Statehouse Scoop: Mid-session update
After nearly two months of work, we are now at the halfway point of the legislative session. Unlike the Super Bowl, we don’t have a Rihanna concert to mark the occasion, but we’re still celebrating just the same!
As we plan and prepare for the second half, like any good team, we are taking a moment to look back at what has worked and where we still need to adjust. To that end, here’s a quick overview of where things stand on our key priorities of early learning, mental health, housing and more.
Leading: Early Childhood Education
With our Early Education Works Coalition partners and other advocates from across the state, we are seeing some early success in advancing proposals that would increase the income eligibility for On My Way Pre-K (from 127% to 138% of the federal poverty level); raising the existing cap on maximum award amounts (from $6,800 to $7,500); ending the local match requirement; and cementing On My Way as a permanent pre-kindergarten program (it is currently still a pilot program).
Additionally, there is language in one House bill that would require the development of a revised Paths to Quality rating system, one that includes measures of kindergarten readiness. Finally, Gov. Eric Holcomb’s proposal to make the Dolly Parton Imagination Library a statewide program remains active.
Key bills in this space are House Bill 1001 (the House budget, which includes the On My Way income eligibility language and the increased cap), House Bill 1591 (which includes the local match, Paths to Quality and permanent program language) and Senate Bill 340 (the Imagination Library).
Collaborating: Housing
Our priorities in housing included both supply-side issues (increasing the supply of affordable housing and creating opportunities for home ownership) and tenant protection issues (rent escrow and habitability standards).
While we have seen some needed and welcomed progress on bills that would increase the supply of affordable housing, we unfortunately have not seen as much work on addressing needed tenant protection issues.
While continuing to support bills to expand the supply of housing, we will continue to work with our partners in the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition to educate legislators on the urgent need for action on addressing protections for the housing insecure and those in substandard housing in our community.
Key bills in this space are House Bill 1005, House Bill 1157, Senate Bill 202 and Senate Bill 339.
Collaborating: Mental Health
There is a lot to celebrate with respect to our priorities on mental health. Working closely with partners in the Indiana Behavioral Health Transformation Coalition and with two key bill authors, Rep. Greg Steuerwald and Sen. Michael Crider, we have picked up some early wins with two key mental health bills: Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1006. While there is still work to do to find a sustainable and permanent funding solution to support the work in Senate Bill 1, there is much reason for optimism, as these bills will substantially reshape our state’s mental health system and create additional opportunities for Hoosiers in need of mental health supports.
Supporting: Postsecondary and Employment Pathways
Both the House and the Senate have advanced versions of a bill to support the automatic enrollment of all eligible students into the 21st Century Scholars program from their respective education committees, but only the House version (House Bill 1449) moved through to the other chamber. We will continue to advocate for this effort in the second half of the session.
Standing Positions: TANF, SNAP and K-12
We continue to work with partners on an update to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, TANF, for the first time since 1988. Senate Bill 265 moved out of the Senate, and we will work with House members to ensure that the bill receives a hearing and, ultimately, approval.
We also lent our support to Senate Bill 334, a bill to simplify the application and recertification process for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the elderly and those with disabilities and their families.
To continue the good work being done in collaboration with The Mind Trust as part of Indy Summer Learning Labs, we also lent our support to Senate Bill 100, which includes language authorizing the learning loss recovery grant fund (which provides some of the financial support for Indy Summer Learning Labs) to continue making awards through 2024.
We also continue to monitor the science of reading bills currently moving through both chambers, as they could potentially impact our ReadUP work. These bills are House Bill 1558 and Senate Bill 402.
For a complete list of bills United Way is following, please click here.
As we get ready for the second half of session, it is easy to think of a famous sports movie with an inspirational speech from a coach or a player and get really fired up, ready to take on all the obstacles that remain in front of us.
As someone who has played on teams his whole life, I want to say this to you, my teammates: The progress we have made to this point has been possible because you are willing to use your voices in ways that support our friends and neighbors. I am grateful every day for the chance to be on your team. Now: Let’s finish strong and get more wins for Hoosiers.