Pfaff celebrates reinstatement of consent education

Earlier this month, State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) passed an amendment on Senate Bill 442 to require consent be included in curriculum on human sexuality. On Monday, April 21, Republican State Sen. Gary Byrne (R-Byrneville) removed that provision from SB 442 during a short conference committee meeting. 

A video of the exchange between Byrne and Pfaff on the matter of consent education quickly gained over a million views across social media platforms. Following widespread public concern about removing the requirement for teenagers to learn about consent, the language was added back into the bill. 

“While I still cannot understand why this was ever a debate to begin with, I am relieved that the language requiring consent education was put back into the bill,” Pfaff said. 

“Teaching about consent protects our youth – both boys and girls. There was no reason for this common-sense policy to become a partisan issue. Thankfully, logic prevailed, and all young Hoosiers will benefit.” 

Today, April 23, the final version of SB 442 with the language requiring consent education passed both the House and Senate and now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. 

DeLaney calls for legislative action on IEDC obscure dealings

Earlier this month, Gov. Braun issued an executive order to put an end to the failure to make disclosures about conflicts of interest. This order requires “nonprofit” organizations designed to assist our state government to become current on required filings with the state and the IRS. The governor has now confirmed that he is in the process of arranging for an independent audit of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Yesterday, Hannah News Service ran a special issue about the backstory of this executive order. This investigation found there has been a round of probes from the governor’s office into the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and its affiliates, including the Indiana Economic Development Foundation and Elevate Ventures. 

“I have been voicing my concerns that the IEDC is a runaway agency with a blank check for years now. It appears that our current governor shares those concerns. 

“I have called on the legislature multiple times to rein in this agency. In the wake of legislative inaction, I applaud the governor for expending the resources necessary to get the bottom of this entity’s obscure dealings. 

“The IEDC has frequently been allowed to hide behind the shield of ‘private sector competitive edge’ when asked to produce details about what they deem ‘confidential’ projects. IEDC representatives have been slow to disclose the amount of money that is being spent on the controversial LEAP project to members of the state budget committee.

“The bottom line seems to be that a few highly paid people are wearing multiple hats. That begs the question of whether any pockets are being padded with these taxpayer dollars. 

“As we prepare to wrap up the legislative session in the next few days, I urge the legislature to follow the lead of the executive branch. We must require the IEDC and affiliates to present the necessary records in front of the State Budget Committee. Hoosier taxpayers deserve to know what their money is being used for.”  

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.      

Porter proposes ideas to remedy budget deficit, Supermajority conducts negotiations behind closed doors

Today, April 21, members of the General Assembly held a conference committee on House Bill 1001. Legislators are facing a $2 billion deficit for the biennial budget. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) proposed Amendment 97, providing additional revenue sources. 

“Conference committees are where bipartisanship and transparency die,” Porter said. “The supermajority is plowing ahead without input from Democrats. During the 2009 crisis, both parties discussed solutions. This time, Democrats weren’t invited to the table. Instead, they sat us at the kids' table.

“We have a massive deficit on our hands. This is not the time for universal vouchers or giving more money to virtual charters. This is not the time to protect large corporations–this is the time to help Hoosiers. House Democrats are focused on preserving K-12 education, public safety and public health. I want to take care of people during this time of uncertainty. 

“Today, I proposed increasing the cigarette tax to $2 to raise $800 million, which was included in my initial budget proposal. We should also delay the individual income tax cuts, freeing up an additional $300 to $400 million. We received an influx of dollars during COVID-19, so we put an extra $3.7 billion into the Pension Stabilization Fund. If we use portions of that money, Indiana could free up $1 billion each year. Some more creative solutions are a small sugary beverage tax, increasing the alcohol tax or eliminating the free play gaming concept.

“We should exhaust all potential streams of revenue before making cuts. Let me also remind the majority: there’s one glaring reason for this forecast change from December to April. This is the time to help Hoosiers, not enact sweeping cuts that leave Hoosiers out in the cold.”

