Smith opposes state budget, Gary gets the scraps

Today, April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) opposed the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, prioritizing funding for private school vouchers and cuts in funding for local public health initiatives. 

State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) released the following statement:

“I fail to see how this budget invests in our communities and our families. Our schools will have just enough to stay afloat, but they won’t have the funding they need to thrive. Like always with the state legislature, Gary will get little. 

“The funding for urban schools in this budget is insufficient. It puts Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) in a difficult position. The state takeover of our school board due to financial distress just ended in 2024. GCSC has to stay in the black, and the state isn’t doing anything to help. This budget was done quickly, and it shows. GCSC gained 400 students this school year, but the budget is projecting we’ll lose them. If we continue to grow, we’ll still get the money, but this inaccurate prediction proves that this budget is hastily done and far from what our communities deserve.

“In 2027, private school vouchers will get a 23.4% increase and brick-and-mortar charter schools will get a 3.7% increase. Traditional public schools will only get a 1.6% increase. I understand the importance of students attending a school that best serves their needs. However, the various types of schools should be equitably funded, especially our public schools. 

“I’m also concerned with local public health receiving only $40 million each year, which will disproportionately impact those who live in poverty. Our community deserves to thrive, not just survive off of Indiana’s table scraps.”

Errington votes ‘no’ on budget, acknowledges cigarette tax increase and cites concerns on funding cuts

Today, April 25, the Indiana General Assembly approved the final version of House Bill 1001, advancing the state's next two-year budget to the governor's desk. State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) voted against the bill, acknowledging the positive step of increasing the cigarette tax but raising concerns about significant cuts to public health and higher education funding.

“Raising the cigarette tax is a long-overdue move that can discourage smoking and generate essential revenue for our state’s health initiatives,” Errington said. The budget includes raising the per-pack cigarette tax to $2.99, expected to generate approximately $800 million over the next two years.  “However, it’s disheartening to see that while we take this step forward, we’re simultaneously undermining our public health infrastructure and educational institutions. This budget reduces funding for local public health grants by $120 million over the next two years, leaving only $40 million annually for health departments across the state.”

“Ball State University and other public universities are vital to our state’s future, providing education and driving economic growth,” Errington said. “Cutting their funding sends the wrong message about our commitment to higher education. Additionally, I am particularly concerned about the language that micromanages our university and faculty affairs. By requiring tenured faculty to prove their worth through rigid productivity checklists, this bill undermines academic freedom and weakens the foundation of our higher education system. Tenure was designed to protect intellectual independence — not to be used as a tool for political oversight. Our professors should be encouraged to pursue bold research and mentor students, not worry about ticking boxes to keep their jobs. This legislation devalues their work and opens the door to censorship in the classroom.”

Errington emphasized the need for a balanced approach that invests in both public health and education — and one that respects university faculty, rather than politicizing their work.

“We should be investing in our communities’ well-being, and this budget falls short of that goal.”

Boy opposes state budget: ‘Irreparable damage’ to our education system

Today, April 25, the Indiana General Assembly passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Pat Boy (D-Michigan City) voted against the budget due to its insufficient funding for K-12 education and higher education.

“I cannot fathom the irreparable damage this year’s budget will have on our education systems,” Boy said. “This budget not only doesn’t make up for the money our public schools are losing because of property tax cuts but also cuts the funding towards our public universities. Our universities attract thousands of bright students every year and teach them vital skills they can contribute to our state. Instead of fostering these educational environments to provide our young people with opportunities to prosper, the majority has decided to slash their funding. 

“The budget raises the tax on cigarette packs to $2.995 per-pack, which will generate $800 million over the next two years. Instead of ensuring that this funding goes towards making up for the cut funding in our education systems, much of this funding is going to a general fund with no guarantee on how it will be used.”

“The budget also suspends the growth of the private school voucher program for a year, to make up for part of the $2.4 billion budget deficit, but this suspension is temporary, while the cuts on our schools are not. I hope that in the future this legislature will reprioritize and fund the institutions essential to the welfare and prosperity of Hoosiers.”

