From DeLaney's Desk: The Start of the 2025 Budget Session
Welcome to "From DeLaney's Desk," a newsletter where I can provide state and community updates as your State Representative. Please reach out to my office at h86@iga.in.gov if you have any questions, concerns or thoughts on what you see or would like to see in this newsletter.
Introducing the Working Hoosiers Agenda
Last week, the Indiana General Assembly officially kicked off the 2025 legislative session, and I want you to know that the Indiana House Democratic Caucus and I are busy working for you and Hoosiers throughout the state
Our Working Hoosiers Agenda prioritizes the needs of folks throughout the state who are working too hard and making too little. For too many Hoosiers, the prospect of owning their own home is a tough proposition. For current homeowners, high property tax rates make it hard for many to get ahead. This session, our caucus will work to address these issues by calling for property tax credits, system-wide reform, and growing the housing supply so more people can buy homes.
This session, House Democrats will fight to cap rising health insurance premiums and lower health care costs by reining in the middlemen who are concerned with making money, not making Hoosiers healthier.
Our caucus will also work to crack down on junk fees and scams by forcing companies doing business in Indiana to be up front about the cost of a good or service.
We'll work to ensure public K-12 education has the funding it needs to help all our kids – regardless of their parent's socioeconomic status – thrive in the classroom and eventually, out in the workforce. We know that a good education is the best way for our Hoosier kids to get ahead, and fully funding education will help countless Hoosier families break the cycle of poverty. We can do more of this with state dollars, limiting the school funding burden on homeowners through the property tax system.
Finally, House Democrats want to ensure that our law enforcement, firefighters, EMS and veterans are taken care of after the years they’ve spent taking care of us. From free in-state tuition for children of disabled veterans to increasing the 1977 police and fire retirement fund those who have served at least 20 years, our caucus is dedicated to making life better for the men and women who have dedicated their lives to helping their fellow Hoosiers.
I look forward to working with my caucus members to make Indiana a state that works for everyone, and I want to let Hoosiers know that if you live and work in Indiana, you do deserve more than what you're currently getting. The Working Hoosiers Agenda won't just help you get by. It will help you and your family thrive.
Make Your Voice Heard: Take My 2025 Legislative Survey!
Each session, I base my legislative priorities on the concerns of my constituents. Your input is essential to my work as a representative, and I want your voice to be heard. One of the easiest ways to share your thoughts and concerns is through my legislative survey.
Our community is facing some difficult issues this budget session. Whether it is fully funding public schools, addressing rising property taxes or making sure Marion County gets our fair share of road funding, I am ready to fight for the needs of House District 86. Your survey responses help me gauge how our district feels about the various topics we discuss at the Statehouse and what other issues are important to you.
My survey is available online at IN.gov/H86 by clicking the button at the top of the page. Please do not complete the online survey if you have returned the survey by mail or if you do not reside in House District 86. To find your state legislator, you can visit https://iga.in.gov/information/find-legislators. Please know that a question on my survey does not indicate my support for or opposition to an issue.
Session began on Jan. 8, and we will be at the Statehouse through April. I hope you’ll be a part of the process by completing my survey. Please contact my office at h86@iga.in.gov if you have any questions, thoughts or concerns.
Indiana House Democrats' focus for 2025 session is 'helping working Hoosiers get ahead'
GOP Medicaid bill would cut enrollees and add work requirement
https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/01/08/cap-work-requirement-healthy-indiana-plan
Ahead of challenging legislative session, IPS board denounces bill to dissolve district
House Democrats want more funding to support child care access in Indiana
Proposal would outlaw use of abortion pills and tighten rape exception
Grand Old Pivot: How COVID, economic development and a changing GOP defined the Holcomb era