As the Indiana General Assembly convenes for the 2025 legislative session, Hoosiers across the state are watching, waiting and hoping for action.
In a time when trust in leadership is eroding, our leaders have an opportunity ā and a responsibility ā to demonstrate accountability and deliver meaningful results for the communities they serve.
Accountability isnāt just a buzzword. Itās a commitment to transparency, ethical decision-making, and putting the needs of the people above personal or political gain. As citizens, we deserve leaders who embody these principles and use their platforms to create a brighter, more equitable future for all Hoosiers.
Hoosiers deserve clear, honest communication about legislative priorities and decisions. Whether the issue is education reform, public health or economic development, we expect our leaders to engage in open dialogue, explain their positions and ensure that all voices are heard.
In recent years, weāve seen the damaging effects of backdoor deals and policies crafted without public input. This session, our leaders must embrace transparency, holding public hearings and fostering opportunities for meaningful community participation. This includes prioritizing input from groups disproportionately affected by policy decisions, such as women, who are often on the frontlines of both family caregiving and workforce challenges.
Accountability also means investing in areas that reflect the priorities of Hoosiers. We need a state budget that addresses urgent needs such as:
- Education: Fully funding public schools and ensuring every child, regardless of ZIP code, has access to quality education.
- Health care: Expanding access to affordable health care, particularly maternal health services, as Indiana continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation.
- Workforce Development: Supporting programs that prepare our workers for the industries of tomorrow, while also addressing the barriers that keep women, especially mothers, from fully participating in the workforce, such as lack of affordable childcare and paid family leave.
These investments must focus on equity, ensuring resources reach underserved communities and addressing gaps that disproportionately affect women and families.
Indiana cannot move forward if entire communities are left behind. Hoosiers deserve leadership that recognizes systemic disparities and works to dismantle them. From racial inequities in education to income inequality, housing instability and gender pay gaps, the data is clear: these challenges require bold solutions.
Women, particularly women of color, often bear the brunt of these inequities. Policies that prioritize affordable housing, access to quality health care, pay equity and workplace flexibility are essential ā not only for individual women but for the families and communities that rely on them.
Finally, accountability means rejecting the politics of division and embracing collaboration. The issues facing Hoosiers ā affordable housing, access to childcare, maternal health and infrastructure improvements ā transcend party lines. We need leaders who prioritize results over rhetoric, building coalitions to advance the common good.
The ability to work together for the greater good should not be a rarity. This session is an opportunity to set a new tone, one rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose ā and this session requires participation from all Hoosiers.
Attend town halls. Write to your representatives. Hold leaders accountable for their votes and their actions. And when the next election rolls around, remember which leaders stood up for you and which fell short.
This legislative session has the potential to be transformative, setting Indiana on a path toward progress and equity. But it will only happen if our leaders prioritize accountability and put the needs of Hoosiers first.
Weāre not asking for perfection ā weāre asking for integrity, transparency and a commitment to meaningful action. Accountability starts here. Letās make sure our leaders know it.
Angie Carr Klitzsch is the CEO of Women4Change Indiana, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Hoosiers to engage in democracy and advocating for equitable outcomes for women and girls in Indiana.