Bartlett anti-human trafficking bill heads to governor’s desk

Today, State Rep. John Barlett's (D-Indianapolis) House Bill 1416 passed through the House of Representatives and the Senate and now heads to the governor's desk. The bill requires gas stations and rest areas to display posters with information on human trafficking and the National Human Trafficking Hotline number in restrooms or a visible location on the premises.

Barlett issued the following statement following the vote:

"This bill is a great first step in curbing human trafficking in our state. Unfortunately, this abhorrent practice is a multi-billion-dollar industry around the world. As the Crossroads of America, roughly 80 million people pass through our state each year, and it's impossible to know how many of these individuals are victims of human trafficking. If having these posters on display in our gas stations and rest areas can save just one life, it's worth it.

"I'd like to thank my fellow lawmakers who have worked with me to get this bill to the finish line, and the brave survivors who shared their stories during committee to discuss the impact of this legislation."

Porter comments on budget unveiling: ‘No taxation without representation’

Today, April 23, Indiana House and Senate leadership and Gov. Mike Braun unveiled the final version of the state budget. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), a conferee for House Bill 1001, was not consulted for the conference committee report, which has not been made available to the public yet. The final budget includes recommendations made by Porter: increasing the cigarette tax to $2 a pack and utilizing the Pension Stabilization Fund. 

“Every year in this building, I hear that the Statehouse is nothing like Washington D.C.,” Porter said. “But these are empty words. This is the least transparent budget process in my legislative tenure. I was not consulted, and I was not told the contents of this budget until thirty minutes before it dropped. It’s disrespectful to my community and the millions of Hoosiers Democrats represent. 

“We represent Indiana’s districts with the highest tax revenue. You’re spending the hard-earned tax dollars of our communities without consulting their elected officials. What happened to no taxation without representation? 

“I wasn’t consulted, but ideas from my budget proposal are included. I proposed increasing the cigarette tax to increase revenue, and I’ve said we should use money from the Pension Stabilization Fund. The IEDC is getting a cut, and I abstained from voting on multiple budget committee agendas when they asked for millions with no transparency. Schools will get an average 2% increase, and they’ve paused the voucher program growth for a year. The most troublesome part is only giving $40 million to local public health initiatives, even though we’re going to ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again.’

“This has been a divisive, non-transparent process. Our communities deserve a seat at the table.” 

Porter celebrates 13th check, criticizes 5% cut

Today, April 23, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) signed the conference committee report for House Bill 1221 to provide teachers and public retirees with a 13th check for another year. However, the benefit amount for each tier will be cut by 5%. This cut is unrelated to the budget deficit since the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) has fully funded reserve accounts that cover the costs of 13th checks. 

Porter released the following statement: 

“For another year, our retirees will get a 13th check. But they’re getting less than what they deserve. Each tier will get a 5% cut, which is completely unnecessary. We have a $2 billion budget deficit, but our general fund doesn’t pay for 13th checks. 

“We have the money, and it’s sitting in the INPRS supplemental reserve account. We’re already doing these one-year makeup 13th checks, and now the amounts are being cut. Our retired teachers and valued public employees need this benefit. They’re going to experience the blowback of Trump's economic policies. Senate Enrolled Act 1 will save our seniors little, and their local income taxes will probably increase. 

“If I were a young person, I wouldn’t see the value of working for the state. We don’t take good care of our retirees, and we fall short on our promises. Our seniors, retired teachers and state employees will continue drowning in costs while Republicans dole out tax cuts and money in the budget to big businesses.” 

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.”