FROM INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING

Indiana House Democrats and Senate Republicans have outlined their agendas for the 2025 legislative session, highlighting their priorities for Hoosiers.

Indiana House Democrats say their focus for the 2025 legislative session will be helping working Hoosiers get ahead.

Caucus leader Phil GiaQuinta says a major part of that will be addressing the rising cost of living — from housing to health care to utilities.

“It’s time to take on insurance companies for their role in rising costs and cut the paperwork red tape,” GiaQuinta said.

Democrats say one way to help ease property tax bills would be increased state funding of public schools — meaning those schools wouldn’t have to ask local property taxpayers for more money.

And Representative Carey Hamilton says Republicans shouldn’t prioritize giving the wealthiest three percent of Indiana families money for their children’s private school education.

“Could instead be spent on pre-K for all. We are one of only six states in the nation that does not make that critical investment in early learning — an investment that we know will lead to improved outcomes for our students,” Hamilton said.

Another provision on House Democrats’ agenda is a temporary pause on all utility rate increases.

Indiana Senate Republicans have outlined two major priorities for the upcoming legislative session: a significant overhaul of the state’s Medicaid expansion program, the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), and comprehensive property tax reform.

The Healthy Indiana Plan currently serves more than 680,000 low-income adults without disabilities. However, Senate Republicans propose capping enrollment at 500,000 people, with excess applicants placed on a waitlist. The plan would also impose a lifetime limit of 36 months on coverage and create work requirements for many participants.

Senator Ryan Mishler says those removed from HIP could find coverage through the federal health insurance marketplace.

“So there shouldn’t be anybody who would totally lose coverage altogether,” Mishler said.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are also focused on property tax reform. Senator Travis Holdman says their primary tax reform bill will undergo significant changes as it moves through the legislative process, balancing relief for Hoosiers with funding needs for local governments.

“We are committed to providing property tax relief to Hoosiers. But we’ve also got to balance the funding needs for schools and local units of government like counties, cities, towns and townships,” Holdman said.

The initial property tax reform proposal, introduced by Governor-elect Mike Braun, aims to roll back homeowners’ bills to 2021 levels and cap future increases. The Senate will adjust the plan before sending it to the House for further revisions.