First Indiana Senate meeting of 2025 is a tribute to outgoing Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch
By Anna Cecil and Chloe White, TheStatehouseFile.com, January 9, 2025
Indiana’s 124th legislative session began with a heartwarming tribute to 52nd Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. Senators passed a special resolution honoring her eight years of service as president of the Senate.
Twenty-five senators of both parties testified to Crouch’s dedication to improving mental health and developmental disabilities services, civic education, and personal relationships across the aisle.
“I just want to thank her for her many years of friendship and for her work on mental health as something that Indiana has lagged behind for many, many years,” said Senator Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville.
Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, commended Crouch for exemplifying strong, female leadership in government.
“Lt. Gov. Crouch has inspired countless leaders, women, to make their voices heard. You’ve inspired us to break down barriers and to have the courage to have critical conversations,” Yoder said.
Crouch’s feminine inspiration was echoed in remarks by Sen. La Keisha Jackson, D-Indianapolis.
“She symbolizes true girl power,” she said.
Alongside inspiring women, Crouch also made strides for mental-health care during her years in office. In 2021, Crouch founded the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable, which works to lower the stigma against mental health and improve access, affordability and the quality of Indiana’s mental-health services.
“I think if you really asked her, in a quiet moment, she would say her grandest accomplishment, her most meaningful work has been the work for mental health and trying to advance the interests of intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Senate President Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, author of the special resolution honoring Crouch.
While her colleagues spoke of her political accomplishments, they did not hesitate to mention the impact Crouch had on them as a friend.
Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, shared memories of Crouch as his personal mentor. He said she helped him gain confidence as a legislator.
“When I got here, I was pretty much in a shell. I had a hard time getting up and talking, really saying anything, even in small groups … I now get to stand before you and say, ‘Life is good.’” Charbonneau said while raising his arms in the air.
During past sessions, Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, and Crouch have lived across the street from each other. Mishler shared that he and Crouch would often meet for dinner at a Mexican restaurant on the street where they lived.
“We’d talk about everything but this,” he said. “We talked about our families and other things that are very important, and I think we both needed that. You really get to know somebody at a time like that.”
Senate Republicans’ legislative agenda
Earlier in the day, Indiana Senate Republicans detailed a caucus agenda aimed at property tax reform, containing Medicaid costs, lowering health care costs, responsible management of water resources and fiscal integrity and contract accountability, according to a press release.
“In addition to a responsibly balanced state budget, our agenda is focused on lowering property taxes and good-government measures,” said Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville.
“Though Indiana has one of the lowest property tax burdens in the country, we know Hoosiers are feeling the sting of rising property tax bills. We stand ready to collaborate with Gov.-elect Braun and our counterparts in the House to pass meaningful property tax reform. In addition, we will be pursuing several good-government measures to ensure Hoosier taxpayer dollars are being invested responsibly and with transparency and are again this year pursuing policies to lower health care costs.”
Anna Cecil and Chloe White are reporters for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
