House Majority blocks Porter’s amendment to fulfill state’s promies to higher ed students

Today, April 7, the House majority blocked a vote on an amendment on Senate Bill 5 offered by Ranking Ways and Means Democrat, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis). The amendment would have allocated an additional $100 million to the Indiana Commission of Higher Education (CHE), allowing them to continue providing the promised amount of award money to college students. Last November, the CHE announced its plan to reduce the grant money students receive for the 2025–26 academic year and onward. This decision came after changes to the federal financial aid formula resulted in more Hoosier students qualifying for state financial aid. 

Porter released the following statement on his amendment:

“Since this change was announced in November, House Democrats have repeatedly requested that the Frank O’Bannon and the Freedom of Choice awards be adequately funded. I advocated for it in the State Budget Committee hearing on the CHE budget, and again earlier this session in our House budget, to no avail. Republicans in both chambers have made it abundantly clear that they have no interest in fulfilling their promises to our college students. 

“This shortfall in student assistance is expected to impact more than 30,000 students across the state, placing many low-income students in further financial turmoil. Around 6,000 Ivy Tech students, many of whom are pursuing technical or associate degrees that the majority have pushed, will be affected. Students in both public and private schools are expected to lose, at minimum, up to $500 each year in assistance.

“The House majority blocked my amendment, which would have provided an additional $100 million in residuals from INvestEd to the CHE to support our students. This one-time, contractual transfer would guarantee that students already in school continue to receive the funding they were promised. In the past, INvestEd has been required to use its residuals to fund government projects. There is no better time than now to shift these unneeded dollars to help our students in need of assistance. 

“We’ve seen college enrollment drop to 53% in the last five years. Cutting student awards will only further the low college attendance rate in Indiana. We must act now to ensure students can pursue higher education and receive the money they were promised.”

Porter comments on House Republicans’ property tax plan

Today, April 4, Indiana House Republicans announced their property tax plan. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement about the proposal: 

“I appreciate the work the House majority has done on property taxes, but this plan is far from a solution. Big businesses are still the winners, not homeowners, since they’ll eventually get a cut of $1 billion. It fails to address that homestead assessments are increasing more than commercial assessments and that our homeowners are paying a bigger portion of property tax revenue each year. 

“With roughly $1.1 billion saved over three years and about 1.9 million homesteads, each homeowner will save an average of close to $575 from 2026 to 2028. Our plan would save every homeowner $500 in just 2026. With an average property tax bill ranging from $1500 to $3000, a yearly credit of only $200 will fail to make a difference. The first-time homebuyer’s credit was eliminated, and there’s no significant relief for seniors, veterans or renters. 

“Our schools will lose money, especially with Senate Bill 518 rolled into the plan diverting property tax dollars to charter schools so the state can pay even less. This plan encourages local governments to raise their local income tax rate, so you’ll get more money in your right pocket but have to pay more out of your left. 

“Yesterday, the stock market lost close to $3.1 trillion– the steepest decline since Covid-19. We’re potentially headed into a recession, so every dollar in Hoosiers' pockets makes a difference.” 

Porter proposes five amendments to SB 2 to protect Hoosiers on Medicaid

Today, April 2, House Ways and Means Ranking Democrat State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) is proposing five amendments to Senate Bill 2 in committee. 

“Frankly, I’m sick and tired of the myth that Hoosiers on Medicaid abuse the system or are too lazy to work,” Porter said. “There are always a few bad actors, but the majority are hardworking people who are simply trying to get by. These are Hoosiers in need of health care, not deadbeats intent on stealing from the state.
“I’m proposing these amendments to protect Hoosiers on Medicaid. We don’t need work requirements or restrictions on advertising, especially in the free market. I’m also interested in looking into additional revenue sources and strengthening safeguards to put this notion of Medicaid misuse to bed.” 

The five amendments are below: 

• Amendment 18: Removes the work requirements for the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). 

• Amendment 20: Eliminates all restrictions prohibiting the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) from advertising Medicaid and its programs. 

• Amendment 21: Creates the Medicaid Eligibility Validation and Verification Integrity Unit that oversees eligibility determinations for Medicaid benefits.  

• Amendment 24: Urges the study of an excise tax on sugary drinks from one to three cents per ounce. The amount of revenue raised would be directed to Medicaid, HIP or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).   

• Amendment 25: Allows a taxpayer to choose to contribute all or a part of their tax refund to the Medicaid account of the state general fund. 

