoosiers move to our communities because they are great places to raise a family and focus on your health and wellness, but these cuts jeopardize these community values.

"This budget could have done more to support working families, and that's why I voted against it today."

Nearing end of legislative session, Garcia Wilburn provides health care policy update

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), an occupational therapist and member of the House Committee on Public Health, provided an update on health care industry legislation as Indiana's 2025 legislative session nears its close.

Garcia Wilburn voted for Senate Bill 475 today, April 24. Now that SB 475 has passed the state House of Representatives and Senate, it heads to the governor's desk for signing.

SB 475 aims to lower health care costs and improve patient outcomes by prohibiting hospitals or hospital systems from entering into noncompete agreements with physicians if the agreement interferes with the physician's ability to treat their patients. Garcia Wilburn has previously applauded federal efforts to eliminate noncompete agreements.

Garcia Wilburn issued the following statement upon the bill's passage out of the House:

"The patient-physician relationship is key to delivering good health care outcomes, and hospital-enforced noncompete contracts get in the way of the best possible care for patients. It's fair for patients to want a doctor they trust. It's also fair for physicians to want good working conditions and satisfactory pay. Noncompetes make these two needs stand in conflict with each other. All too often, patients are forced to lose a trusted provider because that provider decides they need to leave the hospital system and are forced to move away because of their noncompete's terms.  

"SB 475 is an important step toward delivering better health care outcomes and working conditions for Hoosiers, ensuring healthy competition and lowering costs. I was proud to support it."

Additionally, Garcia Wilburn voted against legislation to overregulate hospitals and drive up patient costs. House Bill 1004 creates more administrative workload and paperwork for nonprofit hospitals that provide essential Medicaid services to the neediest Hoosiers.

"Transparency is a noble principle, but transparency without action doesn't actually lower costs or improve outcomes for Hoosiers. House Bill 1004 will be harmful to the hospital systems in our communities without any clear benefit to patients. I would like to see all health care entities working together for the betterment of consumers and will continue working toward this goal next session."

OP-ED: Axing the federal Department of Education and cutting Medicaid will hurt Carmel and Fishers' disability communities

As an occupational therapist and state representative, I am thankful to represent communities that place a premium on inclusive growth that ensures residents with disabilities can thrive. Both Fishers and Carmel constantly work to elevate the disability community and make city planning decisions that are welcoming to all. Additionally, our area schools offer robust special education programs so that every child can have a bright future, regardless of ability.  

Setting up every child for success is a right guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). IDEA ensures that public school students receive an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that is tailored to their needs and abilities. Additionally, the DOE supplements state resources with the additional funding needed to execute IEPs for their students. 

To be clear, IDEA only protects students enrolled in public schools, and oftentimes private schools do not have the capacity – or a federal mandate – to provide specialized IEPs to students with disabilities. This makes our public schools all the more important for our disability community. As the National Education Association published in a recent article about these cuts, "The best and only choice, say many parents of children with disabilities, is their neighborhood public school." 

This is why I'm incredibly disappointed in last month's federal administration decision to cut the DOE completely. We should not be leaving our students with disabilities out to dry without the robust federal support and civil rights enforcement they've been promised to ensure they have equal opportunities as their peers without disabilities. This decision will do just that. 

Also on the federal level, potential Medicaid cuts will hurt our students in special education programs. Indiana is one of 25 states that has opted into allowing Medicaid payments to be used to carry out IEPs. With Congress discussing $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid and other programs, the quality of IEPs and support personnel are on the chopping block.   

Our federal leaders in charge of our health care system have made damaging and misleading statements about what kids with disabilities can hope to accomplish in their lives. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this of children with autism: “These are kids who will never pay taxes. They will never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date." This is patently untrue – Americans with autism lead rich and full lives, and these comments do not reflect the body of health research showing how much progress youth and adults with autism can make toward independence with evidence-based interventions. 

In my opinion, this is all unacceptable. Our public schools are the crown jewel of our community, and we need to keep them excellent for all students, including our students with disabilities who need a specialized curriculum. We can't take a step backward for the disability community and leave our children with disabilities behind. The core tenant of IDEA is that all children deserve an equal opportunity in education and an equal opportunity to succeed, but these cuts threaten to dismantle that promise. Our kids deserve more than this – and I will continue advocating for them to get the investment and attention they’re owed.      

Garcia Wilburn votes against income tax hike, cuts for local schools and public safety

Last week, the Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 1, which will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion annually while cutting police, fire, EMS and public schools services by $1.4 billion over three years. While the bill was pushed through with very little time to review the possible fiscal impact, it's clear that SB 1 will provide minimal property tax relief to Hoosiers. Statehouse leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

"My dad always used to tell me that numbers don't lie, and I spent lots of time last week poring over the fiscal impact of Senate Bill 1 once the fiscal note was published. The numbers in this proposal show that Hamilton County stands to lose $132.98 million in funding as a result of this bill. People move to Hamilton County for our excellent schools, public safety and local services. The savings for Hoosier homeowners only comes out to $1.4 billion over three years, but the local income tax capacity has been raised by $3.3 billion over three years – meaning that while you might save the average amount of $245 off your property tax bill, your local income tax bill can rise as a result.

"In addition to analyzing the fiscal impact of Senate Bill 1, I made sure to communicate with our mayors and other local elected officials throughout the Senate Bill 1 process. I also received dozens of phone calls, emails and text messages from my constituency, and the overwhelming consensus from them was that this bill will have dire consequences for the local services we hold dear. It's incredibly important to me to work across the aisle and build consensus with my fellow Hamilton County lawmakers, but this was one issue on which I simply could not reach agreement with them. Senate Bill 1 in its current form is just not workable for House District 32.

"I voted 'no' on Senate Bill 1 to keep our schools and public safety excellent and to keep all Hamilton County taxpayers from getting a bump in their local income tax rate from 1.1% up to the new maximum of 2.9%."

The bill passed out of the Senate on a concurrence vote on Monday evening. Gov. Mike Braun has signaled that he intends to sign this property tax plan into law.