Pryor votes against Republican tax hike on Hoosiers

Today, Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill 1 with an amendment that will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion annually while cutting police, fire, EMS and public school 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. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats' concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

“People in my community want a true decrease in their taxes, not a decrease in property taxes that is cancelled out by increased income taxes. Marion County stands to lose $75 million under the current version of SB 1. In order for our community to fund essential public services like police, fire and EMS, as well as public schools for our kids, they will be forced to find the funding elsewhere. 

“This proposal is nothing but smoke and mirrors. Republicans in the legislature can run around touting that they have saved Hoosiers $300 on property taxes and then turn around to the local governments and force them to play the villain by raising local income taxes by $300 to keep functioning. They have managed to save Hoosier taxpayers very little while passing off responsibility to local governments. 

“I know this is not the best we can do for Hoosiers. This proposal is not a collaborative solution to help taxpayers around the state. We need to help our seniors stay in their homes while not cutting their access to emergency medical services. We need to help working parents keep a roof over their children’s head while not reducing the quality of their children’s education. 

“I am disappointed in the lack of action on the part of the legislature in helping Hoosier taxpayers get real relief.” 

The bill now heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. During 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.

Jackson votes against Republican tax hike on Hoosiers

Today, Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill 1 with an amendment that will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion annually while cutting police, fire, EMS and public school 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. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats' concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

 "Senate Bill 1 is not the property tax relief bill that Republicans promised Indiana residents. This bill does very little to limit property taxes while gutting local governments' ability to fund essential services. To make up for that fact, they have added provisions to raise local income taxes.

"Lake County alone stands to lose over $200 million by 2028 as a result of this bill's passage. These massive cuts will leave our public schools, libraries, fire departments and police departments struggling to operate. Republicans have talked about property tax relief for months. Instead of compromising, they are rushing a bill through the legislative process that does very little to help Indiana homeowners. No one is happy with this bill, and it's extremely disappointing that Republicans were unwilling to work with us to come up with a plan that actually benefits Hoosier taxpayers.”

The bill now heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. During 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.

Harris votes against Republican tax hike on Hoosiers

Today, Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill 1 with an amendment that will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion annually while cutting police, fire, EMS and public school 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. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats' concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

"With SB 1, Lake County is set to lose $193,198,000 over the next three years thanks to cuts to critical local services including police, fire, EMS and schools.  As residents of the county, we will be paying higher local income taxes to make up for this egregious funding cut. Unfortunately, you shouldn't expect to be able to use the money you save on property taxes under this legislation to help pay for that tax hike, because the relief SB 1 provides property taxpayers is minimal, at best. As for renters, they will see no property tax relief on top of these higher local income taxes. This Republican property tax plan is a sham designed to deceive Hoosiers into thinking they're getting a break, when in reality, they're paying the price for the majority party's fiscal irresponsibility.

"An earlier proposal to have public schools share property taxes with charter schools was also rolled into this bill, increasing the burden on our local public schools. Many of these schools are already doing more with less, and SB 1 will have detrimental impacts on schools and the children they serve for years to come."

Miller votes against Republican tax hike on Hoosiers

Today, Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill 1 with an amendment that will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion annually while cutting police, fire, EMS and public school 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. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats' concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

"Indiana Republicans just cost Allen County $89,253,000 over the next three years. Hoosiers in House District 82 are being played. This bill masquerades as a tax cut when, in reality, local governments have to raise taxes to continue making sure that critical services like police and fire can continue to operate. SB 1 is a bait-and-switch and I’m not willing to saddle residents of District 82 with higher taxes for some half-baked plan to give minimal property tax relief."

The bill now heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. During 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.

Andrade 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 annually while cutting police, fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and public school 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. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats' concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

“Today, I voted against Senate Bill 1 because Hoosiers deserve the truth, and this bill does not deliver it. SB 1 is being sold as ‘property tax relief’ but in reality, it shifts the financial burden onto hard-working Hoosier families. This is a bait-and-switch that will leave our communities struggling.

“Local governments will be forced to either raise income taxes or cut essential services, including funding for our public schools, fire departments, police and libraries. In Lake County alone, we stand to lose nearly $235 million dollars by 2028.

