House Democrats stand against Senate Bill 1

Yesterday, following the passage of Senate Bill 1 out of the House of Representatives, Indiana House Democrats held a press conference to oppose the bill's tax hike provisions for Hoosiers.

SB 1 will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion annually while cutting police, fire, EMS and public school 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. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats' concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) delivered the following remarks at the press conference:

"Hoosiers, I'm not going to mince words today. Senate Bill 1 as passed by the House is a bad deal for all Hoosiers. This plan is a trick. It's a scam. It presumes Hoosiers can't understand that 2.9% of their income is a lot more money than a $300 property tax credit.

"Statehouse Republicans are telling you they are cutting property taxes so they can score political points, but let me tell you the truth. Republicans are backing out of the state's obligation to return your tax dollars to pay for services like schools, EMS, fire, and police. They're forcing our local public servants to take the heat for raising YOUR taxes when they have revenue loss from the property tax cuts. This isn't leadership or a solution or even good policy – this is utterly self-serving. The drastic change in Indiana's tax policy will force local communities to raise your taxes to keep schools open and ambulances running.  

"America is staring down a recession and stagflation thanks to President Trump’s tariffs. This mean the cost of clothes, food, and goods for working Hoosier families are going to wildly increase. Why are we forcing local governments to tax Hoosiers at a higher level? That's insane. House Democrats have fought all session to lower the cost of living for Hoosiers, and this Republican scam will do the exact opposite. Hoosiers need real relief, and SB 1 doesn't cut it.

"Not only are the costs of goods going to put additional pressure on Hoosiers, but the threats of losing their livelihoods is also under pressure with the new federal tariffs and this tax hike plan from Indiana Republicans.

"Working Hoosier families sent House Democrats to the General Assembly to cut costs for them and use the levers of government to improve their lives. This tax hike does the opposite."

Pryor votes against Republican tax hike on Hoosiers

Today, Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill 1 with an amendment that will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion annually while cutting police, fire, EMS and public school 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. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats' concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

“People in my community want a true decrease in their taxes, not a decrease in property taxes that is cancelled out by increased income taxes. Marion County stands to lose $75 million under the current version of SB 1. In order for our community to fund essential public services like police, fire and EMS, as well as public schools for our kids, they will be forced to find the funding elsewhere. 

“This proposal is nothing but smoke and mirrors. Republicans in the legislature can run around touting that they have saved Hoosiers $300 on property taxes and then turn around to the local governments and force them to play the villain by raising local income taxes by $300 to keep functioning. They have managed to save Hoosier taxpayers very little while passing off responsibility to local governments. 

“I know this is not the best we can do for Hoosiers. This proposal is not a collaborative solution to help taxpayers around the state. We need to help our seniors stay in their homes while not cutting their access to emergency medical services. We need to help working parents keep a roof over their children’s head while not reducing the quality of their children’s education. 

“I am disappointed in the lack of action on the part of the legislature in helping Hoosier taxpayers get real relief.” 

The bill now heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. During House session on Wednesday, April 9, Gov. Mike Braun signaled that this was the Indiana GOP's final property tax plan, despite House Democrats still working to make the bill better on the House floor via amendments which were all voted down by the majority.

Pryor co-sponsored bill to reform eviction filing passes the House

Yesterday, April 8, the Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 142 which reforms state policy for filing evictions and sealing eviction records. This bill requires courts to order an expungement in cases that qualify and allows that action to be taken without a full hearing. In many cases, prior evictions stay on someone’s record and can be used by landlords to deny housing applications, even if the case has been resolved. Without this bill, the eviction expungement process can require large amounts of time and resources. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), co-sponsor of SB 142, issued the following statement: 

“Housing has become an increasing challenge for far too many Hoosiers. Eviction rates have skyrocketed, with some courts dealing with hundreds of eviction cases every day. Even for those who settle all debts, these evictions stay on your record and act as a barrier to securing housing in the future. 

“Requiring courts to seal eviction records in cases that have been resolved without the process of a full hearing will eliminate large amounts of time and resources for both the state and Hoosiers in this situation. Not only will this save the state money and help relieve chronically backlogged courts, but it will have significant impacts on the lives of struggling Hoosiers. I have heard stories from my constituents of apartment buildings giving families only a few hours to move out because of a facility issue in the dead of winter. If someone is waiting for their case to move through backlogged courts, having this mark on their record could be the difference between a new place to live and being on the streets. 

“There is no need to continuously penalize those who have satisfied their debt. This bill will free those who have settled their debts from having a scarlet letter on their housing applications. 

“Having a roof over your head is an essential human need. Access to reliable, safe and affordable shelter is something the state should strive to help all Hoosiers reach. I am so proud to have been a co-sponsor on this bill to remove this critical barrier to housing.” 

