Klinker votes against SB 285, believes Indiana should expand existing services

Today, State Rep. Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette) voted no on Senate Bill 285. The bill makes the repeated and unauthorized use of state land for public camping a Class C misdemeanor. Class C misdemeanors in Indiana result in up to 60 days in jail or a fine of up to $500. Each local law enforcement agency would be required to report the number of arrests made to the state police department.

Klinker issued the following statement:

“I believe we should help those who are less fortunate, not penalize them. They need our compassion, not our judgment or incarceration. 

“Indiana’s goal should be to connect these individuals with services that help them get back on their feet. Many of these people need mental health treatment and rehabilitative services. We should not be arresting people or giving them fines they cannot afford, which will draw them deeper into the cycle of poverty.

“Tippecanoe County is blessed with great people and great organizations, such as the Lafayette Transitional Housing Center (LTHC) and Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM). We are also very fortunate to have responsible, effective law enforcement, and I worry this will overburden them. Our time and money would be much better spent on our existing, life-saving organizations within our communities.” 

Jackson opposes bill to deregulate IDEM

Today, Feb. 24, State Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond) voted no on Senate Bill 277. The bill passed out of the House by a vote of 53-45 and returns to the Senate for review of the changes made in the House.

SB 277 drastically changes the ability of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to protect human health and the environment. The bill eliminates hundreds of mandates and turns many requirements into discretionary actions. SB 277 provides that Indiana’s environmental regulations cannot be more burdensome than federal law, while simultaneously repealing protective offices and a majority of IDEM’s oversight of pollution prevention.

Jackson released the following statement:

“Indiana consistently ranks among the worst states for industrial toxins and pollution. That is not something to be proud of. This bill will not only make this issue worse, but it will cause lasting damage to our environment and to our constituents’ health. Deregulating IDEM will lead to increased land, air, and water pollution with decreased accountability and transparency.

Jackson introduced three amendments on the floor, all of which were voted down along party lines. Each amendment focused on the Environmental Rules Board and attempted to restore the political balance of the board and the provision that appointed members are qualified for their position.

“The Environmental Rules Board deals with toxic waste, water and soil. These issues affect everybody. The people appointed to this board need to be qualified and not simply chosen because of their party.

“Protecting human health is a non-partisan issue. We need to stop prioritizing corporations and start protecting our constituents. Everyone should agree that our water and our air need to be clean. A vote for this bill is a vote for unsafe drinking water.”

Novak supports efforts calling on the IURC to review NIPSCO utility rates, further advocates for transparency

Today, Feb. 24, State Rep. Randy Novak (D-Michigan City) released the following statement regarding the request for an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) review of Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s (NIPSCO) residential utility rates:

“Families across our communities have been sounding the alarm on their utility bills for some time. When monthly costs spike like this, it demands a serious, independent review.

“House Democrats raised these concerns months ago and sent a letter to the IURC in September 2025 calling for action. I am glad to now see House Republicans join in requesting a review. This is something we have been pushing for, and it is the right step forward.

“Today, I am also joining fellow House Democrats from our region in sending a letter to the IURC reinforcing the need for a thorough review and real answers for ratepayers.

“I support the call for the IURC to take a hard look at NIPSCO’s rates and provide clear answers. Hoosiers deserve to understand exactly what they are paying for and to trust the system is working fairly.

“This review is important, but it cannot be the end of the conversation. If there are opportunities to strengthen transparency, improve stability or lower costs, we should be prepared to act. House Democrats offered multiple amendments to House Bill 1002 to address these concerns, but each was voted down.

“This effort must stay bipartisan and focused on results. We expect real answers because Hoosiers deserve real relief and full transparency. I will also be formally requesting a Summer Study Committee to examine high utility costs in The Region so we can pursue solutions that directly impact our communities.

“I am ready to work with anyone committed to keeping energy costs reasonable and delivering meaningful relief for Hoosier families. Let’s keep the momentum going and get this done.”

Harris celebrates the passage of SB 27

Today, Feb. 24, Senate Bill 27 passed the House with a final vote of 95-4. Since the bill was amended by the House, it now heads back to the Senate for final approval before going to Gov. Braun’s desk to be signed into law. 

SB 27 creates the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, establishing a method for acquiring and financing a Chicago Bears stadium in The Region.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) issued the following statement:

“One of my father’s priorities during his tenure in the Statehouse was bringing professional sports to Northwest Indiana. The passage of SB 27 is a great step towards that goal. As I’ve said previously, the economic benefits of bringing a National Football League team and stadium to The Region will set Northwest Indiana on a path to prosperity for decades to come.

“SB 27 works hand in hand with House Enrolled Act 1292, which I authored last year. HEA 1292 established the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission to bring professional sports to the community.

