Progressive Indiana Network Special Events

On this episode, we dive into three very different stories from the COVID‑19 pandemic — stories of loss, disruption, resilience, and the strange twists life took when the world shut down.

You’ll hear from:

Brianna — widowed at 31 when her 37‑year‑old husband lost his battle with COVID‑19, and how that loss reshaped everything she thought she knew about her life, her politics, and her future.

Tabitha — whose childbearing journey was thrown completely off course by the pandemic, including being forced to deliver abroad when she couldn’t return to the United States.

Derrick — who found himself racking up more frequent‑flier miles than he ever expected thanks to his unusual pandemic‑era jobs, complete with surprise upgrades and first‑class perks.

Three lives. Three upheavals. One shared moment in history that changed us all in ways we’re still trying to understand.

SUMMARY:

Host Scott Aaron Rogers sits down with MADVoters Director of Advocacy Kaitie Rector for a comprehensive midpoint review of the 2026 Indiana General Assembly session. With crossover approaching and only one month remaining in the abbreviated session, they discuss the MADVoters bill tracker tool and analyze key legislation moving through both chambers. The conversation covers housing affordability efforts (HB 1001), electric utility rate reform (HB 1002), concerning bills like National Guard police powers (HB 1343), mandatory ICE cooperation (SB 76), library board restrictions (SB 8), controversial housing legislation (SB 277), and bills targeting transgender rights (SB 182), abortion access (SB 236), homelessness (SB 285), and public education (HB 1086 - Ten Commandments). Throughout the discussion, Rector emphasizes the importance of constituent action, providing guidance on how to contact legislators and submit testimony during this critical final month of the session.

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

Progressive Indiana Network is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

TIMESTAMPED CHAPTER LIST:

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0:00:32 - Introduction & Session Overview

- Halftime of Indiana General Assembly session

- One month remaining in abbreviated session

- Introduction of Kaitie Rector, MADVoters Director of Advocacy

0:01:46 - MADVoters Bill Tracker Overview

- Explanation of MADVoters mission and focus

- Bill tracker tool features (spreadsheet and mobile-friendly views)

- Sorting by author, category, rating, status

- Contact information for legislators included

- Website: madvoters.org

- Social media presence across multiple platforms

0:03:36 - Legislative Process & Crossover Timing

- Explanation of where bills are in the process

- Crossover process beginning

- Impact of snow day on House schedule

- Senate bills moving to House, House bills moving to Senate

- Importance of contacting correct chamber representatives

0:05:30 - House Bill 1001: Housing Affordability

- Omnibus bill seeking to increase housing supply

- MADVoters neutral stance pending amendments

- Balancing regulations vs. safety concerns

- Local control considerations

- Bill sent to Senate for consideration

- Reminder: Contact senators for House bills now crossing over

0:07:39 - House Bill 1002: Electric Utility Rate Reform

- Addresses Indiana’s high electric utility rates

- Restructures how utilities set rates

- Includes moratorium on shut-offs during extreme heat

- Discussion of failed Democratic amendments that would have provided immediate relief:

* Prohibition on disconnections for medically frail people (respirators, ventilators, dialysis)

* Utility reimbursement requirements for outages

* IURC oversight concerns

* Andy Zay appointment as new IURC chair (former senator with utility donations)

* Rate caps and affordability provisions

- MADVoters neutral rating pending Senate amendments

0:15:48 - House Bill 1343: National Guard Police Powers

- Section 5 grants police powers to trained National Guard units

- Units under governor’s control

- Concerns about militarized policing

- Connection to Minneapolis and federal immigration enforcement tactics

- Anti-ICE protest in Bloomington featured “Stop HB 1343” signs

- Lawmakers cited decade-old Boston Marathon bombing as justification

- Timing concerns given current political climate

- Bill has crossed to Senate

0:20:39 - Senate Bill 76: Mandatory ICE Cooperation

- Mandates Indiana law enforcement cooperation with ICE

- Similar to “sanctuary city ban” bills

- Concerns about impact on immigrant communities

- Connection to surveillance infrastructure (Flock cameras, license plate readers)

- Local law enforcement discretion removed

- Contact Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee

- Chairman: Ron Alting

0:27:07 - Senate Bill 8: Library Board Restrictions

- Reduces library board seats from 7 to 5

- Current requirement: boards must have “not less than 2%” bachelor’s degrees

- Bill reduces to “just 2%” with degrees

- Allows more political appointments with fewer qualifications

- Part of ongoing attacks on libraries and intellectual freedom

- Concerns about book banning and censorship

- Examples of controversial board appointments in other states

- Broader pattern of anti-education legislation

0:37:24 - Senate Bill 277: Controversial Housing Legislation

- Passed Senate despite significant opposition

- 200+ pages of complex housing policy

- Prioritizes profit over people in housing development

- Reduces local control and community input

- Environmental and safety regulation concerns

- Preempts local affordable housing requirements

- Dense, complicated bill requiring careful analysis

- Now in House for consideration

0:43:00 - Senate Bill 182: Anti-Trans Legislation

- Removes legal recognition for trans, intersex, and non-binary Hoosiers

- Prohibits birth certificate changes

- Bathroom restrictions based on biological sex

- Correctional facility housing based on biological sex (regardless of transition status)

