Porter raises concerns about School for the Deaf amid budget cuts

With the end of the fiscal year approaching on July 1, agencies have finalized their operating budgets based on their appropriations for 2026. State Rep. Gregory Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement about budget cuts at the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD): 

“I’m utterly appalled by the Braun administration’s treatment of ISD. The school is in my district, so I’ve seen the time, devotion and thoughtfulness the faculty shows to their students. Generations of kids who are deaf or hard of hearing have received a quality, inclusive education from the institution. 

“A few weeks ago, parents reached out to my office about budget cuts at ISD. I couldn’t believe their messages. State budget cuts forced the ISD to lay off 26 employees, including nine teachers. One of the positions eliminated was an overnight nurse, even though kids as young as three stay in the dorms. The school had to cancel its annual summer camp, and teachers will be required to clean the school building after reductions in custodial staff.  Republicans are always saying that all schools deserve the same treatment. Hopefully, the majority is comfortable requiring teachers in their district to cut costs by scrubbing the floors to stay true to their saying. 

“This lack of respect for the ISD demonstrates the jarring viewpoint this administration has towards Hoosiers in need, as profit margins. Children can’t be equated to dollar signs on a piece of paper. It’s clear that running a government like a business means we lose our empathy in the process. 

"We can find the money. If Indiana can spend $655 million to build a new combined school for the blind and deaf, we can surely fully fund the ISD for the biennium.

"Due to my concerns, I will be submitting a letter to the chair of the State Budget Committee to ensure we discuss the ISD next meeting.  My previous request to the chair on June 18 received no response. I also encourage Gov. Braun to visit the institution, so he can see firsthand the incredible work of its faculty.” 

Burton responds to summer study committee announcement, vows to keep pressure on utility costs

State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) issued the following statement on yesterday’s announcement of 2025 interim summer study committee topics for the Indiana General Assembly:

“Yesterday’s announcement was a mixed moment. While I’m proud of the work we’ve done to raise the issue of soaring utility rates in Southwest Indiana, I’m disappointed that our bipartisan effort to formally study this crucial topic was not selected.

“Still, this is far from the end of the road. I’m pushing to serve on the Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications study committee because our region, and the state as a whole, deserves answers, action and a plan forward. I remain committed to ensuring that Southwest Indiana has a voice at the table.

“In my first legislative session, I worked hard to build relationships and credibility while envisioning a future for Indiana that welcomes all forms of energy aligned with our state’s five core pillars for energy: reliability, resilience, stability, affordability and environmental sustainability.

“As always, I will continue to advocate for transparency, affordability and progress, and to make sure that the concerns of Southwest Indiana are heard and addressed.”

The resolution from Wednesday’s Legislative Council meeting outlining the assigned topics can be found here.

Pryor comments on announcement of 2025 interim study committee topics

Wednesday, June 25, lawmakers on the Legislative Council, consisting of leadership from all four caucus’ and several other appointed legislators, met to discuss the selected topics for the 2025 interim study committees. The topics span a variety of policy areas and include ideas from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Interim study committees are designed to allow the legislature to take an in-depth look at important subjects to base legislative action on during session. Each study committee includes members from both parties in both chambers. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) – a member of the legislative council that met today – issued the following statement:  

“I am glad to see bipartisan assignments for the 2025 interim study committee topics. Many of the topics selected examine issues that act as significant barriers to improving life for Hoosiers.  

“I am glad that the state is looking into the issue of medical debt. For those without health insurance, and even some with it, getting sick or injured could result in crushing debt that prevents any chance at economic prosperity in the future. Hoosiers don’t deserve to face financial ruin just for needing medical care, and I am pleased there will be a committee looking for ways to prevent that.  

“Postpartum support for Hoosier mothers is another topic that will be studied during the interim. Indiana has some of the worst maternal mortality statistics in the country, with Black and brown populations disproportionately impacted. Finding ways to increase access to medical services for postpartum care is a significant step in trying to improve our maternal health outcomes.

“Additionally, the legislature will be looking at salaries for K-12 administrators as well as the ratio of students to administrators and students to teachers. Right now, our state has a problem with attracting and retaining educators. Studying salaries and ratios allows us to take a deeper look at how we can provide additional support to schools so that we can address the teacher shortage and improve schools for Hoosier students.  

“I hope these study committees lay a solid foundation for legislation that can provide real solutions for Hoosiers across the state.” 