“SB 27 perfectly lays the groundwork to welcome the Bears into The Region and provide the infrastructure to do so properly. This will boost our local and state economies by creating jobs, attracting tourists and generating millions in tax revenue.

“I’m incredibly proud of the bipartisan effort around SB 27 to build the Chicago Bears a new den in Northwest Indiana, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

Jackson celebrates the passage of SB 27 inviting the Bears to Hammond

Today, Feb. 24, Senate Bill 27 passed the House with a final vote of 95 to 4. Since the bill was amended by the House Ways and Means Committee, it now heads back to the Senate for review and approval before going to Gov. Braun’s desk for signature into law. SB 27 invites the Chicago Bears to Hammond by creating various funding mechanisms to build a new stadium. 

State Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond) released the following statement: 

“This is the first time I’ve seen local officials and the state come together to make a dream a reality in such a short time. Everybody wants progress, and I am thankful Northwest Indiana has been bold enough to step towards it. 

“This will bring the entire Region together. One city’s progress affects another city’s progress. We will all benefit from the thousands of new jobs created, the influx of new tourists and the millions in revenue generated at our hotels and restaurants.  

“We’ve laid the groundwork for the past 10 years to increase our economic development and tourism. The Region used to be the driver of Indiana’s economy until certain industries left us. We have worked hard to rebound from those losses, and the Chicago Bears have recognized our hard work. 

“Northwest Indiana is Bears country.”

Pryor bill fighting for quicker access to lifesaving prescriptions for advanced cancer patients heads to governor’s desk

Today, Feb. 24, the Senate passed House Bill 1114. The bill, authored by State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), prohibits state employee health plans, the health care marketplace and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from requiring step therapy or "fail first" therapy. "Fail first" requires patients to try a drug preferred by their insurance company and fail to respond before they receive coverage for the prescription originally recommended by their doctor.

“Patients with advanced cancer cannot wait for effective treatment,” Pryor said. “Nobody should be denied coverage for a medication that may save their life due to the 'fail first' method. 

“Doctors know their patients best and treating stage IV or metastatic cancer is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Step therapy relies on generalized information about these diseases instead of the specific journey of each patient. Each person responds to certain prescriptions differently.  

“This bill allows doctors to determine the best course of treatment and for patients to immediately receive it. These individuals have already experienced so much pain and anxiety. They shouldn’t have to jump through these hoops with their insurance to get what they need. It shouldn’t be about cutting costs for insurance companies. It should be about ensuring patients have what they need to fight for their lives.

“I’m immensely grateful that this bill is headed to the governor’s desk. It will expand access to care for Hoosiers with advanced cancer, and it will help us move toward a lower death rate for cancer in the state of Indiana. Thank you to my co-authors, as well as Susan G. Komen, the Indiana Oncology Society, and the Livestrong Foundation, for your support. I will continue to advocate for expanded access to health care for Hoosiers.” 

Garcia Wilburn bill to keep kids in DCS safe headed to governor’s desk

Last week, Feb. 19, House Bill 1036 cleared its final steps in the Indiana General Assembly and is headed to the governor's desk to be signed into law. Authored by State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), the legislation requires Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) caseworkers to see a child in person within 30 days before a case closure or discharge.

This legislation was drafted in response to tragedies like the death of Kinsleigh Welty, a five-year-old who died of starvation, and is aimed at ensuring children are safe before investigations and cases by DCS are closed.

Garcia Wilburn issued the following statement after the Indiana House of Representatives' unanimous concurrence with a minor Senate amendment to the bill:

"The safety of our children is non-negotiable. House Bill 1036 is a crucial step to ensure each child is prioritized individually. It is my hope that requiring an in-person visit by a DCS caseworker before a case closure will help avoid tragedies of neglect like the story of five-year-old Kinsleigh Welty.

"I am beyond grateful for the overwhelming support on this legislation. I want to thank my co-authors Reps. Alex Burton, Lori Goss-Reaves and Julie McGuire for their work on this bill, and I want to thank the House and Senate for their unanimous support. Together, we can continue to pursue policy that protects the health and safety of all Hoosier children. I am hopeful Gov. Braun will sign this legislation and get this bill across the finish line."

Porter: ‘We can fight fraud without impacting Hoosiers’ coverage’

Today, Feb.23, the Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill 1. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“Indiana has two diverging views of Medicaid. Republicans see Medicaid as an undesired welfare program that’s draining revenue growth. We see it as a necessary form of health insurance for low-income Hoosiers.

“Yet the two views agree: We don’t want Medicaid fraud. I want the public to believe in the necessity of Medicaid, and fraud puts the public’s support at risk.

“But we can fight fraud without impacting Hoosiers’ coverage. Republicans are filling the rule books with more income checks, more applications, and more paperwork to catch potential cheaters. I offered amendments to track how many people will needlessly lose services, but Republicans don’t want to know. 