“Our children, our safety and our future are being put at risk to give another tax break to big businesses. Hoosiers want real tax relief, not a plan that drains our schools and weakens our neighborhoods in the false promise of ‘real property tax relief.’”

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 deny relief to homeowners, strike down ‘Back to Basics’ property tax plan

Today, April 9, House Ways and Means Ranking Democrat State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) proposed his plan for property tax relief. The House majority struck down all of Porter’s amendments to provide significant savings to homeowners and fund relief through the state. 

“They’re pushing their plan through without input,” Porter said. ”House Republicans will do what they want, even though Democrats represent many of the communities with high property tax revenue. Now they get to put $1.4 billion in tax cuts on their mailers while homeowners will save an average of $245. Those savings will be zeroed out with local income tax increases. Everybody, except manufacturers, loses with this proposal. 

“Our communities will lose over $939 million, and our schools will lose over $534 million. Maybe more since we don’t have the updated numbers for amendment 36, which has been a huge issue with this bill’s process. We had fire chiefs come and tell us they’ll have to close fire houses or let firefighters go. The House GOP gave $1 billion to the LEAP district, and we paid $1.7 billion in cash for a single prison. But we can only give homeowners about $245? They want people to move here for economic development, but they voted down a first-time homebuyer’s credit. I’m disappointed but not surprised.” 

A list of the amendments House Republicans voted down is below: 

• Amendment 14: Reinstates the first-time homebuyers tax deduction provision Senate Republicans included in Senate Bill 1. 

• Amendment 15: Removes language from the bill dissolving the Union School Corporation, which was included without the knowledge of the Union School Superintendent. 

• Amendment 16: Delays property tax revenue sharing with charter schools until 2035. 

• Amendment 19: Establishes a state-funded homestead property tax freeze for veterans with a moderate to severe service-related disability. 

• Amendment 20: Creates the home ownership expenses homestead credit, giving $300 to each homeowner to offset the rising cost of utilities and home insurance. The money would be sourced from the General Fund. 

• Amendment 22:  Caps increases in the property tax bills of qualifying seniors at 1%. 

• Amendment 24: Provides additional relief to renters by increasing the renter's deduction from $3,000 to $5,000. 

• Amendment 26: Deletes the provision prohibiting the South Shore Line from issuing new debt.

DeLaney: Republicans are dodging the real issue

Today, April 9, the House discussed a series of amendments on the latest Republican property tax plan. According to a statement from Gov. Mike Braun minutes before the bill was called to the floor, the version we have now is the compromise between House Republicans, Senate Republicans and the governor. 

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement after offering several amendments on the floor: 

“The latest version of Senate Bill 1 puts pressure on local income taxes to fund this $300 temporary stopgap in an ongoing increase in property taxes. If people look at both the local property tax and their local income tax, at the end of the day this may be a wash. It is hard to know if anyone will really benefit from this maneuver. 

“This bill will restrict local governments, particularly in growing areas, in their ability to do what communities expect. Schools in growing areas and fire departments that can’t get enough equipment to suit the needs of the area will face significant hardship. 

“Because of the way this has been handled, the public’s understanding of what we are doing has been undercut. The constantly shifting sands have muddied the waters. 

“Today’s rabbit from the hat picks winners and losers. While playing this game, we refused to act about real needs, such as those of first-time homebuyers as well as renters. 

“Instead of giving parts of industry massive breaks, we should be looking to support young Hoosiers as they strive to achieve homeownership. Supporting young Hoosiers will not only boost our economy and grow our workforce but increase the property tax base itself.”

GiaQuinta statement on Thompson Amendment 36 to Senate Bill 1

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) released the following statement on State Rep. Jeff Thompson's Amendment 36 to Senate Bill 1, which was adopted by the House of Representatives on second reading today:

"Let's be real: Senate Bill 1 is a tax hike in disguise. Paying up to 4.1% in income taxes to your city and county on top of state and federal taxes is much more than the $300 max in 'credit' you could receive off your property tax bill in 2026. Businesses still get a break, but working Hoosiers get crumbs. This is a bad deal for working Hoosier families, which is why House Democrats voted no on this plan."