Pryor opposes the disenfranchisement of college students

Today, Tuesday, April 1, the House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 10 by a vote of 66-25. This bill changes the requirements of what is needed so that college students cannot use their official government-issued university student identification to vote. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), a member of the Elections and Apportionment Committee, issued the following statement after speaking against the bill on the House floor: 

“Indiana has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the nation. Yet, year after year, Statehouse Republicans pass legislation to make it harder for Hoosiers to exercise their right to vote. 

“When this bill was heard in committee, I was inspired by the number of students who showed up to testify against this bill and stand up for their right to vote. The General Assembly needs to be doing everything we can to get more of our young people engaged in our democracy, not put additional hurdles in their way. 

“If the concern is that some of our state institutions don’t have an expiration date on these IDs, the fix is simple. Just require university IDs to have expiration dates. Don’t use this reason to make it harder to vote for thousands of college students. 

“Many college students live, work, spend money, pay taxes and participate in the community of their college towns. They deserve the right to have a say on the officials who pass policies that impact their everyday lives.”

Pryor receives Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

Over the weekend, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) was presented with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award at the Top Ladies of Distinction Area V Leadership Conference. The award was issued by former President of the United States, Joe Biden. 

Pryor issued the following statement:

“I am beyond honored to have been presented with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by President Joe Biden. My career has been spent advocating for my community and uplifting the voices that may otherwise not be heard. As a public official, my goal has always been not just to represent my constituents, but to truly listen to their needs and serve them to the best of my ability. I strive to be available, accessible, present and compassionate. 

“Receiving this award and being recognized for my dedication to service by former President Joe Biden is deeply humbling. No matter how exciting it was to be surprised with this award, the true reward is seeing the impact my work has on the lives of people in my community.

“I want to thank all of the wonderful people who have believed in me, encouraged me, mentored me and supported me over the years. I also want to thank my former legislative colleague and friend Dee Dawkins-Haigler for waiting for the right moment to present me with this award." 

Hamilton offers amendment to restore access to reproductive health care

Today, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to Senate Joint Resolution 21 that would codify the protections of Roe v. Wade in the United States Constitution. The amendment failed by a vote of 26-56. 

Hamilton released the following statement upon the defeat of the amendment: 

“Today, I offered an amendment to restore comprehensive reproductive health care for women and girls. Two and a half years after Indiana passed a near-total abortion ban, we now know that this is hurting women, families and our state. We also know that 64% of Hoosiers support access to abortion. I offered this amendment on behalf of the majority of the state that supports this measure, and for all of the Hoosiers who fear for their own health or that of their daughters, granddaughters or any woman in their life. 

“I have been in contact with a mother from Hamilton County who recently faced the consequences of Indiana’s abortion ban. When she was told that her baby had a fatal fetal anomaly and would die minutes after being brought into the world, she, her husband, and her three sons were devastated. While having to come to terms with the fact that she would have to end a pregnancy that she desperately wanted, she had to fill out 13 pages of legal paperwork required by the state. 

“To have this medically necessary procedure and allow her baby peace, she had to provide her name, birthday, social security number, age, gender, race, address, level of education, pregnancy history, marital status, religion, cause of death, and occupation. Her husband only had to provide his name. She will be on a registry for the rest of her life. She had to sign a paper stating if this was found ‘unnecessary’ she would be charged with a felony. Not her husband.

“This ban is not family friendly. It is hurting Hoosiers. It is hurting our economy. It is hurting the future of our state. I will continue to do everything in my power to restore access to life-saving health care and privacy to Hoosier women and girls.” 

Op-Ed: Indiana House Democrats want to lower your cost of living. House Republicans should get on board.

During last year’s election cycle, I spent a lot of time on the road around the state, talking with voters about their hopes and their fears. What I heard from Hoosiers across the board was that they’re worried about the cost of living here in Indiana.  

From housing and utilities to health care and education, Hoosiers are sick and tired of life’s essentials costing more like luxuries.  

To help Hoosiers save more of their hard-earned money, the Indiana House Democratic Caucus launched our Working Hoosiers Agenda earlier this year. We’re dead set on lowering costs for Hoosiers, and as such, we’ve offered amendments the past two months for all 100 state representatives to vote on to do just that. 

We offered an amendment to increase the earned income tax credit from 10% to 12% to keep more money in your wallet.  

It’s hard to become a homeowner these days, and to that end, Democrats offered an amendment to create a low-interest first-time homebuyer program. We also tried to give renters relief through increasing the renter’s tax deduction by $1,000. 

Nearly a third of Hoosiers rely on Medicaid and its various programs – HIP, Hoosier Care Connect, Hoosier Healthwise – for health insurance coverage. Indiana Republicans implemented waitlists for children with severe disabilities and seniors who rely on Medicaid. We proposed eliminating these waitlists. Additionally, with President Trump’s promise to cut Medicaid on the federal level, we wanted to set aside $300 million to protect Hoosiers’ health care benefits. 