Hamilton celebrates additional road funding for Marion County

Today, the House of Representatives voted to send House Bill 1461 to the governor’s desk to sign or veto. First, this bill brings $50 million in road funding from the state to Marion County if the city agrees to match that amount. Second, this bill adjusts the road funding formula to more equally serve densely populated areas. The road funding model has historically harmed densely populated areas by allocating funding per road mile instead of by lane mile. This means a two-lane county road received the same amount per mile as a busy urban corridor (such as Binford Blvd or Keystone Blvd) that are 4-6 lanes across. Now, a large portion of the formula is based on lane miles.

State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), a member of the House Committee on Roads and Transportation, issued the following statement: 

“The passage of this bill brings long-overdue, transformative road funding parity to Indianapolis. Until now, under the state road funding model, Indianapolis has been a donor county to the rest of the state, receiving back only 11 cents for every dollar paid in. Moving forward, our capital city will have the resources we need for our roads to be properly maintained.

“As a member of the Roads and Transportation Committee, I’m proud to have played a role in moving this critical bill forward. I’m grateful to Mayor Hogsett’s team, City-County Council leadership, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their partnership. Chairman Pressel carried a heavy load with HB 1461, and he delivered. This is a major win for the nearly 970,000 Hoosiers who call Indianapolis home.” 

Dant Chesser votes no on bill increasing tolls

Today, April 17, the Indiana House of Representatives concurred with the Senate’s changes to House Bill 1461, sending the bill to the governor’s desk. The bill allows the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to add tolls to roads and bridges without protections for communities already within proximity to existing tolls. 

State Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser (D-Jeffersonville) released the following statement: 

“We cannot have more tolling in Southern Indiana. No one likes potholes, but potentially increasing tolls in Indiana is a massive deterrent. My goal as a legislator is to reflect the thoughts of my community, and I have heard their opinions about tolling loud and clear. 

“Frankly, I don’t blame them. The cost of crossing our tolled bridges is $5.22 without a prepaid account. We have a regional economy, so we’re not bound by state lines. People are crossing the bridges often to work or go to school. Last summer, trying to get everything figured out with the RiverLink tolls was chaos. INDOT worked hard to remedy this situation, but that was a stressful situation for those affected. 

“I voted no on this bill because it’s in the best interest of my community.” 

DeLaney comments on bleak revenue forecast

Today, April 16, the State Budget Committee met to discuss the state’s Medicaid, economic and revenue forecasts. 

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis), a non-voting member of the State Budget Committee, issued the following statement on the forecasts: 

“I had caught on to the not-so-subtle posturing from the majority that our budget was going to be ‘tight,’ but this is far beyond what I imagined,” DeLaney said. “We are not prepared to face a $2.4 billion hit over the next three years. We are essentially replacing growth with a flat line. 

“This bad news does not factor in the potential federal budget cuts that hold the power to throw our budget into complete disarray. The unusually high degree of uncertainty coming from Washington hinders our ability to prepare ourselves to serve our people. 

“We knew that we were going to have to tighten our belts, but that does not mean choking the life out of our basic services. Nobody wants a repeat of the Great Recession. Indiana chose to deal with that by undercutting public education and other public services. We must maintain the fundamental functions of government such as funding public schools, repairing roads and keeping communities strong and safe. That benefits every Hoosier. 

“We have one week to update our budget to account for this week’s economic report. With the unpredictability coming out of D.C., I fear that the budget we pass in the next week will not hold up through the summer. 

“The legislature must act responsibly and create a mechanism to address this economic instability. We cannot leave a matter this serious in the hands of the executive branch. My colleagues in the General Assembly need to step up to our role.

“Let’s be honest about this – unless we make some substantial moves in the final week of session, a lot of people are going to be hurt. Avoiding that now falls to the majority.”

Porter comments on revenue forecast: ‘When the U.S. gets a cold, Indiana gets pneumonia’

Today, April 16, the State Budget Committee met to discuss the revenue forecast, economic forecast and Medicaid forecast before the close of the 2025 legislative session. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“I’m thankful Indiana has a nonpartisan forecast because we can focus solely on the numbers. But today our numbers are unclear. We’re operating in a time of extreme uncertainty. The revenue forecast is down $2.37 billion for the next few years. We’ll be down $403 million in 2025, $963.9 million in 2026 and over $1 billion in 2027. This is an unprecedented negative change between the December and April forecasts. People knew the 2009 recession was coming back thanks to Trump’s tariffs, but this is a reality shock. 