Porter comments on budget’s broken promises to Hoosier families

Today, June 18, the State Budget Committee met to discuss appropriations for the biennium. The meeting follows the announcement from the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) that enrollment for the On My Way Pre-K program (OMWPK) will be capped at 2,500 slots due to budget constraints. Pre-K providers participating in the program will have their reimbursement capped at $147.82 per week. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement regarding missed opportunities in the biennial budget:  

“Obviously, money was tight this budget, but I warned my colleagues about the impact of their misguided priorities. Gov. Braun initially proposed an appropriation of $101.3 million for OMWPK, which didn’t happen. He proposed an appropriation of $2 million for local child care assistance, which didn’t happen. He proposed $392 million for the Child Care Development Fund vouchers (CCDF) to eliminate the waitlist, which didn’t happen either. There were multiple missed opportunities, regardless of the revenue forecast, to prioritize and support our Hoosier families. 

“Instead, they moved forward with their $1.2 billion voucher expansion for Indiana’s wealthiest families. Republicans gave additional tax cuts for data centers and continued the individual income tax cuts, with average savings of $50 or less. Is this worth taking away pre-K or child care support for our working families? Indiana is the second-best state to start a business, but it won’t be for long if parents need to stay home to care for their kids because they can’t afford child care or pre-K. With the potential federal changes to Medicaid and Senate Enrolled Act 2, even more Hoosier parents could lose their health care, CCDF vouchers and other support systems.  

“Our governor is a successful businessman, so I’m certain he’s aware of the support parents need outside of the workplace. Sadly, Braun didn’t keep his promises and was bulldozed by other Republicans.”  

Shackleford attends celebratory signings for public health legislation

Today, State Rep. Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) joined Gov. Braun at the Statehouse for ceremonial bill signings of several impactful health care measures passed during the 2025 legislative session.

The legislation signed includes:

1. House Enrolled Act 1065: Allows a Cancer Clinical Trial Participation Program to provide payment to Indiana residents for supportive costs, including travel, child care, lodging, parking and tolls, incurred while participating in cancer clinical trials. Participants must meet financial eligibility and residency requirements.

2. House Enrolled Act 1666: Increases oversight and transparency in the ownership of health care providers.

3. House Enrolled Act 1604: Helps Hoosiers better manage health care costs by improving out-of-pocket expense credits and allowing cost-sharing payments to be applied to deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket expenses.

4. Senate Enrolled Act 140: Enhances regulation of pharmacy benefit managers to ensure fairer prescription pricing for patients.

Shackleford, a longtime advocate for equitable and accessible health care, issued the following statement:

“These bills mark crucial progress toward making health care more affordable, transparent and equitable for Hoosiers. From protecting patients against predatory practices to improving accountability in our health care system, each measure signed today moves Indiana in the right direction.

“I’m especially proud to have authored HEA 1065, which creates a fund to help offset the cost of participating in cancer clinical trials. Too often, financial barriers prevent patients from accessing the innovative care they need. This new program will help ensure that more Hoosiers, regardless of income, can benefit from advanced treatments.

“I’m honored to stand alongside fellow lawmakers and advocates in the fight for health equity and look forward to continuing this work to build a stronger, more inclusive system for all.”

IBLC commemorates Juneteenth, calls for comprehensive American education

On June 19, 1865, African Americans enslaved in Galveston, Texas learned of the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery signed two years prior. Since then, June 19 – or "Juneteenth" – has been celebrated as a day of freedom throughout the country.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement in advance of the holiday:

"Today, 160 years later, Juneteenth is still as important as it was the first year it was celebrated. Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the liberation, joy and achievements of Black people. It is also a time to channel our efforts to overcome the barriers that still lie ahead of us.

"In 2025 – in our state of Indiana and across the nation – efforts are being made to undo the progress Black leaders have made for our community. From banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices in government agencies to shameful whitewashing of slavery from the second-in-command of Indiana, we don't have the luxury of disengaging. We need to be steadfast in ensuring that our history is not erased, our contributions are not minimized and that our voices are heard.

"This starts in the classroom. Teaching our children true American history – the good, the bad and the ugly – will help us ensure that the achievements of African Americans, the horrors we faced and contributions we're making today will not be forgotten.  Some of the steps our Republican supermajority took in the most recent session of the Indiana General Assembly actively work against this goal. We should never shy away from our history – the strength of our democracy depends on us confronting our past and working to create a future where all people are extended the promise of America.

