Burton shares update on redistricting decision

Today, State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) issued the following statement reacting to the news that Senate Republicans will not move forward on redistricting:

“For more than 100 days, the conversation around redistricting has taken up attention at the Statehouse. During that same time, healthcare costs have gone up, utility bills are rising, child care has become harder to access, housing remains unstable and local governments are still searching for real support after SEA 1.

“As we head into session, my focus is on delivering solutions that actually meet these needs. Our farmers, first responders and families are counting on us to prioritize policies that put Hoosiers first.”

GiaQuinta comments on redistricting not moving forward

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) released the following statement reacting to the news that Senate Republicans will not move forward on redistricting:

"Now that the topic of redistricting is behind us, I look forward to working on bringing down the cost of living for Hoosiers during the upcoming legislative session."

Gore reacts to redistricting not moving forward

State Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Beech Grove) released the following statement reacting to the news that Senate Republicans will not move forward on redistricting:

“At a time when the norms and customs that have held our republic together for 250 years are being tested every day - and the resulting tension has seeped into our interactions with colleagues, friends, and family - the news from the Senate majority is welcomed.

“I pray this is just the starter's pistol for a marathon session aimed squarely at addressing the real issues facing my neighbors, namely that everything is more expensive and wages haven’t kept up.”

IBLC focuses efforts on 2026 legislative agenda

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, issued the following statement on behalf of the IBLC regarding Indiana Senate Republicans not moving forward with redistricting efforts: 

“We in the IBLC are looking forward to focusing our efforts on our 2026 legislative agenda, which will focus on lowering the cost of living and giving every Hoosier a fair shot at economic security.”

Pack to host 12th annual Indiana Military Veterans Legislative Day in January

State Rep. Renee Pack (D-Indianapolis) welcomes veterans from across the state to attend the Indiana Military Veterans Legislative Day (IMVLD) at the Statehouse on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. Coffee, donuts and lunch will be provided. 

“As a veteran, I'm deeply honored to serve as chair of the 12th Annual Indiana Military Veterans Legislative Day at the Statehouse. I want to extend a heartfelt invitation to all Hoosiers who have served our country with courage and dedication.

“This day provides veterans with the opportunity to connect directly with their state lawmakers. It's a chance to share your perspectives, learn about pending legislation that affects the veteran community, and discover the programs and resources Indiana offers to support those who've served.

“This year, I am proud to announce that I will cosponsor this event alongside my colleague from across the aisle, State Rep. Ryan Lauer. Together, the Indiana General Assembly must demonstrate our bipartisan commitment to honoring veterans by fully supporting those who defended our freedoms.

“I'm grateful to State Rep. John Bartlett for establishing this important tradition and for his decade of leadership in bringing veterans and legislators together.”

Errington expresses condolences following tragic loss of Delaware County Deputy

Today, State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) issued the following statement after Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputy Corporal Blake Reynolds was tragically killed this morning while assisting a stranded motorist on I-69:

“I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Cpl. Blake Reynolds. Every day, our law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe, and their bravery and service do not go unnoticed. My thoughts are with the deputy’s loved ones, colleagues and everyone impacted by this heartbreaking loss.”

Errington also encouraged drivers to remain alert and give first responders space to work safely when approaching emergency scenes on Indiana roadways.

Smith announces live performers for Harvest Feast

State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) announced the group of live performers for the Harvest Feast. The Feast will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 21, at the New Hope Church, 2307 Rhode Island St., in Gary. Dr. Smith organizes and hosts this event each year in memory of his mother, the Rev. Julia E. Smith, and his aunt Magnolia Allen. The late Julia E. Smith was a former pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. 

This year's performers include gospel soloists, Nate Mason and Stephan Henderson, and the West Side Theatre Guild Repertoire Dance Company. Other performers will be announced later. 

“The Harvest feast isn't just a meal,” said Dr. Smith. “It’s a chance to worship and lift our spirits in thankfulness. Gary has a rich history of music, especially gospel and soul. In the shared history, we find peace and unity. Each year, it’s an immense joy to see live performers share their talents during the service. Thank you to this year’s performers who are taking the time out of their busy holiday schedules to worship with us.” 

Attendees can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal, featuring turkey, dressing, roast beef, macaroni and cheese, green beans, greens, mashed potatoes, cabbage, sweet potatoes and a variety of desserts. The feast is free to attend and open to all residents of the Greater Gary community. 

