Gov. Mike Braun addressed Hoosiers during a State of the State last week. Here’s what he had to say.
Braun delivered his second State of the State in the General Assembly on Jan. 14. During a nearly 30-minute speech, the Republican governor addressed several major concerns, such as affordability — whether that be housing costs, utilities, health care, childcare or property taxes — which Braun said is “a major driver of the affordability crisis.”
“Affordability is our highest priority,” Braun said. “I’ve spent my life as a job creator. I know the most important part of affordability is new jobs and higher wages.”
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Braun also made an effort to highlight a few of his administration’s accomplishments from 2025, such as universal school choice, and threw his support behind several bills, praising IMPD drug seizures and a few lighthearted football references. However, his message was clear: “Indiana is the best place in America to create jobs.”
“In 2025 our message was clear: Indiana is open for business,” Braun said. “Indiana’s real GDP is growing faster than the national rate. We’re growing double the rate of Illinois, double the rate of Ohio, triple the rate of Kentucky, and growing 6 times faster than Michigan. The time is now, and the place is Indiana, and the state of our state is strong.”
With the growing influence of AI, many Hoosiers are worried about the potential implications of having data centers set up shop here in Indiana and what that would do to rising electricity rates.
Amazon is building a $15 million data center in Northwest Indiana, and Braun assured Hoosiers the company will “pay for every cent of their new power needs, and then some.” If other companies followed this model for their data centers, Braun said Indiana would lead the country in “the AI race,” and Hoosier electricity rates would instead decrease.
“AI is going to be key to the jobs of the future, but data centers can’t stick Hoosiers with the power bill,” Braun said. “Companies that want big power in Indiana should pay their own way.”
Despite this year’s shorter legislative session — slated to end on Feb. 28 — Braun threw his support behind several proposed bills, including HB 1005, which would establish a residential housing infrastructure assistance program and fund.
Braun also applauded SB 1, which prevents those on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from using SNAP to purchase candy and soft drinks; SB 78, which would limit a student’s cell phone use during school hours; and SB 225, which addresses hospital matters and medical debt, amends the definition of “ambulatory outpatient surgical center” and removes the requirement that “a surgical procedure is permitted to be performed only by a physician, dentist or podiatrist who has certain hospital privileges.”
In response to the State of the State address, Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) said he was “pleased to see Gov. Braun prioritizing important education bills this year,” including two that Raatz authored.
“Indiana is one of the best states in the country for education. We show that in our all-time high graduation rate of 92% and being ranked sixth in the country for fourth-grade literacy rates,” Raatz said in a statement. “As chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development, I look forward to working with the governor and my fellow legislators to continue to improve education in our state.”
However, Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian said Braun “failed to mention the tsunami of rural hospital closures,” which has left some communities with nowhere for women to give birth safely.
“In his rosy assessment of the Indiana economy, Braun also fails to mention the crumbling roads and potholes across the state,” Tallian said in a statement. “He fails to mention the looming disasters for local government and impending cuts to local police and fire departments, all thanks to yet another GOP misguided property tax overhaul.”
After joking about the possibility of closing schools for the IU vs. Miami game on Jan. 19, Braun said his administration has secured “big wins” to make life more affordable for Hoosier workers, but there’s still “much more to do.”
“Together, we can make Indiana the state where your dollar goes further,” Braun continued, “where opportunity abounds for all who are willing to work hard, and where every Hoosier worker can build the life they deserve.”
For more information about the 2026 legislative session, visit iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