“Adding barriers to enrollment might deter fraudsters, and it will surely deter eligible Hoosiers. We can make reasonable efforts to prevent fraud, but those efforts are concerning when they'll result in losses of coverage for eligible Hoosiers.”

Burton’s co-authored bill creating major utility reform heads to governor’s desk

Last week, House Bill 1002, co-authored by State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville), championing utility affordability, passed out of both chambers and head's the Governor's desk.

Burton issued the following statement on the bill’s headway:

“Since day one, I’ve been focused on one thing: bringing stability and relief to Hoosiers facing rising energy costs. As a freshman legislator, I’m doing the work to push energy policy in a direction that keeps affordability front and center.

"HB1002 is a meaningful first step, and I’m committed to building on this progress with my colleagues. As Indiana moves toward performance-based ratemaking, we must stay disciplined about efficiency, responsible reporting and clear transparency for consumers. I’m going to keep pushing to make sure Hoosiers see the benefits.”

Shackleford amendments to priority Senate bill defeated

Yesterday, Feb. 19, the Indiana House of Representatives rejected two amendments authored by State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) to Senate Bill 1.

Amendment 17 centered on the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). In its current form, SB 1 requires applicants to provide proof that they’ve worked or volunteered for 80 hours a month for at least three months before becoming HIP-eligible. Shackleford’s amendment would’ve lowered that requirement to one month.

"Health care is critical to staying in the workforce," Shackleford said. "We're putting the cart before the horse by assuming that Hoosiers are well enough to work for three months prior to being eligible for HIP. The bill adds more barriers and paperwork at a time when Hoosiers are already struggling to stay insured, and my amendment would have eased this burden and decreased the state's administrative workload in the process. I'm thankful for the bipartisan support this amendment received and am disappointed that we couldn't get it across the finish line."

Amendment 3 was offered in response to the extremely loose federal definition of medical frailty. The amendment would have clarified Indiana's definition of “medically frail” to include individuals with cancer.

Shackleford released the following statement on the amendment’s defeat:

“The federal government and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are providing little to no specific guidance on how to define Medicaid medical frailty, giving states authority to put their own definitions in place. My amendment was an attempt at doing just that, and ensuring Hoosiers suffering from cancer are seen as individuals with complex health needs requiring extra support. The sad truth is that many Hoosiers need health coverage for cancer – we have one of the highest cancer rates in the country. This amendment should have been an easy yes to make sure that Hoosiers battling cancer don't get left behind."

GiaQuinta weighs in on Supreme Court overturn of tariffs

Today, the Supreme Court overturned the Trump administration's global tariffs, ruling that Congress has the power to impose taxes, including tariffs. These overly broad and expansive tariffs have caused rising costs for Hoosier consumers and businesses and a decline in new job creation across America.    

Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) issued the following statement in response:

"Thank you to the Supreme Court for recognizing that the power of the purse clearly lies with Congress, not the executive branch.

"More importantly, I'm glad that Hoosiers will see some relief from the needless trade war and unnecessary taxes they've been paying at the store. House Democrats have been laser focused on lowering costs because Hoosiers have been struggling to pay utility bills, rent, health care bills and more. The tariffs only added fuel to the cost-of-living fire. Thank goodness they're going away.

"We need trade deals that keep jobs here and Indiana's manufacturing industry strong – not tax the average American family $1200 a year."

‘Carmen’s Law’ to expand access to advanced DNA testing for cold cases passes the Senate

Yesterday, Feb. 19, House Bill 1248, authored by State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), passed the Indiana State Senate unanimously. The bill now heads to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

HB 1248, also known as "Carmen's Law" in honor of Carmen Hope Van Huss, creates a framework for private funding of advanced DNA testing for cold cases. This enables family members of victims and other key stakeholders to submit a request for advanced DNA testing in cases that have gone unsolved for five or more years.

Hamilton released the following statement regarding "Carmen's Law" passing out of the Senate:

“House Bill 1248 would not have been possible without Carmen Hope Van Huss, who finally received justice as her killer was sentenced just last week 30 years after her brutal murder. Carmen's case was solved using advanced DNA testing, and her family has been the driving force behind this bill to help bring more cases like hers to a close. Carmen's Law will help bring justice to the thousands of unsolved homicide victims and their loved ones, as well as get violent offenders off the streets to prevent further tragedies. I am truly honored to have worked with Carmen's family to pass this bill into law.

“I’m grateful to all the stakeholders who have supported this bill, including my co-authors and co-sponsors, Chairwoman Wendy McNamara, State Rep. Garrett Bascom, State Rep. Maureen Bauer, Sen. Cyndi Carrasco, Sen. Rodney Pol and Sen. Sue Glick."