As for utility costs, we offered amendments to impose a rate hike moratorium, prohibit utilities from charging reconnection fees for customers and prevent utilities from disconnecting service on weekends, holidays, and days during which customer service representatives are not available to customers. We also voted to prohibit utility monopolies from offloading planning costs for uncertain investments onto customers. 

To continue prioritizing working Hoosiers, we proposed raising the income eligibility for pre-K vouchers to the same level as K-12 private school vouchers: $230,880. Pre-K is one of the best ways for young Hoosiers to get ahead in their education. On the other hand, Republican-advanced universal K-12 private school vouchers, with a price tag of $1.3 billion to Hoosier taxpayers, will do little to improve education outcomes.  

Sadly, Indiana House Republicans did not join us in supporting these common-sense proposals to help working Hoosier families get ahead. On top of this, Republican lawmakers advanced legislation that will set working people back.  

Republican-authored House Bill 1174 will expand the predatory lending industry by allowing loan sharks to add misleading fees on top of their already-exploitative interest rates.  

Additionally, House Republicans passed House Bill 1007, the big utility monopoly bailout bill we tried to improve by adding more consumer protections. House Democrats opposed this bill because it is not the responsibility of utility customers to foot the bill for investor-owned companies' business experiments.  

Worse yet, the House Republican budget leaves everyday Hoosiers out to dry. It expands private school vouchers to our state's wealthiest families, leaving less money to educate the nine out of 10 Hoosier kids who choose public schools. The Indiana GOP cuts public health investments, flatlines veterans' funding and cuts child care affordability programs. This is a budget that doesn't care about your wallet.  

As we enter the second half of this year's state legislative session and consider Senate-passed bills, House Democrats remain committed to lowering the cost of living and saving Hoosiers money. We're fighting for an Indiana where you can get ahead financially and make your goals a reality. We'll keep inviting Indiana Republicans to support Democratic proposals to create a future where all Hoosiers can thrive. 

Hamilton offers amendment to expand pre-k

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D- Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would expand eligibility for the On My Way Pre-K program. 

“In the last budget, the Republican supermajority carved out over $1 billion to expand the school voucher program to upper-income households," Hamilton said. "We are back two years later to craft the state budget with a proposal on the table to make the school choice voucher program universal (subsidizing private school tuition for even the wealthiest households), but we have done nothing to move the needle on pre-K. 

“Indiana remains one of only six states that lacks a state-funded pre-K program. Now, the wealthiest families in Indiana will have access to private school on the state dime, while 85% of our 4-year-olds still lack access to pre-K. Currently, to qualify for the state’s On My Way Pre-K program, a family of four must earn less than 127% of the federal poverty limit (FPL), or $38,100 per year. This amendment would increase eligibility to 400% of the FPL, or $128,600 for a family of four.

"My colleagues say they care about improving literacy and math skills for Hoosier students and this amendment helps achieve those goals. A Purdue University study found children in Indiana's On My Way Pre-K voucher program score higher in literacy skills, school readiness and language than children from similar economic backgrounds who attended lower-quality pre-K programs. It's time to make this program available to more Hoosier children.

“Expanding pre-K will not only improve academic performance but also boost our economy. According to research from Indiana University, investment in early care and learning provides a $4 return for every $1 spent. Parents forced to cut back hours or leave the workforce altogether because they can’t afford child care will be able to return to work earlier if they have access to pre-K. This small investment is a win-win for Indiana families and our economy.  It’s past time to join the majority of states and get this done.”

Pryor’s amendments struck down in Ways and Means Committee

Today, Feb. 17, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) offered several amendments to the state budget during the House Committee on Ways and Means. These amendments were focused on increasing the quality of life of working Hoosiers, first responders and new mothers. 

Three of the amendments Pryor offered focused on supporting working Hoosiers by expanding the allocation for mass public transportation from $45 million to $65 million, increasing the renter’s deduction by $1,000 and exempting breastfeeding items from state sales tax. 

“Indiana recently ranked as the 6th highest state in the nation for the percent of adults who experienced difficulty keeping up with everyday expenses,” Pryor said. “Part of this affordability crisis comes down to the high cost of renting and lack of access to public transportation. 

“Indiana is one of the worst states in the nation to be a renter. I offered an amendment to give Hoosier renters some relief with an increased renter’s deduction. In Indianapolis, a quarter of all renters are severely cost-burdened, meaning they are forced to spend half of their income on rent. When people are paying a majority of their income to keep a roof over their heads, they struggle to keep up with the increasing cost of living in terms of utilities and groceries. This amendment would have put money back into the pockets of Hoosier renters. 