- Creates danger for trans individuals

- Contradicts research showing trans people are more likely to be victims than aggressors

- Mental health crisis concerns (depression, suicide rates)

- Based on hate and disinformation

- Call to action for representatives

- Not yet scheduled but could move quickly

0:47:33 - Senate Bill 236: Abortion Pill Ban

- Continues anti-abortion agenda

- Bans abortion pills

- Targets medication abortion access

- Part of broader reproductive rights restrictions

- Crosses to House for consideration

0:52:48 - Senate Bill 285: Criminalizing Homelessness ⚠️ THUMBS DOWN

- Essentially criminalizes being unhoused

- Punishes vulnerable populations

- No accompanying resources or solutions

- Passed Senate, now in House

- Advocates for housing and services instead of criminalization

0:56:04 - House Bill 1086: Ten Commandments in Schools ⚠️ THUMBS DOWN

- Originally required Ten Commandments posted in every classroom

- Amended after pushback

- Now allows (but doesn’t require) posting

- Still concerning for separation of church and state

- Other religious/historical documents may also be posted

- Multiple versions/interpretations of Ten Commandments exist

- Taxpayer funding concerns

- Crosses to Senate

0:59:21 - Call to Action & Closing Remarks

- Encouragement to contact legislators during crossover

- Bills deserve attention and constituent feedback

- Leave voicemails, send emails over the weekend

- Individual actions collectively make huge difference

- Advocate for better policies, against bad ones, or for amendments

- Democracy requires participation while we still can

- Don’t be afraid to engage (scripts available through MADVoters)

- Gets easier with practice

- Submit testimony through MADVoters website

- Thanks and reminder to tune in next week

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

Progressive Indiana Network is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

SUMMARY:

Community organizers and activists gathered at Bloomington City Hall to protest ICE violence following the Minneapolis shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Goode, while also demanding the city end its contract with Flock Safety surveillance cameras. Speakers from various organizations including Bloomington DSA, Exodus Refugee, Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), and local healthcare workers condemned ICE’s history of brutality, detailed how Flock cameras enable ICE operations through license plate tracking and data sharing with law enforcement, and called for community solidarity networks. The protest emphasized the connection between surveillance infrastructure and immigration enforcement, with speakers urging attendees to organize in workplaces and neighborhoods, support impacted families, and pressure city officials to reject both ICE cooperation and the Flock camera contract.

PIN is 100% subscriber-supported independent media. Please consider a paid subscription to help bring more coverage of events like this.

TIMESTAMPED SPEAKER/TOPIC BREAKDOWN:

------------------------------------

0:00:00 - Opening Speaker (Eli, Bloomington DSA) - ICE History & Minneapolis Shootings

- Condemns ICE since its 2003 establishment

- Details shootings of Alex Pretti (nurse) and Renee Goode (poet/single mother)

- Describes ICE occupation tactics in Minneapolis, Chicago, and LA

- Calls for community organizing and solidarity networks

- References Minneapolis general strike

- Discusses Flock Safety surveillance cameras

0:04:19 - Flock Camera Technology Explanation

- Details how license plate readers work

- Explains “vehicle fingerprinting” technology beyond license plates

- Describes marketing claims and data sharing with law enforcement

- Notes local Flock camera locations (parking garage, Pete’s Greens, Kroger)

- Connects surveillance infrastructure to ICE operations

0:05:49 - Erin Aquino (Director, Exodus Refugee Bloomington)

- Introduces Exodus as refugee resettlement agency

- Explains refugee vs. immigrant status

- Details threats to refugee community from surveillance

- Describes how Flock data could enable ICE tracking

- Calls for ending Flock contract to protect vulnerable populations

- Emphasizes refugees came fleeing persecution, not for economic opportunity

0:11:36 - Transition/Chants

- “ICE out everywhere” call and response

- “No Flock here” chants

- Community organizing calls

0:13:32 - Aaron Litherland (Healthcare Worker, 25+ years experience)