Campbell votes no on budget, bad deal for West Lafayette community

Today, April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk.  State Rep. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, cuts for Purdue University, cuts for local public health initiatives, changes to the eligibility threshold for On My Way Pre-K, cuts in housing assistance and the elimination of funding for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) TV and radio. Campbell supports a few portions of the budget, including cutting funding for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) by roughly 30%. 

Campbell released the following statement: 

“I couldn’t support this budget, which will adversely impact families in West Lafayette. The bad in the budget outweighs the good. Purdue’s funding is getting cut, and they’re receiving no funding for capital projects, even though they’ve been an excellent partner with the state. With Purdue’s housing crisis, the university needs additional funding to build dorms and meet students’ needs. 

“The cuts for local public health initiatives are concerning since that money has been used by Tippecanoe County to prevent chronic disease and improve maternal and infant health. Fewer of our families in need will qualify for state-funded pre-K since we’re changing the On My Way Pre-K threshold. Thank goodness the various attempts to criminalize homelessness all failed, but this budget eliminates the Housing First program.  

“Our public schools also get the short end of the stick. They’ll get a small increase in state funding, but at the same time, they’ll lose an even bigger amount in property tax revenue. This isn’t what our children and teachers deserve. The bad in the budget outweighs the good.”

DeLaney opposes 2025 state budget

In the early hours of April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending a budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, cuts to higher education as well as the expansion of the voucher program. 

“When it comes to this year’s Republican budget, I want to know how we got here and where we go from here. First, we got here through years of cutting away at our financial resources while expecting an ever-growing economy. Those are two bad ideas that underpin the current shortfall. 

“What we need to do now is to protect the most vital parts of our state and its people and correct our past mistakes. We are failing on both challenges. 

“We have done very little for K-12 public education in this budget while being disproportionately generous with private school vouchers. Additionally, this budget eliminates pre-k programs for tens of thousands of Hoosier children. 

“Amongst my deepest concerns is that we have undercut our 200-year-old system of state colleges and universities. Instead of creating a ‘Department of Government Efficiency,’ we have laid down a whole new bureaucratic framework and a set of rules to limit the success and independence of our higher education institutions. Our professors will have to beg to keep their posts and to teach the things they know and are committed to. What happened to academic freedom? What happened to free speech? 

“This body is on the verge of unraveling one of our state’s greatest economic assets, our universities, behind closed doors at the 11th hour. 

“One of the finest accomplishments of the last decade of the General Assembly was the strengthening of our local public health system. This budget cuts our support for that by more than two thirds.

“To top it off, we have done nothing to protect our budget from the impending doom of more cuts from the federal level. The economic uncertainty from Washington wrecked our revenue forecast to the tune of $2.4 billion. Whatever happens next could very well wreck the entire budget. Neglecting to plan for these risks is not just fiscally irresponsible, it is foolish.”

Klinker votes no on state budget, worries for the future of public schools

Today, April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette) voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, the elimination of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the expansion of the voucher program and the cut in funding for local public health initiatives. Klinker supports portions of the budget, including cutting funding for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) by roughly 30% and adding additional oversight for the Secretary of State. 

“I’m deeply concerned for our public schools and the inadequate funding they will receive from the budget,” Klinker said. “Our schools in Tippecanoe County will receive a minimal increase, but it’s well below their needs. Even with this small increase, our schools will still lose millions in property tax revenue. As a former educator, I know what our teachers are doing to make ends meet. I used to buy my students pencils, crayons, notebooks and other supplies with my paycheck. 

“Public schools will receive little, but private school vouchers will increase by 23.4% in 2027. I understand the desire to attend a private school due to religious beliefs that families value deeply. However, our state must provide for our public schools that rely solely on state dollars.