“There is a seat at the table for everyone,” explained Dr. Smith. “All are welcome at the feast. If you have plans with your family, bring them. If you don’t have any plans, we’ll be your family. I would especially like to extend the invitation to our veterans and active-duty service members. Their sacrifice and service are one of the reasons we have so many blessings to be grateful for.”

Pryor calls on Braun to waive property tax late fees in light of record-setting government shutdown

Monday, Nov. 10, was one of the biannual property tax due dates in Indiana. Approximately 24,000 federal workers in Indiana have missed several paychecks due to the record-setting government shutdown. The fate of over 570 million Hoosiers' SNAP benefits and close to 155,000 mothers, infants and toddlers WIC benefits are unclear.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement calling on Gov. Braun to pause property tax late fees:

“Hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers have been greatly impacted by this government shutdown. Federal workers who own homes may not have the capacity to pay their property taxes to the government because their paychecks were withheld. Even with the agreement to reopen the federal government, it may take some time for workers to get back pay. Because of that, families who have lost critical benefits may be forced to choose between paying their property taxes and putting food on the table for their children. 

“On Oct. 27, I sent a letter to Governor Braun proposing a list of solutions to help Hoosiers impacted by the government shutdown. One of those items was to issue an executive order to waive penalties for families who cannot make their property tax payments on time. We saw former Gov. Holcomb take this action via executive order during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis. 

“Last year, Republicans finally recognized that property taxes had gotten out of hand and Hoosiers couldn’t keep up. However, their ‘solution’ failed to provide substantial relief for homeowners. Governor Braun campaigned on lowering property taxes. He even went so far as to propose a property tax freeze. 

“Since taking office less than a year ago, Governor Braun has issued 73 executive orders. The governor was willing to make bold declarations about lowering property taxes when he was courting people’s votes, but has failed to deliver. Waiving late fees for property taxes is the least we can do to help Hoosiers struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.”

DeLaney reacts to Braun announcing partial SNAP benefits

Today, Gov. Braun announced that Indiana will issue partial SNAP benefits for the remainder of November. Since Nov. 1, the fate of SNAP benefits has been unclear due to the ongoing federal shutdown and legal battle over the release of federal funds in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Contingency Fund. Unlike some other states, Indiana's governor and the state legislature failed to take action to supplement SNAP with state dollars.

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement: 

“The governor has announced that partial SNAP payments will be made. He failed to note that these are not state dollars that will be distributed. He failed to note that the state has contributed nothing to the solutions of this problem. He failed to note that there will likely be delays and confusion.

"Partial payments will not be enough to prevent families from going hungry. This mess will not be as easy to clean up as the governor is implying. 

“A few township trustees have been funding local foodbanks in their efforts to prevent the half a million Hoosiers relying on SNAP from going hungry. The governor would be much more helpful if he were doing the same. Instead, he blames one party from among his former senate colleagues.

"This would be a good time to act like a statesman.”

OP-ED: Setting priorities straight for Hoosiers

I’ve spent most of my career at the local level working alongside first responders, small-town mayors, school officials and families who just want their roads paved and their neighborhoods safe. In local government, we don’t have the luxury of playing politics. We fix what’s broken, answer the phone when people call and make sure the lights stay on at the fire station.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1), passed by the General Assembly earlier this year and now being implemented by local governments. It’s being sold as major property tax relief for homeowners, but when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. SEA 1 promises property tax “relief,” but the fine print tells a different story - one that puts public safety and local services at risk.

While homeowners may eventually see a one-time property tax credit of up to $300, renters won’t see a dime while potentially having their income tax rate hiked. And because this law was rushed through the legislative process, the full extent of the financial impact remains unknown - and local governments need those numbers to plan for essential services and predictable funding.

As a past president of the LaPorte County Council and, as of October, your state representative for House District 9, I bring a perspective few lawmakers in Indianapolis share. This fall, the LaPorte County Council was asked to considered raising our local income tax to offset the funding cliff SEA 1 introduced. My conversations with state officials leading up to that decision did not inspire confidence that the law was well thought out. In public, they patted themselves on the back for providing “relief” to homeowners. In private, they told local officials we had the tools to offset shortfalls - by raising taxes elsewhere.