“If the majority is worried about Medicaid spending, they should address the causes of rising enrollment. Indiana has comparatively low wages, and high health care costs mean people need affordable insurance. Instead of putting more restrictions on life-saving health care, let’s improve Hoosiers' quality of life so they have a variety of options. The Medicaid program is a lifeline to many–our babies, our seniors and our medically complex. It’s important that this program is available and that its benefits are advertised.”

Porter introduces ‘Back to the Basics’ property tax plan

Today, March 26, House Ways and Means Ranking Democrat State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) shared his plan for property tax relief. Porter filed 11 amendments to Senate Bill 1, which he will present when the bill is scheduled for a vote in committee. 

“We have $2.6 billion in taxpayer dollars in our reserves,” Porter said. “We saved this money for a rainy day, but the weather can’t get worse for homeowners. Indiana has roughly 1.9 million homesteads. We could give every homestead $500, and we would still have well over $1 billion saved. The state can afford immediate relief. My amendments provide real relief to Hoosier homeowners while protecting public schools, fire, EMS and more.” 

The amendments center on two priorities: directing property tax relief to homeowners instead of big businesses, which receive the most relief in SB 1 and House Bill 1402, and sharing the responsibility of relief between the state and local units. The majority’s proposals would vastly reduce local government services by slashing their revenue. Republican plans encourage the local units to raise their local income tax rate (LIT), still burdening taxpayers with a different tax. These 11 amendments rebalance the funding burden between the state and local units while individually addressing the needs of homeowners.

The 11 amendments are below: 

• Amendment 27: Continues the homestead supplemental deduction, which has provided significant savings to homeowners. Alleviates the burden on local units by creating an additional tier for markedly high-assessed-value homesteads. 

• Amendment 28: Provides additional relief to renters by increasing the renter's deduction from $3,000 to $5,000. Encourages landowners to pass on property tax savings to their renters. 

• Amendment 29: Creates the business share fee that’s 10% of the corporation tax rate to recapture money lost from corporate income tax breaks. Indiana is estimated to lose $6 billion by 2030. The business share fee would fund the first-time homebuyer down payment grant program with award grants of $25,000. 

• Amendment 30: Saves money for our seniors by changing the Over 65 Circuit Breaker Tax Credit from 2% to 1%. Senior bills would be capped at a 1% increase each year.  

• Amendment 33: Creates the home ownership expenses homestead credit for each homeowner to offset the rising cost of utilities and home insurance. 

• Amendment 36: Instead of freezing or providing a sub-inflation increase for the Maximum Levy Growth Quotient (MLGQ), the percentage cap for the MLGQ would be set at 2.75% over the next three years. This means local governments would have an increase on par with inflation, ensuring they have a reliable source of revenue. 

• Amendment 37: Alternate version of amendment 36, which sets the percentage cap for the MLGQ at 3% over the next three years. 

• Amendment: Creates the state homestead credit totaling $400 million each year. The money would be sourced from the General Fund. 

• Amendment: Revives the property tax replacement credit (PTRC), renaming it the Levy Buy Down. The Levy Buy Down requires the state to pay 20% of the property tax burden for school transportation costs and 10% of public safety costs.

• Amendment: Provides a state-funded homestead property tax freeze for veterans if they have a moderate to severe service-related disability. 

• Amendment: Raises the amount school corporations can transfer from their education fund to operations fund, and vice versa, from 15% to 30%. This would free up funds to pay for day-to-day operations. including insurance, buses and computers.

“Republicans created this problem, and they don’t know how to solve it,” Porter said. “Twenty years ago, we had a PTRC,  which covered 20% of local property tax operations. Homeowners' taxes stayed low since the state paid 20 cents of every dollar, and we provided a homestead credit. Then they eliminated both credits, which pulled the rug out from under local governments. Now, the state doesn’t help our local units, shifting the cost to homeowners. 

“Statehouse Republicans don’t want to pay, but they don’t want corporations to pay either. In every plan they’ve proposed, corporations get a handout instead of homeowners getting a hand up. Homeowners have been paying for a larger slice of the property tax pie. In 2024, Marion County homeowners paid 58% of property tax collections while commercial properties paid roughly 42%. It’s time we get back to the basics and rebalance the funding burden for services between corporations, local units and the state.” 

Porter bill to protect Hoosiers’ privacy heads to governor’s desk

Today,  March 24, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) signed House Bill 1148 to send the bill to the governor’s desk. The bill passed with a 45 to 1 vote in the Senate, and it returned to the House with no amendments. HB 1148 increases the number of years a birth certificate or record for a stillborn child is private from 75 to 99 years. 

