House District 94 update for the week of 4/17/25
Property tax “relief” bill will raise your taxes
This week, the governor signed Senate Bill 1 into law. This bill has the potential to 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.
I 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.”
Eviction reform bill
This week, Senate Bill 142 was sent to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. I was proud to co-sponsor this legislation to reform 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.
I issued the following statement after it passed out of the House last week:
“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.”
Anti-DEI bill and criminalizing homelessness
This week, the House voted on two detrimental pieces of legislation: Senate Bill 197 and Senate Bill 289. SB 197 criminalizes sleeping outdoors by imposing up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. SB 289 limits the role of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices in state agencies and limits scholarships based on race and/or personal characteristics. The Senate chose to dissent on both bills, which means they will be sent to conference committee for the two chambers to negotiate.
Click here to view my statement on SB 197
Click here to view the statement from the Chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus on SB 289.
Welcoming my constituent to the Statehouse
It was exciting to welcome one of my constituents to the Statehouse this week! She came with the Realtors Association. I am always so proud when I get to interact with members of my community as they engage in advocacy!
Snacks Crossing students advocate for school funding
Last week, it was an honor to welcome students from Snacks Crossing as they presented a petition urging the legislature to protect funding for their school. It was inspiring to see such young Hoosiers showing up to the Statehouse to stand up for their right to a quality education!
Free Health Screenings at Near West Community Health Fair
Tomorrow, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., there will be free health screenings at the Near West Community Health Fair. This event will take place at the Haughville branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, 2121 W. Michigan St. This is a great opportunity to get a variety of health information on topics such as women’s health, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, dental health and even mental health.
For more information, contact the Near West community health worker Jama Bennett at 317-637-4312 or by email. Thank you to Mirror Indy for promoting this event!
Homebuyer’s Ownership Program
The Central Indiana Realtist Association is holding another Homebuyer’s Ownership program. These night classes focus on helping Hoosiers who are embarking on the journey of buying a home to understand important aspects of being a homeowner. The workshops take place from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the Julia M. Carson Government Center on the 2nd Tuesday of each month or the Fay Biccard Glick Community Center on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Complimentary childcare and dinner will be provided. See the flyers above for more information about dates.