Pryor co-sponsored bill to reform eviction filing passes the House

Yesterday, April 8, the Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 142 which reforms state policy for filing evictions and sealing eviction records. This bill requires courts to order an expungement in cases that qualify and allows that action to be taken without a full hearing. In many cases, prior evictions stay on someone’s record and can be used by landlords to deny housing applications, even if the case has been resolved. Without this bill, the eviction expungement process can require large amounts of time and resources. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), co-sponsor of SB 142, issued the following statement: 

“Housing has become an increasing challenge for far too many Hoosiers. Eviction rates have skyrocketed, with some courts dealing with hundreds of eviction cases every day. Even for those who settle all debts, these evictions stay on your record and act as a barrier to securing housing in the future. 

“Requiring courts to seal eviction records in cases that have been resolved without the process of a full hearing will eliminate large amounts of time and resources for both the state and Hoosiers in this situation. Not only will this save the state money and help relieve chronically backlogged courts, but it will have significant impacts on the lives of struggling Hoosiers. I have heard stories from my constituents of apartment buildings giving families only a few hours to move out because of a facility issue in the dead of winter. If someone is waiting for their case to move through backlogged courts, having this mark on their record could be the difference between a new place to live and being on the streets. 

“There is no need to continuously penalize those who have satisfied their debt. This bill will free those who have settled their debts from having a scarlet letter on their housing applications. 

“Having a roof over your head is an essential human need. Access to reliable, safe and affordable shelter is something the state should strive to help all Hoosiers reach. I am so proud to have been a co-sponsor on this bill to remove this critical barrier to housing.” 

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.”

Jackson opposes bill to slash participation in Medicaid

Today, April 8, the Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 2, the Republican plan for Medicaid, by a vote of 66 to 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. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond) released the following statement in opposition of the bill:

“This bill will kick people off their health care for very little tangible savings to the state. The money saved by identifying the small amount of wrongdoing is far smaller than the administrative cost of conducting quarterly eligibility checks. The additional red tape will only lead to bureaucratic waste and increased costs. 

“Senate Bill 2 is pointing the finger at enrollees for Medicaid fraud when they account for less than 0.1% of money recovered from fraud. Enrollees are far more often the victims of administrative fraud, and yet they are the ones being punished. What is with the obsession with villainizing our vulnerable populations instead of holding the real perpetrators of fraud accountable? 

“Medicaid is notoriously confusing and stressful for people just trying to get by and stay healthy. Instead of clearing things up, this proposal creates boundaries to care by requiring people to prove their eligibility four times a year. For those working multiple jobs to make ends meet for their family, adding stacks of paperwork to the to-do list multiple times a year is unrealistic. 

“Under SB 2, individuals who win as little as $3,000 in the lottery would be stripped of their Medicaid coverage. This punishes low-income Hoosiers for winning a one-time sum of money.

“In my district, some doctors are only in the office a few times a week and cancellations are frequent. If your coverage is up in the air and you don’t know if you’ll be able to pay for the appointment, you may have to face further delay. This will only exacerbate wait times and risk people facing deteriorating health conditions. 

“As a state, we should be looking out for Hoosiers. Instead of increasing accessibility for those just trying to survive, SB 2 will cause people to lose coverage when nothing about their conditions or status has changed. This is not only illogical, but also cruel.”

Miller’s bill supporting small tobacco businesses passes the Senate

House Bill 1468, authored by State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne), passed through the Senate today and will head to the governor's desk following a concurrence vote in the House. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 41-8. The bill would allow tobacco vendors to obtain a three-year supplemental cigar sales certificate, allowing them to sell cigars at an event on a temporary basis.

“I am thrilled to see my legislation pass through the Senate. HB 1468 will help many small businesses that sell cigars across our state by allowing them to vend at public events. This legislation will ensure that our businesses are engaging with their communities and can promote their trade outside of their shops. 

“Passing this bill is a great step taken by the legislature to foster entrepreneurship in Indiana by promoting our small businesses. As a small business owner myself, I'm proud to fight for legislation that encourages entrepreneurship in our state.”