My Legislation for the 2025 Session
Dear neighbor,
I’m thankful for the opportunity to be at the Statehouse and to author legislation for our community. This week I hit the ground running, and I filed eight pieces of legislation, three of which focus on fiscal responsibility in local offices.
Southern Indiana is my home and there are some issues we can improve upon for our fellow Hoosiers. We can do more to protect people's tax dollars and make sure they’re used appropriately. This past year is evidence that we need better systems in place to stop fraud and theft. Our community temporarily lost ambulatory and fire services due to fraud which, in good conscience, we cannot let happen again. To better protect our community, I authored three bills to increase fiscal responsibility and encourage ethical leadership.
House Bill (HB) 1429 would require local elected officials to take an ethics training course from the State Board of Accounts (SBOA) every two years. HB 1431 would change the reporting requirements for campaign finance reports for those running for local offices. An additional bill, HB 1227 would increase the reporting requirements for the use of commissary funds by a local sheriff’s office.
Other bills I authored focus on affordability and social programs. HB 1430 would create The Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership program to help families afford quality child care. HB 1226, similar to an existing bill in Kentucky, Oklahoma and several states, would protect Hoosiers over 65 from higher rates and denied claims for their Medicare supplement insurance.
There’s more we can do for people who are struggling to pay their bills. Property taxes, utilities, rent and other bills are skyrocketing, severely affecting our senior citizens and those on fixed incomes. The cost of child care is unbelievably high with parents typically spending around $11,000 a year on one child. This is a difficult time when everyone is experiencing financial pressure. The state legislature should do everything in its power to give people some much-needed breathing room.
A full list of my legislation is below:
HB 1225: Pension Garnishment for Restitution
HB 1226: Medicare Supplement Insurance
HB 1227: Jail Commissary Fund Reporting
HB 1228: Hunting Licenses for Disabled Veterans
HB 1429: Ethics Training for Local Officials
HB 1430: Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Program
HB 1431: Campaign Finance Reports
HB 1560: Straight Ticket Voting
My goal for this year is to work across party lines and tackle the problems facing Hoosiers. As proposed, my legislation is a step in the right direction, and I look forward to working hard for my community. I encourage residents of House District 71 to reach out to my legislative office with their thoughts and concerns at h71@iga.in.gov or by phone at 1-800-382-9848. As your state representative, I am your voice in Indianapolis.
In service,
Wendy