“Federal actions could completely change our trajectory. We’re one of the most intense manufacturing states in the nation, so we could get hit hard. When the U.S. gets a cold, Indiana gets pneumonia. 

“Our budget has to be done in a week. In the past, I’ve proposed doing an annual budget during periods of uncertainty. I said we needed to move this forecast up a month. Now it’s crunch time, and we’re writing this budget with a blindfold.” 

Porter comments on income tax hike in disguise as Braun signs bill

On April 15, Gov. Mike Braun signed Senate Enrolled Act 1. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement:  

“SEA 1 is a lose-lose. About two-thirds of homeowners will pay less in 2026 than in 2025, with a 10% credit, potentially up to $300. By phasing out the homestead standard deduction, upping the supplemental deduction and switching to a percentage-based credit, Hoosiers with lower assessed values will save little. Homeowners in rural and lower-income areas will be the ones who save less and probably pay more. 

“Local governments will be cut by $1.4 billion. Public schools will lose $744 million, and 190 school districts will lose an additional $52 million as their local income tax certified shares are cut. In the budget, most schools will also get an insufficient increase in their school funding formulas of 1.5% or less if House Republicans get their way. Your local income taxes might go up by $1.1 billion. Guess what? If you can’t afford a house, you don’t get any savings, but your taxes go up. A person making $50,000 a year could see an increase of $600. Savings in your left pocket, but you pay more out of your right.

“This will hurt our communities. Thousands of teachers protested yesterday because this bill will disadvantage their schools and the quality of education their students receive. Notice how the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) hasn’t supported SB 1–their resources will be cut. Firefighters said these cuts would impede their ability to provide services. It’s hypocritical to vouch for small government and then kneecap the ability of our small governments to do their job. Locals have two options: raise taxes or swallow cuts that are untenable.

“Make no mistake, this is a tax hike. Less than 20 counties tax the maximum 2.5%, and very few take advantage of the full 1.25% to provide a property tax credit. That 3.75% is a fallacy. It’s not happening. This bill increases the maximum amount local governments can collect from $5.9 billion to $7 billion. They can try to explain it away, but that’s an increase. This will outweigh anything you save on your bill. 

“Braun made a campaign promise he can’t keep. Indiana Republicans want to shift the blame for taxation to local committees. Local services will suffer from massive cuts. The majority party dukes it out over who provided the bigger 'tax cut, 'and all Hoosiers and our communities lose in the process.” 

Moseley honors Indiana State Trooper Nedal Nabhan for heroic action in New Orleans tragedy

On April 2, State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) presented a resolution honoring Indiana State Police Officer Nedal Nabhan for his extraordinary courage and selflessness in the face of a terrorist attack while on vacation in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the New Year celebration. The resolution was presented at the South Haven Fire Department monthly meeting in recognition of Officer Nabhan’s heroic actions on Jan. 1, 2025.

Nedal Nabhan, who began his career with the Indiana State Police on Dec. 21, 2007, is known for his extensive training and role as a Tactical Medicine Instructor for the department. During his vacation, Officer Nabhan witnessed an act of terrorism unfold outside his hotel room. Without hesitation for his own safety, he secured his wife and immediately sprang into action to assist those injured in the attack.

In his swift response, Officer Nabhan provided critical medical care to victims, using his expertise to minimize harm and save lives. Upon learning of an improvised explosive device (IED) in the vicinity, he exhibited further courage by utilizing a hotel luggage cart to transport the injured to safety, ensuring their survival until first responders arrived.

“Nedal Nabhan’s actions on that day exemplify the highest standards of heroism, courage and service,” Moseley said. “His quick thinking, bravery and commitment to saving others serve as a reminder of the enduring spirit of service that inspires us all. Officer Nabhan’s actions are the perfect formula for what it means to be a true hero.”

This resolution honors Officer Nabhan’s unwavering dedication to the safety and well-being of others, both in his official duties with the Indiana State Police and in extraordinary circumstances. His actions serve as an example of the tremendous impact one individual can have in times of crisis.

The full text of the resolution was read aloud during the presentation, underscoring Officer Nabhan's selflessness and dedication to his community, both in Indiana and beyond.

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.” 

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.