“Additionally, I offered an amendment to increase the allocation for mass public transportation. With the increasing cost of living, many people simply cannot afford the cost of owning a car and paying for gas. This is why it is so important to make sure that we have adequate public transportation. Access to public transportation has been shown to significantly increase quality of life as people can reach employment opportunities, grocery stores, resources, doctor's appointments and more. 

“I also offered an amendment to make breastfeeding items exempt from the state sales tax. Charging a sales tax for necessary items such as breast pumps creates barriers for new mothers that increases the difficulty of an already challenging time. These items provide the basic need of food to our newborn babies.”  

Pryor also offered an amendment using the language from House Bill 1352, authored by State Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond), to establish the Indiana first responders mental health wellness fund and program. 

“The rate of suicide amongst first responders is significantly higher than the rest of the population. These brave individuals put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities. From running into a burning building, to resuscitating someone after a car accident, to showing up to a crime scene, first responders regularly experience traumatic situations. This amendment, which inserts language from HB 1352 authored by Rep. Carolyn Jackson, would establish a fund to help first responders access mental health resources that could save their lives.” 

All of Pryor’s amendments were struck down by the Republican supermajority. 

Pryor’s efforts to lower utility costs struck down by supermajority

Today, Feb. 13,  State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) offered two amendments to House Bill 1459 that aimed to cut costs for ratepayers. These amendments would have provided relief for those struggling to pay their utility bills by prohibiting utility companies from charging reconnection fees or raising their rates for one year. The amendments would have also ensured that utility companies could not disconnect services during the hottest and coldest times of the year and required them to offer reasonable payment plans. 

Another component of the amendments was the requirement for utility companies to submit data on the number of disconnections they have each month. Under a settlement agreement with the Office of the Utility Counselor and the IURC, the 5 largest utilities were required to report this same data until early 2024. That data showed that thousands of households are being disconnected from utility services every month due to non-payment.  Both amendments were voted down by House Republicans. 

“I proposed these amendments because Hoosiers are getting billed to their breaking point,” Pryor said. “Utility companies in our state continue to raise rates despite making record profits. It is unacceptable that 13% of Hoosier households experience at least one disconnection annually.” 

“Because utilities operate as a regulated monopoly in Indiana, our constituents rely on us to protect them from predatory pricing. The aggressive price hikes that utility companies are pushing are too much for people to keep up with. The amendments I proposed would have given Indiana residents some time to catch their breath from the rising cost of living in our state. Utilities in our state should be affordable for everyone, and I will keep fighting until that is a reality.” 

Pryor amendment to expand voting rights struck down by House Republicans

Today, Feb. 11, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to allow no excuse absentee vote by mail. This amendment would bring Indiana in line with 28 other states and make voting more accessible for Hoosiers who may not be able to make it to the polls. The amendment was struck down on procedural grounds.

“In a time where voter apathy is growing, this body needs to be taking every action possible to make it easier for Hoosiers to engage in our government and make their voice heard.

“In 2024, only 61% of registered voters cast their ballots, down 6% from the 2020 election. Indiana has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the nation. In order for government to truly serve the people, we need to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to vote in the way that meets their unique situation. 

“We continue to hear from Hoosiers that this body is not reacting to the needs of everyday working Hoosiers. Making it easier for Hoosiers to vote is the most basic and vital step we can take to end voter apathy and ensure responsiveness to the people that elect us to serve.”

Hamilton bill to boost workforce development, reduce recidivism heading to the Senate

Today, Feb. 11, House Bill 1289, authored by State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), unanimously passed on third reading in the House of Representatives. The bill has been sent to the Senate for further consideration.

HB 1289 defines "employment social enterprises" in Indiana Code to match the federal definition. This would allow the state of Indiana to better compete for federal funding for organizations that provide job training and services to help integrate those who were formerly incarcerated back into society. 

Hamilton released the following statement regarding the bill's passage in the House:

"Fully supporting Indiana's economy and workforce requires a collaborative, comprehensive effort," Hamilton said. "People that have recently been released from prison often struggle to secure jobs. Anyone that wants to work and contribute to the economy of our state should have every opportunity available to do so. Employment Social Enterprises give formerly incarcerated individuals a transitional job that provides job skills training as well as a chance to learn valuable life skills that can help them find and keep jobs. Not only would this expand our workforce, but it would also reduce recidivism rates as employment is one of the critical steps to reintegrate formerly incarcerated individuals into society. By simply adjusting the language in Indiana code to match the federal definition, House Bill 1289 would allow these organizations to receive federal funding that is critical to their mission of providing people with second chances and strengthening our economy.

"I appreciate the opportunity to advance this common-sense, bipartisan effort. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill passed into law for the benefit of all Hoosiers."