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. 

‘We will have a good year’: Indiana House begins session with words of cooperation

By DeMarion Newell, TheStatehouseFile,  January 9, 2025

On Wednesday, the first day of Indiana’s 2025 legislative session, the Indiana House of Representatives held its first meeting to present lawmakers’ priorities for this term.

During the meeting, Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, introduced the Democrats’ Working Hoosiers Agenda, which he referred to as “focusing on the basics of what our government can and should be doing for folks who work hard every day to get ahead. It’s about leaving Washington extremism to the cable TV pros and focusing on what everyday, working Hoosiers really need.”

He said Democrats will try to address the rising cost of living as well as health care and utility bills. They will attempt to crack down on junk fees and scams.

“They [Democrats] believe housing costs too much, whether you’re talking about rising property taxes or how difficult it is to become a first-time homeowner,” GiaQuinta said.

A United Way of Central Indiana study disclosed that 38% of Hoosier working families struggle to afford basic necessities.

GiaQuinta also said child-care costs are stopping people from going to work or buying a home.

In a state budget year, education funding is also a priority for the House Democrats.

“Our public schools are the lifeblood of our communities, and we need to treat them as such with responsible investment,” GiaQuinta said. “We can take pressure off property taxes and increase state funding to public schools.”

As GiaQuinta wrapped up his speech, he left the assembly with a quote from late-President Jimmy Carter when he received his Nobel Peace Prize: “We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.”

Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, spoke after GiaQuinta’s speech, saying even though Democrats and Republicans have things they’ll disagree on, he believes there are a lot of things they can work on together.

“Health care is an issue that we have the same focus, housing we have the same focus. I think we will have a good year,” Lehman said. “One thing I tell people over and over about this place is that we are not Washington D.C., we don’t have the animosity that you just see evidenced throughout that.”

Lehman finished by quoting GiaQuinta’s words: “Let’s go to work.”

After the session, Speaker of the House Todd Huston, R-Fishers, answered questions on bills pertaining to charter schools, taxes, Medicaid, the death penalty and medical cannabis. The House will reconvene on Tuesday to discuss these bills in more detail.

DeMarion Newell is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. Grace Wilson and Jasmine Walker contributed to this report.