Let’s be clear: leadership is not passing the taxation buck to local officials so you can run victory laps on “cutting taxes.” It’s smoke and mirrors - making state lawmakers look good while forcing local governments to make unpopular decisions. Because at the end of the day, most Hoosiers agree that public safety, education and local government need to be funded.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Schools and libraries are warning of significant shortfalls. Some will delay maintenance, freeze hiring or cut programs altogether. Public safety departments across Indiana are already stretched thin. Recruitment is difficult, fuel and equipment costs are up and small towns are being asked to meet big-city challenges with less resources. SEA 1 will affect emergency response times, training and the ability to protect Hoosiers when it matters most.

Tax reform can be a good thing - but it must be done with care and transparency. Hoosiers deserve to know where their money is going, and local officials deserve stability so they can plan ahead. Too often, legislation like this is rushed through with talking points that sound nice but don’t match the reality on the ground. That’s not how we should be governing.

A few weeks ago, Gov. Braun called for a special session focused on redistricting, under the guise of tax issues. I’ll be honest. I don’t think that’s where Hoosiers’ heads are right now. Folks in our communities aren’t asking about district lines or Washington’s tax code. They’re asking if their kids are safe at school, if their police department has enough officers and if their township fire trucks will make it another year without breaking down.

I’m new to the legislature, but not new to serving Hoosiers. I’ve seen what happens when state decisions don’t line up with local needs. My promise is this: I’ll fight for common-sense priorities - for the firefighters, teachers, police officers, small-town leaders, farmers, unions and families who keep our communities strong.

It’s time Indiana stops chasing headlines and starts governing with purpose. Let’s make sure every dollar, every vote and every policy serves the people who call Indiana home. That’s what Hoosiers expect, and that’s what I came to the Statehouse to do.

Porter: ‘Don’t confuse frugality with morality’

Following two federal court orders, the federal government will release $4.65 billion to partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced that payments will be delayed by a week, and maximum benefits will be reduced by 50%. This reduction will be compounded by the benefits formula. 

SNAP benefits are calculated by subtracting 30 percent of a household’s monthly net income from the maximum benefit for their household size. A family of three making a net income of $900 per month typically receives $515. Under the current plan, they’ll only receive $122, a more-than-75% cut, from the reduced maximum and typical formula. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) issued a letter to the Chairman of the State Budget Committee (SBC) requesting immediate, emergency action without waiting for the next regular meeting. 

“Partial funding doesn’t change that this is a crisis,” Porter said. “Our families will receive little to no benefits. These payments won’t even cover a single trip to the grocery store. Pointing fingers about the government shutdown doesn’t keep our families fed.

“I’ll repeat what I said last week: This is an emergency that requires immediate action. Other states, like Virginia, are finding ways to supplement SNAP with state dollars. We could send $10 million to food banks this week. This isn’t ‘too complicated’ to solve. 

“Don’t confuse frugality with morality. We can do the right thing through simple actions from the Governor and SBC.” 

Smith to host Harvest Feast on Friday, Nov. 21

State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) announced that the Harvest Feast will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 21, at the New Hope Church, 2307 Rhode Island St., in Gary. Dr. Smith organizes and hosts this event each year in memory of his mother, the Rev. Julia E. Smith, and his aunt Magnolia Allen. The late Julia E. Smith was a former pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. 

Each year, hundreds of residents attend the event to celebrate Thanksgiving with a meal and church service that features live music performances. The performers for the church service will be announced at a later date. The feast is free to attend and open to all residents of the Greater Gary Community. 

“This is the 29th year we have held the Harvest Feast,” said Dr. Smith. “It is a blessing to come together as a community and show our gratitude for the gifts God has given us. There’s something special that takes place when people gather around the table for a hot meal. Strangers turn into friends, and the bond between family members deepens.” 

The Harvest Feast is a traditional Thanksgiving meal, featuring turkey, dressing, beef roast, macaroni and cheese, green beans, greens, mashed potatoes, and a variety of desserts.

“This event is about more than a traditional meal,” explained Dr. Smith. “It’s about feeding the spirit through connection. We are living in a tumultuous, divisive time when many people feel disconnected from their neighbors. This feast is an opportunity to come together in communion and celebrate the holiday. The Harvest Feast embodies my belief that God’s greatest blessing is company with each other.”