Statehouse Scoop: Our session wins

At the end of the 2023 legislative session, I want to take a moment to thank our advocates and advocacy partners for lifting their voices in support of our policy goals. While we were able to achieve some great wins for our friends and neighbors across Central Indiana, none of it would have been possible without your efforts.

Babe Ruth once said, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” While we faced challenges, we were able to get some wins because you refused to give up. Thank you.

Here’s what we were able to accomplish together this legislative session: 

Lead: Early Childhood Education 

Through our leadership of the Early Education Works Coalition, we were able to secure some of the largest and most meaningful updates to Indiana’s early care and learning system since the General Assembly approved On My Way Pre-K. House Enrolled Act 1591 ends the designation of On My Way as a pilot program, creating a welcome bit of certainty for its future. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure an end to the local match requirement in this act, despite it being part of the language since the first half of session. We are committed to taking up this issue next year. In the meantime, Indiana can continue to use federal COVID-19 relief dollars to cover these costs (as has been the case recently). 

In addition, House Enrolled Act 1001 (the biennial budget bill) saw important updates to the income eligibility threshold for On My Way Pre-K. While the threshold has been at 127% of the Federal Poverty Level since the program’s inception, we will now see an increase to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level beginning in the next fiscal year.

Finally, the General Assembly created a new tax credit program to incentivize small and mid-sized employers to stand up or expand child care programs for their employees. 

Collaborate: Housing 

As part of the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition, we were able to advocate for some efforts that should help expand the current stock of affordable housing. House Enrolled Act 1005 creates a revolving loan fund that small and rural communities can access to increase their housing supply, a particular challenge in many places in our state. House Enrolled Act 1157 updates our state’s housing tax increment financing laws to provide Marion County with access to many of the tools other communities have enjoyed as they search for ways to expand access to affordable housing.  

Unfortunately, we were unable to make meaningful change in the spaces of tenant protections or the protection of our state’s existing stock of affordable housing through the enforcement of habitability standards. These will be priorities for us and our advocacy partners going forward. 

Collaborate: Mental Health 

In partnership with the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers, NAMI Indiana, Mental Health America of Indiana and other members of the Indiana Behavioral Health Transformation Coalition, we are proud to report some important victories on the mental health front. Senate Enrolled Act 1 and House Enrolled Act 1006 represent needed updates to Indiana’s mental health system: providing access to greater resources for support for those facing acute and chronic mental health issues and providing direct diversion from the justice system and into treatment. In addition, these programs were funded through appropriations in the biennial budget bill, though at levels lower than advocates hoped for.  

Support: Physical Health 

With all the attention brought to public health because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly responded to recommendations from the governor’s Public Health Commission with Senate Enrolled Act 4, a bill which should expand access to funding for local public health departments. This act was paired with an appropriation in the biennial budget. 

In addition, the General Assembly approved several bills aimed at improving access to contraceptives, doulas and other programs to decrease maternal and infant mortality. These include Senate Enrolled Act 252, House Enrolled Act 1091 and House Enrolled Act 1568.

Support: Postsecondary and Employment Pathways 

Thanks to the leadership of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the long-standing work of Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (House District 2), we were able to help secure the passage of House Enrolled Act 1449, a bill that allows for the automatic enrollment of eligible students into the 21st Century Scholars program. Historically, the program had only enrolled about half of all eligible students, so this simple policy update will increase access and affordability for a college education for thousands of Hoosier students and their families. 

Standing Positions and Other Efforts 

Working in collaboration with partners in the Indiana Human Services Coalition and the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, we were able to secure the first benefit updates to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,TANF, program since 1988. Senate Enrolled Act 265 increases both the income eligibility and cash benefit amounts for families who receive TANF, and it includes pregnant women as those who can potentially be eligible to receive this benefit. 

In addition, the General Assembly approved Senate Enrolled Act 334, which simplifies the application process for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for seniors, those with disabilities and anyone who lives in their households.  

Finally, we were able to help secure the continuation of the state’s Learning Loss Recovery Grant program, which helps fund our Indy Summer Learning Labs work with The Mind Trust. Language in Senate Enrolled Act 100 authorizes additional awards be made in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, and an appropriation for the program was made in the biennial budget bill. This will allow the program to continue to serve thousands of children in Central Indiana. 

The Road Ahead 

While we were able to secure some important victories for Hoosiers, there is still more work to do. We’re already thinking about how we can continue to expand access to and affordability in our early learning system and how we can create more protections for tenants in future discussions about safe and affordable housing. As we continue to implement our new strategic plan, there will surely be new opportunities to engage with interested partners on issues of economic mobility and consider how we can support the basic needs of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors.  

As we close the book on this session and start thinking about 2024, I’ll leave you with this thought from Henry Ford: “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”  

Let’s keep moving forward, together.