Porter released the following statement:

“I’m grateful to my House and Senate colleagues for their support of this legislation. This bill will protect Hoosiers’ privacy by ensuring their medical records remain confidential during their lifetimes. It’s important that medical documents remain private, especially for something as traumatic and devastating as a stillbirth. 

“This bill increases the number of years a stillbirth record stays private from 75 to 99. With our life expectancies getting longer, many people were outliving that 75-year limit. Their stillbirth records were made public against their wishes. When made public, stillbirth records are often added to online databases and used for health care research. That’s incredibly damaging to these families who then relive their grief and pain as the loss of their child becomes public knowledge. 

“My bill keeps medical records confidential unless the patient chooses otherwise. I’m proud to have authored this legislation, and I remain committed to protecting Hoosiers’ privacy.” 

House Public Health Committee Democrats vote against bill growing wasteful government bureaucracy

 Today, March 18, Democrats on the House Committee on Public Health stood against Senate Bill 2. The bill increases restrictions to qualify for the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) by implementing a 20-hour-a-week work and/or volunteer service requirement and prohibits advertising of Medicaid programs. Now that the bill has passed the Public Health Committee, it will head to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.  

Ranking Minority Member Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis), Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend), Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) and Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), who serve on the Public Health Committee, released the following statement after hearing testimony on SB 2 and voting against it:

“Hoosiers work hard, and that's exactly what we heard today in committee from Hoosiers who rely on Medicaid for health care. Senate Bill 2 would only spend more money on Medicaid, rather than saving money as claimed by the bill authors, by creating more administrative hurdles and unintended coverage disruptions for eligible individuals.

“HIP is funded 90% by federal dollars and is an investment in our state’s economy and wellbeing. This ‘Big Brother’ monitoring of Hoosiers will cost more money than it will save, and it will make health care less accessible to Hoosier families by making applications harder and lengthier. In fact, Georgia's efforts to institute work requirements for Medicaid utterly failed, with administrative spending costing more than actual health care services for enrollees. These mandates have historically led to coverage losses, particularly among individuals facing barriers to employment, such as those with chronic health conditions or caregiving responsibilities.

“SB 2's complete ban on marketing and advertising for Medicaid would hinder working Hoosiers from understanding their health care options. This bill would cause unimaginable harm to our communities and disenfranchise thousands of families in our state.

“Indiana already ranks 45 out of 50 states in public health funding. We have the highest maternal mortality rate among our neighbors with 41% of births in our state being covered by Medicaid. 1 in 4 Indiana counties are maternity care deserts. Instead of tackling these health care disparities, the House today advanced a bill once again restricting these essential services.”

Op-ed: A targeted attack on public schools: HB 1001, SB 1 and SB 518

This session, Republicans filed three bills that form a targeted, devastating attack on our public schools:  House Bill 1001, Senate Bill 1, and SB 518. Together, these bills drain public schools of their financial resources.   

Let’s start with HB 1001, the Republicans’ proposed budget that inadequately funds public schools. The House majority has touted a “2% funding increase” by providing $18.9 billion for K-12 education, but this is a bait and switch. Some public schools will receive a cut while others receive less than a 2% increase. HB 1001 continues to siphon taxpayer dollars to charters and private schools with $200 million for vouchers for the wealthiest 3% of Hoosier families. Indiana’s universal voucher program will cost nearly $1.3 billion over the next two years. For 2026 and 2027, Republicans also provide $744 million for virtual and brick-and-mortar charter schools, plus access to an additional $281 million in grants.   

20 years of chronic underfunding from the Indiana GOP has left public schools with limited options to keep teachers in the classroom, the lights on and the buses running. Paired with the budget, SB 1 and SB 518 will only rub salt in their wounds.   

Centered on their campaign promises, SB 1 is a Republican priority bill to lower property taxes. It’s a moving target that's failed to provide relief to homeowners in each of its versions. House Republicans are considering swapping the current language for HB 1402, which still fails to achieve their promise. Homeowners’ property tax bills would go up in 2027 and 2028, and schools would lose close to $518 million over three years. Each proposal has failed to address a key component of Indiana’s dilemma: Years of underfunding public education has shifted the burden to our homeowners. Instead of state dollars bolstering their local schools, homeowners' property taxes have risen to keep them afloat. Local property tax referenda are the only way some schools are covering costs.  