"There's still a lot of work to be done to make Indiana a better state for all. We in the IBLC will continue to work to remove roadblocks and create an equal playing field for Hoosiers from all walks of life."

Shackleford: Pre-K cuts threaten Hoosier children’s health and family economic stability

INDIANAPOLIS - State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) is speaking out against the Braun administration’s decision to slash Indiana’s On My Way Pre-K program, reducing access from more than 6,000 children to just 2,500 for the 2025-26 school year. Reimbursement rates for families and child care providers will also be capped at $147.82 per week, cutting support by as much as half in some counties.

“This isn’t just a budget decision — it’s a direct threat to our children’s futures and to family stability across Indiana,” Shackleford said. “Early childhood education is one of the strongest predictors of lifelong health, academic achievement and financial security. These cuts will set kids back before they’ve even stepped into a kindergarten classroom.”

Shackleford, who has long championed access to quality care in Indianapolis and beyond, highlighted the clear connection between pre-K and improved public health outcomes.

“Children who attend high-quality pre-K are less likely to develop chronic health conditions later in life. They show better emotional regulation, stronger mental health and higher levels of physical activity as they grow. Stripping this opportunity from Hoosier families will have lifelong health consequences.

“For working parents, these programs mean the difference between being able to stay in the workforce or not. A 2024 study of universal pre‑K in New Haven, Connecticut found that parents with a child in the program increased their earnings by 20.9%, thanks to more reliable care and extended work hours. Without affordable pre-K, many parents — especially mothers — will be forced to cut back hours or quit altogether. That hurts household budgets and weakens our economy.”

“When the state underfunds pre-K, providers are also forced to scale back or shut down. This makes Indiana’s child care deserts even worse, especially in low-income and urban neighborhoods.”

Shackleford contrasted the administration’s cuts with Republican leaders’ choice to expand Indiana’s private school voucher program, a move that provides new benefits to wealthy families while reducing support for low- and middle-income households.

“There was money in the budget. The choice was made to prioritize private school vouchers for millionaires over essential early learning for working families. That speaks volumes about where this administration’s values lie.

“If Indiana wants healthier families, a stronger workforce and better academic outcomes, then we need to treat pre-K as essential infrastructure, not an afterthought. These cuts are a mistake, and I will continue fighting to restore what Hoosier families deserve.”

Garcia Wilburn celebrates opioid settlement win, calls for investment in recovery courts

Indiana will receive up to $100 million in new opioid settlement funds following action by 55 attorneys general, including Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, to secure a $7.4 billion settlement from the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma for their role in America's opioid epidemic. This money will be disbursed over the next 15 years to state and local governments to combat the effects of the opioid crisis, according to a press release from Attorney General Rokita.

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), a behavioral health professional and recovery advocate, renewed her call for Indiana to establish a Family Recovery Court Fund, which could be funded by opioid settlement dollars. Family recovery courts are certified problem-solving courts that target cases of abuse or neglect wherein a parent or primary caregiver suffers from a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders, but they struggle to receive consistent funding and have often relied on counties prioritizing them in their budgets. This legislative session, Garcia Wilburn passed House Bill 1107 unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee to create such a fund, but it subsequently stalled out in the House Ways and Means Committee – meaning that it did not become law this year.

Garcia Wilburn released the following statement on the new settlement dollars and how they could be put to good use in recovery courts:

"First, I'm thankful that Indiana will receive $100 million in new opioid settlement dollars, and I thank Attorney General Rokita and his fellow attorneys general across the country for their work to secure this outcome. These dollars can be put to use in our communities for addiction recovery, prevention and solutions, including recovery courts.

"Family recovery courts reduce the cost of addiction to the taxpayers by solving addiction outside of our courts and prison systems. They're a great investment that have resulted in many success stories across our state of babies born substance free and families made whole again. The 2026 legislative session is the time to take action and create a family recovery court fund. This will allow courts across the state to fund family recovery courts sustainably into the future. Amid a state budget shortfall and this new infusion of settlement funds, setting up this recovery court fund won't take money out of our state budget but will help Hoosiers reach recovery with existing dedicated funds. That's a win in my book – and one that's entirely achievable during the 2026 legislative session."

Op-Ed: Protecting Infant Health Means Protecting Hip 2.0

Op-Ed: Protecting Infant Health Means Protecting Hip 2.0

By: State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend)

Word Count: 450

Indiana just marked a milestone: in 2024, our infant mortality rate dropped to 6.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. This is the lowest rate since records began in 1900, and progress worth acknowledging.

