House Majority blocks Porter’s amendment to fulfill state’s promies to higher ed students

Today, April 7, the House majority blocked a vote on an amendment on Senate Bill 5 offered by Ranking Ways and Means Democrat, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis). The amendment would have allocated an additional $100 million to the Indiana Commission of Higher Education (CHE), allowing them to continue providing the promised amount of award money to college students. Last November, the CHE announced its plan to reduce the grant money students receive for the 2025–26 academic year and onward. This decision came after changes to the federal financial aid formula resulted in more Hoosier students qualifying for state financial aid. 

Porter released the following statement on his amendment:

“Since this change was announced in November, House Democrats have repeatedly requested that the Frank O’Bannon and the Freedom of Choice awards be adequately funded. I advocated for it in the State Budget Committee hearing on the CHE budget, and again earlier this session in our House budget, to no avail. Republicans in both chambers have made it abundantly clear that they have no interest in fulfilling their promises to our college students. 

“This shortfall in student assistance is expected to impact more than 30,000 students across the state, placing many low-income students in further financial turmoil. Around 6,000 Ivy Tech students, many of whom are pursuing technical or associate degrees that the majority have pushed, will be affected. Students in both public and private schools are expected to lose, at minimum, up to $500 each year in assistance.

“The House majority blocked my amendment, which would have provided an additional $100 million in residuals from INvestEd to the CHE to support our students. This one-time, contractual transfer would guarantee that students already in school continue to receive the funding they were promised. In the past, INvestEd has been required to use its residuals to fund government projects. There is no better time than now to shift these unneeded dollars to help our students in need of assistance. 

“We’ve seen college enrollment drop to 53% in the last five years. Cutting student awards will only further the low college attendance rate in Indiana. We must act now to ensure students can pursue higher education and receive the money they were promised.”