Public schools will be inadequately funded and will lose property tax revenue, but the majority decided that’s not enough. If passed, SB 518 would require public schools to share property tax revenue with charters. Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) estimated that under SB 518, they would be forced to close at least 20 schools and let go of hundreds of staff. SB 518 would cost our schools a total of $124.4 million over three years. Our public schools do well, and I’m a proud alumnus of IPS. The majority has continued to push charters, ignoring their problems. In late February, another charter school CEO admitted to embezzling over $900,000. Every stream of revenue our public schools receive is undercut by the majority.  

In his SB 1 testimony, Terry Spradlin, the Executive Director of the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA), said school districts are “being squeezed on all sides.” Let’s ease the pressure on our school districts rather than squeezing them until they burst. House Democrats are committed to supporting the more than 90% of students who attend traditional public schools. We believe in public education, and we’re committed to real property tax relief that doesn’t harm our students. I ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to support public education and stop the targeted attacks on IPS and our state’s other public school corporations.

Porter comments on property tax proposal: ‘I’m hopeful but realistic’

Today, March 5, the House Ways and Means Committee is hearing testimony on Senate Bill 1, the Senate majority’s plan for property tax relief. The bill would cost local governments $1.4 billion over three years: $239 million in 2026, $485 million in 2027 and $688 million in 2028. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“I’m thankful for the work done on SB 1 thus far, but it still has a way to go before it’s perfect. The property tax growth Hoosiers have seen over the past decade is unsustainable. Hoosiers need a helping hand, but we can’t strip our communities. Your property tax dollars go directly to your neighborhood’s schools, firefighters, police and libraries. 

“Local communities would lose $1.4 billion in the next three years, with school districts losing about $371 million. Our public schools will be in a serious bind. The proposed school funding formula gives them next to nothing, and they’re losing millions in property tax revenue. Then, SB 518 will require our public schools to share the meager dollars they receive with charters. 

“These cuts will have a very real impact. There will continue to be potholes in your roads. Your fire and police departments will shrink. Your child’s class sizes will grow since schools can’t afford to hire teachers. 

“Not to mention, SB 1 prioritizes relief for businesses over Hoosier homeowners. Only about a third of the proposed relief would go to homesteads. I’m hopeful we’ll provide robust relief, but I’m also realistic about the needs of our communities.” 

Op-ed: Fighting Addiction by supporting HB 1358 & FDA-Approved non-opioid alternatives for Hoosiers

As an elected Indiana state representative, my unwavering commitment is to the health and safety of constituents, especially the most vulnerable among us. The opioid epidemic has devastated countless families in my district and across our state and doesn’t care about your color, socioeconomic status or who you voted for in the last election. That is why I introduced HB 1358, a bill designed to reduce opioid prescriptions and promote the use of FDA-approved non-opioid medications.

Despite the decision by super-majority Republicans not to give my bill a hearing, I hope to amend this language into a bill before the end of the current legislative session this April. It would prevent the State of Indiana from imposing greater coverage restrictions on a non-opioid drug prescribed for the treatment or management of pain than the coverage restrictions placed on an opioid drug prescribed to treat or manage pain for the Medicaid program or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It would ensure that state-run healthcare programs have equal access to non-addictive, non-opioid alternatives to pain management for the Hoosiers they serve.

A few weeks ago, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved suzetrigine (marketed as Journavx). This first-of-its-kind non-opioid medication offers patients a new way to manage pain without risking opioid addiction. It is the first new class of pain management medication in more than 20 years and represents a significant advancement in treating acute pain. HB 1358 seeks to integrate innovative, non-addictive treatments into our state government practices and programs.

The opioid epidemic has already cost us too many lives, and by adopting HB 1358, we can give healthcare providers more tools to treat pain without relying on opioids. It is good public policy. Our state should be offering safer alternatives. By adopting the language in my bill, we can ensure that medical advancements are accessible to all Hoosiers, promoting better health outcomes and a brighter future for our communities.

Porter votes no on House Republican state budget

Today, Feb. 20, the House passed the state budget with a vote of 66 to 27. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), the ranking minority member of the House Ways and Means Committee, voted no on House Bill 1001. 

Porter released the following statement on his no-vote: 

“I cannot in good conscience support this budget proposal from the majority party. When we drill down to the foundation of the bill, it’s not solid by any means. It’s not sound because so many cornerstones, essential programs for Hoosiers, are absent or underfunded. 

“This proposal will not move our state forward, in fact, it may pull us backward. The funding for K-12 will not support our schools. Medicaid is hanging in the balance from potential federal cuts. Local public health programs that support our mothers and daughters will receive less funding. 