But it’s not enough.

Our rate still exceeds the national average of 5.6. Behind each number is a child who did not make it to their first birthday. With 517 infant deaths across the state, we still have far to go. Now, the same state leaders celebrating this fragile progress have made budget decisions that put it at risk. This year’s budget cut the very programs that helped us get here. Essential maternal and infant health initiatives are being scaled back at a time when families need more support, not less.

Nearly half of all births in Indiana are covered by Medicaid. HIP 2.0 is a lifeline, providing prenatal and postpartum care, well-baby checkups, breastfeeding and nutrition support, and safe sleep education. Cuts to these programs will hit low-income and rural communities the hardest, where options for care are scarce or non-existent. At the same time, federal support for the Safe to Sleep campaign has ended. Indiana’s local efforts to prevent sleep-related deaths continue, but without national resources and coordination, their reach is limited.

State public health funding has also been slashed. In my district, these cuts forced the closure of the Mishawaka health department office. That means families will face longer commutes, longer wait times, and greater demand on already strained nearby clinics. These are the real consequences of defunding healthcare.

Even Health First Indiana, a statewide initiative to improve maternal and child health services, saw its budget cut from $125 million to $40 million per year. That means fewer home visits, fewer mental health services, and fewer chances to intervene early to save lives.

We also cannot ignore the disparities. In 2023, Black infants in Indiana died at a rate of 13.8 per 1,000 births. That is more than double the rate of white infants, whose mortality rate was 5.1. In my district, the 46628 ZIP code had the second-highest infant mortality rate in the state between 2019 and 2023. That reality demands targeted, sustained investment.

We know what works. When we invest in families, we save lives. Infant mortality is the number one indicator of health status in the world. Now is not the time to retreat. Protecting infant health means protecting HIP 2.0. It means funding public health, not gutting it. It means ensuring that every Hoosier family, no matter their ZIP code, has access to care, support, and a fair start in life.

Let’s act with urgency and compassion. When children’s lives are at stake, shifting into reverse is not an option.

OP-ED: No, you're not hallucinating – AES wants to raise your rates again.

AES Indiana just requested to raise their rates on consumers. Again. 

Last year, they raised rates for consumers by an average of $9.36 per month, although their original ask was $17.50. This year, they want an increase of 13.5%, but in reality is closer to 21% and will cost Hoosiers an extra $30 every month. If it feels like your utility bill is always growing, that’s because it is. 

To some, $30 a month, or $360 dollars a year, may not seem like a lot. But what if your electricity bill rose $360 every year? In five years, you would see your bill grow by $1,800. Asking the IURC to approve a rate increase shouldn’t become an annual tradition for utility companies across the state, including AES, and those additional monthly costs add up quickly. When coupled with inflation, high housing costs, increased grocery costs, higher medical bills and lagging growth in wages, this rate increase very well could be the straw that breaks the camel's back for residents in Marion County. And those who are living paycheck to paycheck, or on a fixed income, may be forced to sacrifice essentials like food or medication to cover that extra $30 month after month. 

In 2020, AES was approved to use $1.2 billion from ratepayers to upgrade their system. Ratepayers are still in the process of paying for that, as the plan built in seven years of consecutive increases on top of other requests they have made separately. By the time the 21% hike would go into effect, you would really see an increase of 27% because of a 6% increase already approved to cover projects such as the Pike County battery storage facility. 

It's honestly hard to keep track of how many times AES has raised their rates. Over the last decade, rates have increased by more than 34%. The pace at which prices are increasing is not sustainable for Hoosier families. Something eventually must give. In 2024, I filed an amendment to create a one-year moratorium on rate increases to help Hoosiers catch their breath. The Republican supermajority at the Statehouse struck this down.

Every time these rate hike requests are made, the justification has been a system or infrastructure improvement. However, even with the additional revenue, many pressing concerns about the services have gone unaddressed. After the increase in 2023 to “upgrade” systems, customers experienced issues such as charges on their account three times the normal size with no explanation, charges being withdrawn up to 10 times without immediate refund and completed payments being marked as missing. AES paused disconnections temporarily while they stabilized the billing system, but disconnections were recently resumed with many customers still facing billing issues. 

Are consumers just supposed to helplessly accept that they must pay more and more for utilities every single year? Part of AES' justification for this most recent request was that they need to cover the cost of doing business due to inflation and rising costs. We all live in this economy. Hoosiers are facing the consequences of inflation and rising costs too. But the average person can’t demand money from others to cover our expenses. And because utilities are regulated monopolies, ratepayers don’t have a choice of providers. Which means, we are left footing the bill at the whim of stockholders who don’t have a connection to our communities. 