“While I did not vote for this budget, I do support several of the initiatives to increase oversight and transparency that will benefit the Tippecanoe County community.” 

Pryor: ‘This budget fails to support the least of thee’

In the early hours of April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, the expansion of the voucher program and the cut in funding for local public health initiatives, public broadcasting services and higher education.

“Many Hoosiers struggle to keep up with the increasing cost of housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare. The 2025 state budget passed by Indiana Republicans does not address the very real needs of working families. 

“Just a few days ago, Republicans announced that our state revenue was $2.4 billion less than expected. What was their solution? To cut critical programs for Hoosiers like public health initiatives, higher education, pre-k, public transportation and more. Additionally, not only is there no solution to make housing more affordable, but funding for housing resources like the Housing First program was eliminated.

“While these services that benefit hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers were cut, the private school voucher program will receive an additional $100 million of taxpayer money every year starting in 2027. The public schools that serve the overwhelming majority of Hoosier students will remain underfunded. 

“The state budget is a blueprint of our priorities. This budget supports the wealthiest among us while leaving the populations that need state support the most out to dry.

“I am disappointed in the lack of involvement Democrats had in this process. Collaboration brings the very best ideas to the table. This budget is not what Hoosiers need, and it is not what Hoosiers deserve.” 

Hamilton opposes the 2025 state budget: ‘This isn’t what Hoosiers need’

In the early morning hours of April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, cuts to child care and pre-k programs as well as the expansion of the voucher program. 

“In this moment of economic uncertainty, the average Hoosier family deserves a state willing to support their very real needs,” Hamilton said. “Instead, this budget chooses to invest in the wealthiest 3.5% of families. 

“The budget passed by Statehouse Republicans hands nearly $100 million in new taxpayer dollars to the wealthiest families in Indiana every year starting in 2027 to send their children to private schools they are already attending. Meanwhile, our public schools—the backbone of our communities—continue to be underfunded. Adjusted for inflation, Indiana now spends less per student than we did 15 years ago. That’s not progress. That’s disinvestment.

“If we wanted to help working Hoosiers, we would expand access to child care and pre-k. Child care is unaffordable—or simply unavailable—for tens of thousands of parents trying to stay in the workforce. This is when the state should step up and support working families. Instead, this is a step back. On My Way Pre-k saw a 5% cut in funding and a reduction in eligibility. The state views a family of four making $40 thousand a year as too rich to qualify for child care vouchers, but any billionaire now qualifies for a private school voucher. 

“Investing in child care, early learning and our public schools pays back for families, employers and our state’s economy. A massive subsidy to Indiana’s uber-wealthy is simply not fiscally responsible. 

“This budget is about priorities. And the message is loud and clear—we’re prioritizing ideology over educational outcomes. Wealth over need. Politics over working families. This isn’t fiscally responsible. It’s not equitable. And it’s not what Hoosiers are asking for.”

Andrade votes ‘no’ on state budget, concerned with missed opportunities for Hoosier education and public health

Today, April 25,  the Indiana General Assembly approved the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the state’s next two-year budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, voted against the bill citing, deep concerns about insufficient investments in key areas crucial to Indiana’s future.

“Hoosiers deserve a budget that reflects our values and priorities - and this one falls short,” Andrade said. “We’re underfunding public health, failing to support our youngest learners and defunding our higher education institutions. That’s not a path to prosperity – it’s a path to falling behind.”

Andrade pointed to the continued lack of investment in pre-K programs, which he says limits early childhood learning opportunities across the state. He also expressed concern over what he sees as a steady divestment in Indiana’s colleges and universities, calling it a contributing factor to the “brain drain” we are seeing in Hoosier students.

“If we truly want to build a strong economy and retain top talent, we must start by supporting our schools and institutions from the ground up.