“We need a budget that provides the greatest good for the greatest number. This is not a budget for the greatest good of the people.” 

House Republicans strike down ‘A Budget for the People’

On Feb. 19, House Republicans rejected efforts by the Indiana House Democratic Caucus to craft a state budget that truly supports Hoosiers. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) presented the proposal, which was offered as a master amendment to House Bill 1001. The amendment would have boosted programs centered on public health, K-12 education and more while still providing balanced tax relief. 

“The people spoke,” Porter said. “They did what they were supposed to do. They came to this legislative body and pleaded for the funding they needed in this budget. Once again, those pleas fell on the deaf ears of a supermajority.”  

Porter’s master amendment includes:

1. Protecting Medicaid:

1. Providing an additional $300 million for the Medicaid program to cushion potential federal cuts.

2. Increasing the cigarette tax to fund 5,000 slots for the PathWays for Aging Waiver and 5,000 slots for the Health and Wellness Waiver. 

3. Protecting the C.H.O.I.C.E. program and increasing its allocation to $55 million per year. 

2. Supporting our Children: 

1. Providing at least a true 2% increase to all schools. 

2. Making the On My Way Pre-K program universal by increasing the income eligibility threshold to 400% of the federal poverty level.  

3. Providing $8 million to continue Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

4. Restoring the Health First Indiana program to its 2023 allocation of $150 million. 

3. Creating Balanced Tax Relief: 

1. Increasing the income tax credit from 10% to 12%. 

2. Increasing the renter’s deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. 

4. Fighting for Financial Equity: 

1. Restoring the Indiana Commission for Women with an allocation of close to $227,000. 

2. Restoring the Commission of Race and Gender Fairness with an allocation of roughly $1.8 million, of which $500,000 is used to provide court interpreters for non-English speakers. 

5. Improving Quality of Life 

1. Preserving our outdoors with $30 million for trails and $25 million for land preservation.

2. Increasing the funding for our veteran's service organizations by $1.6 million.   

“Our budget would have helped Hoosiers during these unprecedented times,” Porter said. “From education to public health, we can do more to grow the quality of life in our state. Their vote against this proposal was a vote against Hoosiers.” 

Porter introduces ‘A Budget for the People’

Today, Feb. 18, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), presented the Indiana House Democratic Caucus’ budget proposal in his master amendment to House Bill 1001. The caucus’ goal is to reinstate critical programs cut by the Republican supermajority while prioritizing the desires of Hoosiers–including fully funding K-12 public education, protecting Medicaid and providing for our veterans. 

Porter pointed to several highlights of the House Democratic budget proposal that Hoosiers spoke out about during the budget process, including: 

• An additional $300 million for the Medicaid program to protect Hoosiers from potential federal cuts. 

• Eliminating the waitlists for the PathWays for Aging Waiver and the Health and Wellness Waiver to ensure health care coverage for roughly 11,000 Hoosiers. 

• Providing at least a true 2% increase to ALL schools. 

• Increasing the allocation for the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other veterans service organizations. 

• Increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit from 10% to 12% and increasing the Renter’s Deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. 

• Making the On My Way Pre-K program universal. 

He also pointed out worrisome inclusions in the Republican budget, including:

• Traditional public schools would only get a 1.3% increase since the funding would be shared with the voucher program and charter schools. Many school districts would receive cuts. 

• Zero funding for the College Success Program (CSP), which benefits Indiana’s minority and low-income college students. 

• A cut of $50 million in the Health First Indiana Program, which was used by Indiana’s counties to improve their local health programs. 

• Zero funding to continue Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. 

• Increasing the amount virtual charter schools receive from 85% to 100%, putting Hoosiers’ hard-earned dollars at risk. Two virtual charters were sued by the state to recoup $154 million, and the trial is still ongoing. 

“You spoke. We listened. We acted,” Porter said. “The House Democrat state budget has one purpose in mind: to help our people. It’s the inherent purpose of this body to help Hoosiers and improve their quality of life. That purpose extends to how we spend our money. It’s taxpayer’s money and it should be spent on programs they want. The state is simply the holder of the purse strings.  

“For the past couple of years, our government has operated like a corporation. We’re investing in massive development projects, kicking people off their health care plans to cut costs and cutting our agencies by 5% while those in charge get a 150% raise. We need to prioritize K-12 public education, Medicaid and other programs that improve quality of life. Let’s create a state budget for the people that truly benefits them.”