If a $1.2 billion upgrade isn’t enough, and you have to ask for tens of millions of dollars every year and still not solve basic customer-service issues, how can any amount of money be enough? I was heartened to see Gov. Mike Braun express displeasure over this rate hike request. But ultimately, Gov. Braun and the last 20 years of Republican leadership are responsible for the high rates consumers find themselves paying today. If Gov. Braun wants to stand up for affordability, he should call on IURC to deny this outrageous request.  

GiaQuinta, House Democrats condemn slashing of Indiana state pre-K program

As Hoosier parents prepare their household budgets for the 2025-2026 school year, fewer working families will have On My Way Pre-K, Indiana's state preschool program, at their disposal to assist with the cost of sending their 3- and 4-year-olds to pre-K. Gov. Braun's administration announced at the beginning of June that it would slash On My Way Pre-K seats from over 6,000 to 2,500 for the upcoming school year.

Additionally, reimbursement subsidies for families enrolled in the program will be capped at $147.82 a week – for some counties, this will slash reimbursement rates in half or more. This means that child care providers will receive less money from the state for children enrolled in the program, disincentivizing provider participation and broad access, and low-income families will be responsible for the cost not paid for by the state.

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) and House Democrats are deeply concerned that the Braun administration and Statehouse Republicans chose to prioritize the expansion of Indiana's private school voucher program to millionaires and billionaires this session over maintaining the On My Way Pre-K program for low- to moderate-income families. GiaQuinta released the following statement reacting to the cuts:

"Working parents are already stretched thin. Now, they’re being told to do more with less – the theme of this administration. Cutting On My Way Pre-K means pulling the rug out from under hard-working families who were planning to use this program to make their household budget work.

"These cuts weren't inevitable. In the 2025 budget, Statehouse Republicans chose to prioritize making private school vouchers universal. While millionaires and billionaires are getting more tuition assistance for the private schools their children already attend, working families are being told that pre-K for their 3- and 4-year-olds is too expensive for the state. That’s not budgeting — that’s bad priorities. Amid a budget shortfall, Statehouse Republicans found the money to expand a program that they cared about. It just wasn't the program that benefits families struggling to get by.

"Hoosier families deserve more, plain and simple."

Jackson comments on FSSA slashing On My Way Pre-K

The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) recently announced several significant cuts to On My Way Pre-K. These cuts include capping enrollment at 2,500 children, down from over 6,000 enrollees last year, and slashing the provider reimbursement rates.   

In the 2025 state budget, FSSA faced the 5% budget cut that most state agencies did and were recently ordered to cut an additional 5% specifically from their personnel and technology budgets. The agency claims that the cuts to the On My Way Pre-K program are a result of the budget reduction.   

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

“I am extremely concerned about the recent cuts to On My Way Pre-K and the devastating impacts they will have on our state and our community. Over 85% of 4-year-olds in Indiana do not have access to preschool. On My Way Pre-K is already an extremely limited program to help the most vulnerable afford to send their children to pre-K. Now, 3,500 fewer Hoosier children will likely not be able to enroll in pre-K because their families cannot afford it without the voucher.

"Additionally, the financial incentive for providers to accept On My Way Pre-K vouchers in Lake County was reduced by up to 46%. Many facilities may choose or be forced to no longer participate in the program. Every year, I have families reaching out to me for help getting their children into pre-K because of the limited class sizes and long waitlists. Reducing this incentive will reduce class sizes even more. Families who desperately want to give their child a leg up with early childhood education are being left high and dry.  

“Indiana is one of only six states in the entire country that doesn’t fund a universal pre-K system. Early childhood education has been proven to improve academic performance and even salaries later in life. Additionally, access to pre-K boosts our economy by allowing parents to return to the workforce. The state should be pouring resources into expanding pre-K access for all children, not cutting it for vulnerable populations. If pre-K is a luxury that only wealthy families in well-off suburbs can afford, children living in underserved communities will be hurt the most.   

“Republican leadership claims that they had to cut funding for FSSA because there simply wasn’t enough money. I would like to know how they found $1.2 billion to expand private school vouchers universally so millionaires and billionaires can use taxpayer dollars to send their kids to private school. This is not about fiscal responsibility. This does not help working Hoosiers. This policy is harmful for children, families and our economy.”