33.5 F
Indianapolis
Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Indiana legislators battle over Medicaid, education in 2025 agendas 

HANNA RAUWORTH
HANNA RAUWORTH
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.

More by this author

As Indiana’s 2025 legislative session begins, Republicans and Democrats in the state senate have outlined sharply contrasting agendas. 

Indianapolis - Circa January 2019: Indiana State House of Representatives in session giving the Pledge of Allegiance II
(Photo/Getty)

Republicans are focused on fiscal issues, with plans for property tax relief, Medicaid reforms and reducing health care costs, while Democrats prioritize boosting teacher pay, expanding maternal health care and preventing utility shutoffs. These opposing priorities set the tone for a contentious session shaping Indiana’s future. Here is a breakdown: 

Senate Republicans 

The 2025 Indiana Senate Republican legislative agenda focuses on five key priorities aimed at addressing economic challenges, promoting fiscal responsibility and improving the burden on Hoosier wallets. 

Property tax reform (Senate Bill 1): Collaborating with the Indiana House of Representatives and Gov.-elect Braun, Senate Republicans aim to enact meaningful property tax reform. Despite Indiana’s relatively low property taxes, recent year-over-year increases have caused frustration among Hoosiers. The goal is to balance relief for taxpayers with the budgetary needs of schools and local governments. 

Medicaid cost containment and fraud prevention (Senate Bill 2): To address the unsustainable growth of Indiana’s Medicaid program, Senate Republicans propose implementing better controls on Medicaid eligibility and reforming the Healthy Indiana Plan to encourage personal responsibility. These reforms aim to ensure that Indiana can continue to provide coverage for the Hoosiers who need it most.  

Health care cost reduction (Senate Bill 3): This initiative seeks to require health plan intermediaries to act in the best financial interest of their clients, the employers who sponsor health insurance for Hoosier workers. The objective is to ensure that employers can trust that the intermediaries they work with are prioritizing their financial interests, thereby lowering health care costs.  

Responsible management of water resources (Senate Bill 4): Recognizing Indiana’s abundant water resources, Senate Republicans propose requiring permits for basin-to-basin water transfers and other large long-distance water pipeline projects. This measure aims to ensure that water resources are managed responsibly to maintain access for Hoosiers amid ongoing state investment and development.  

Fiscal integrity and contract accountability (Senate Bill 5): To protect taxpayer dollars, this proposal seeks to improve fiscal oversight of government-awarded contracts. The goal is to ensure alignment with legislative intent and enhance the management of public funds, meeting Hoosiers’ expectations for results when large contracts are awarded with taxpayer money.  

In addition to these legislative priorities, Indiana Senate Republicans are working to craft a balanced state budget for the next two years.  

The Indiana Statehouse capitol building with blue sky behind. Indiana, USA.
The 2025 legislative agendas starkly contrast between the democrats and republicans. (Photo/Getty)

Senate Democrats 

The 2025 Indiana Senate Democratic legislative agenda centers on three primary areas aimed at enhancing the well-being of Hoosier families: 

Health care 

Momnibus Bill: Addressing Indiana’s maternal health crisis, this bill proposes Medicaid reimbursement for doula services, expansion of postpartum mental health care, establishment of a stillbirth prevention pilot and creation of a behavioral health helpline for mothers. 

Health care debt reform: Aiming to end predatory medical debt practices, this proposal seeks to prohibit wage garnishments and property liens, cap interest rates and protect Hoosiers during insurance appeals. 

Housing 

Utility disconnections: This initiative seeks to prevent utility companies from shutting off services on Fridays, weekends or holidays and aims to eliminate punitive fees for reconnections and unpaid balances. 

Tenant rights: Proposals include requiring landlords to provide 60 days’ notice before property sales and ensuring prompt completion of essential repairs to strengthen renter protections. 

Education 

Public school funding and support: The agenda advocates for a minimum $65,000 salary for K-12 teachers, full funding of the Child Care and Development Fund to eliminate waitlists and a $50 million investment in critical school staffing. 

The Indiana General Assembly reconvened for the 2025 legislative session on Jan. 8 and will conclude by April 29. For more information, visit iga.in.gov

Indiana Statehouse
(Photo/Getty)

This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/ 

To read more like this, click here.

Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth. 

- Advertisement -

Upcoming Online Townhalls

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest local news.

Stay connected

1FansLike
1FollowersFollow
1FollowersFollow
1SubscribersSubscribe

Related articles

Popular articles

Español + Translate »
Skip to content