Rep. Hamilton's Legislative Recap

Dear neighbor,

Last month, the 2024 legislative session adjourned for the year. Here is a look at some of biggest wins and losses for our community:

WINS

Protecting Public Transit

For the third time in 2 years, the IndyGo's Blue Line was on the chopping block at the Indiana Statehouse. Senate Bill 52 attempted to ban dedicated bus lanes in the city of Indianapolis, which would have effectively killed IndyGo’s Blue Line project by disqualifying the project from receiving $150 million in federal funds. IndyGo is a vital economic development tool, the rapid transit project has already netted close to $399 million along the 22-mile corridor from Cumberland to the Indianapolis International Airport. We are grateful, through collaboration, we were able to defeat this bill and come to an agreement that preserves critical investments in transit infrastructure in our capital city.

13th Check

I was a proud co-author of HEA 1004 to reinstate the 13th check for our public retirees. Nearly 100,000 public retirees will benefit from a 13th check under this legislation, including state police officers, conservation officers, teachers and other former state employees. Beneficiaries can expect to receive their 13th check by October 1, 2024, with the average benefit ranging between $150 to $450. For decades, our public retirees counted on a 13th check or cost-of-living adjustment in addition to their pension. Unfortunately, the Republican supermajority removed these vital benefits in the 2021 budget session. We are pleased to see the General Assembly took action for our retirees on fixed incomes to unanimously pass this priority legislation.

Veterans

House Democrats passed a bill to establish the “Green Alert” program for missing, at-risk veterans and service members in Indiana. Similar to a Silver Alert or an Amber Alert, the “Green Alert” notifies law enforcement and the public that a missing person is an at-risk veteran. When veterans go missing, they are more likely to harm themselves or be armed, especially if an individual is struggling with a traumatic brain injury or PTSD. This bill allows law enforcement to go into the situation with full information so they have the greatest chance at saving their life.

There is no group that we as Americans are more indebted to than those who risk their lives for our freedom and democracy. Our veterans fought to protect us, and they deserve a state government who will fight to protect them. HEA 1021 becoming law will save lives, and I am proud to have supported it.

---

LOSSES

Family Caregivers of Children with Disabilities

Last December, it was revealed that our state budget had underestimated the cost of Medicaid by almost $1 billion. The Family and Social Services Administration proposed a number of changes to mitigate spending – including cuts to payments for families of children with severe disabilities on the Aged & Disabled Waiver. House Democrats proposed a number of legislative solutions throughout session, however Republicans did not include our proposals in final legislation, leaving families high and dry. We will continue to bring light to the issue and work to create solutions for Hoosiers.

Public Universities

In an attack on our world class universities, Senate Enrolled Act 202 politicizes the tenure process and subjects professors to an "anti-woke test" every 5 years. This bill risks our state's economy by threatening our ability to attract and retain the world's best and brightest faculty and students. The bill's broad provision to review professors eligible for tenure on whether they are "unlikely to foster a culture of free inquiry, free expression and intellectual diversity" tows the line on creating "thought police" and seeks to stifle free speech. It’s shameful that the Republican supermajority continues to push through culture war legislation, despite overwhelming opposition from universities, professors, students and Hoosiers.

Democracy

I supported two important measures to make our electoral process more fair and accessible, both of which were rejected. First, I advocated for an amendment to create a two year task force to create a pathway to adopting non-partisan redistricting. Hoosiers should pick their elected officials, not the other way around. This amendment sought to begin studying a process to take the power to draw electoral maps out of the hands of those who benefit from gerrymandering. Allowing a nonpartisan process to draw maps would protect the American promise that every vote matters.

Additionally, I proposed an amendment to extend polling hours on election days. According to the 2023 Indiana Civic Health Index, Indiana ranked 50th in the nation – dead last – for voter turnout in 2022, a mid-term election year. It is no coincidence that we have such low turnout when Indiana is one of only two states in the nation that close polling locations at the early hour of 6 p.m. A 6 p.m. closing time stands as a major barrier for working Hoosiers to participate in elections– including working parents, people working multiple jobs, health care workers, public safety officers and any blue-collar shift workers. By extending polling hours by just 2 hours to 8 p.m., we are ensuring that our hard-working Hoosiers are not excluded from the electoral process. We should be making every effort to increase our voter turnout to strengthen our democracy, not upholding antiquated policies that restrict participation.

---

Prospective and current college students: Don’t forget to fill out your FAFSA by April 15

Whatever path you choose after high school – certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree – filing out the 2024-2025 FAFSA is the best way to help you pay for it.

The FAFSA opens doors to Indiana’s $400+ million in financial aid, and billions of dollars in federal aid. If you’re a current college student, don’t forget to file every year by April 15! Even if you’re not sure if you will enroll in college, you should still file the FAFSA to make sure you're covered for next year.

Visit FAFSA.gov to get started.

Help is available:

• The Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s Outreach Coordinators are available to assist students and families in the filing process. To send a direct message to your region’s Outreach Coordinator, visit www.learnmoreindiana.org/contact.

• Hoosier families can also access free FAFSA help through INvestEd by email (outreach@investedindiana.org) or phone at 317-715-9007. ¿Necesitas ayuda en español? Llame 317-715-9007.

• The U.S. Department of Education provides email and live chat assistance for FAFSA filers as well as a helpline at 1-800-4-FED-AID.