“It’s hard to take public health promises seriously when we’re cutting the very programs meant to support them,” Andrade said. “The ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again’ initiative, championed by Gov. Braun,  was touted as a commitment to Hoosiers’ health, yet this budget slashes critical resources. Instead of receiving $100 million annually, public health services will get just $40 million per year over the next biennium. We cannot claim to be making Indiana healthy again while gutting the support systems people rely on.”

“This budget tells Hoosiers that their health and education aren’t priorities, and I refuse to support that,” Andrade said.

Harris votes ‘no’ on state budget, advocates for public health and public education

Today, April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the biennial budget to the governor's desk. State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) voted against the budget, citing inadequate funding for public education, public health and stripped funding for Public Broadcasting Services.

"This budget fails to adequately fund public K-12 education, which is critical to the success of our state. Throughout the state, we're facing teacher shortages and underfunded classrooms. We had an opportunity to address this issue in our biennial budget, and Indiana Republicans squandered that chance. Along with the impact of House Bill 1001, Lake County is set to lose hundreds of millions of dollars thanks to Senate Bill 2. This budget will do nothing to help Lake County residents who will pay much more in local income taxes while getting minimal property tax relief. No one wins under this budget proposal.

"It's also worth noting the underfunding of public health under this budget, just a week since Gov. Mike Braun met with RFK Jr. to supposedly 'Make Indiana Healthy Again.' Over the next two years, funding for the Health First Indiana program has been cut to $80 million from $225 million in the 2023 biennial budget. How can we expect Hoosiers to be healthier when we are actively taking away funding from the very programs designed to increase public health?

"Higher education is taking a cut under this budget, with the Commission of Higher Education receiving a funding cut for student scholarships. As a lawmaker, I'm proud to say I've championed the 21st Century Scholars program, helping more Hoosiers achieve a higher education. Having more college graduates in Indiana means a stronger economy, a more robust workforce and more incentives for workers and families to move to our state. When we fail to prioritize higher education, we fail to prioritize the future of Indiana.

"With everything going on in our state right now, I find it odd that Indiana Republicans are focusing their efforts on stripping funding for Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). For over 50 years, PBS has helped keep Hoosiers informed on their local governments and communities. Perhaps most importantly, PBS has been a champion in early education since its founding. With Indiana's growing brain drain problem, we should be prioritizing any opportunity to help our children get ahead and prepare them for a lifetime of learning and civic engagement. An informed electorate helps create a stronger state and a government more representative of the people it serves.

"House Bill 1001 is fiscally irresponsible and will harm Lake County and Hoosiers throughout the state."

Miller votes ‘no’ on House budget to protect public schools, health initiatives

Today, April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the biennial budget to the governor's desk. State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, the expansion of the voucher program and the 60% cut in funding for local public health initiatives.

"Strong public schools are the backbone of our communities, and this budget fails to ensure teachers and students have what they need to be successful," Miller said. "Along with the impacts of HB 1001, thanks to the Republican-backed Senate Enrolled Act 1, Allen County will lose millions in property tax revenue over the next three years.

"While Republicans force public schools to do more with less, private school vouchers will increase by 23.4% in 2027. I'm not against families having options when it comes to where they send their children to school, but the state should not be funding private school vouchers for wealthy families while many Hoosiers are going without affordable medical care or housing.

"In the wake of Gov. Braun's political stunt with Robert Kennedy Jr. to 'Make Indiana Healthy Again,' I find it odd that we're cutting funding for local public health initiatives under this budget. To make it worse, our community is currently facing a measles outbreak while the Republican budget guts public health initiatives. These cuts put everyone in danger when future outbreaks occur.

"I wanted to be able to vote for this budget but, unfortunately, it doesn't meet the moment for what Hoosiers need. Folks need property tax relief that doesn't threaten local services, our public schools need support to meet the needs of our children, and public health services need adequate funding to ensure the next generation of Hoosiers has a better shot at long-term health. If these things were in the Republican budget, I would have been an adamant 'yes' vote. Ultimately, I had to vote in the best interest of my constituents, and House District 82 deserves better than what Republicans were offering."

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."