- Speaks as healthcare professional bound by “do no harm” pledge

- Not representing political party affiliation

- Details ICE detention deaths and medical neglect

- Discusses family separations including nursing mothers from infants

- Mentions 5-year-old separated from family

- Calls out preventable deaths and cover-ups in ICE custody

- Criticizes lack of medical care for detained children and adults

0:17:36 - National Guard & Federal Overreach Discussion

- Criticizes potential National Guard deployment to cities

- Notes National Guard trained for military operations, not community policing

- Condemns consolidation of authoritarian power

- Details federal immigration enforcement abuses

- Calls out homicide cover-ups labeled as suicides

0:22:31 - New Speaker (Unidentified) - Solidarity Message

- Thanks gathering for solidarity against ICE

- Discusses US government brutality against immigrant and BIPOC communities

- Condemns mayor and city council for Flock contract approval

- Criticizes lack of transparency in surveillance implementation

- Notes contract approved without public input or notification

0:23:01 - Continuation - Community Safety vs. Surveillance

- Challenges notion that cameras provide safety

- Argues surveillance is about control, not protection

- Details how Flock enables boss/employer tracking of workers

- Connects to ICE raids on food trucks and workplaces

- Frames anti-Flock organizing as labor struggle for worker control

0:29:11 - Worker Organizing & Flock Resistance

- Discusses Organized Graduate Workers (OGW) perspective

- Frames fight against Flock as fight against bosses

- Connects surveillance to wage suppression and worker control

- Emphasizes cameras track workers for employers and ICE

0:33:59 - IU Career Services Criticism

- Condemns Indiana University for posting ICE jobs on career website

- Calls IU “complicit with their mouths and actions”

- Urges contacting President Pam Whitten

- Demands removal of ICE job postings from university platforms

0:38:36 - Community Organizing Strategies

- Discusses rapid response networks

- Emphasizes workplace organizing and union formation

- Calls for neighborhood solidarity building

- Encourages ongoing activism beyond protests

0:44:53 - Diego (YDSA - Young Democratic Socialists of America)

- Introduces YDSA as youth section of DSA

- Notes student activism history (Vietnam, Civil Rights, Palestine)

- Urges students not to limit activism to protests or social media

- Invites students to join ongoing organizing work

- Emphasizes sustained commitment to organizing

0:46:46 - Closing Remarks & Whistles Distribution

- Instructions about keeping whistles for future use

- Discussion of whistle networks for rapid response

- Community safety tool distribution

0:47:24 - Final Speaker - Bryce Green, Bloomington DSA

- Promotes givebutter.com/bloom4justice donation link

- Describes Bloom for Justice supporting affected families

- Emphasizes community front against state violence

- Repeats donation information multiple times for retention

- Final thanks and call to action

0:59:17 - Event Conclusion

- Final acknowledgments

- Protest ends

KEY ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED:

- Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America

- Exodus Refugee Bloomington

- Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA)

- Bloom for Justice (mutual aid/family support)

- Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition

- Flock Safety (surveillance company opposed)

KEY DEMANDS:

1. End Bloomington’s contract with Flock Safety cameras

2. No cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE

3. Remove ICE job postings from IU career services

4. Build community rapid response networks

5. Support families impacted by ICE through Bloom for Justice

PIN is 100% subscriber-supported independent media. Please consider a paid subscription to help bring more coverage of events like this.

In this episode of Indiana Statehouse Week in Review, MADVoters’ Director of Advocacy Kaitie Rector walks us through the major bills that moved or surfaced this week at the Indiana General Assembly, with a focus on affordability, democratic governance, public health, civil rights, and the steady expansion of state power at the expense of local control. From housing and utility costs to Medicaid, immigration enforcement, environmental deregulation, education governance, and abortion access, we break down what each proposal does, who it affects, and why advocates should be paying attention now.

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

Progressive Indiana Network is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

0:00 Intro / How we’re approaching the weekWe set expectations for the episode, explain how to follow bills, and talk about using the IGA and MADVoters tools to track what’s moving and what’s already dead.

5:00 HB 1001 – Housing affordabilityWe discuss this as an “affordability” priority bill focused on housing, raising concerns about how proposals framed as increasing supply or efficiency can undermine local control and tenant protections.

5:05 HB 1002 – Utility affordabilityDiscussed alongside HB 1001 as part of the affordability agenda, this bill focuses on electric utilities and rate impacts, with skepticism about whether it meaningfully lowers costs for everyday Hoosiers.

9:45 SB 1 – Human services eligibility and administrationWe talk at length about Medicaid and SNAP changes, emphasizing how tightening eligibility and adding administrative hurdles causes eligible people to lose benefits through paperwork failures, not fraud.

13:15 SB 12 – Ban on ranked-choice votingWe frame this as a preemptive, anti-democratic move to outlaw a reform Indiana isn’t even using, purely to block future local experimentation.

16:10 SB 76 – Immigration enforcementWe discuss how this bill strengthens immigration enforcement and forces the state to defend those actions, highlighting both the political signaling and real human consequences.

24:15 HB 1423 – Indianapolis Public Schools governanceThis is a major segment: we explain how the bill strips power from the elected IPS board and shifts authority to an appointed structure, effectively setting up a state takeover aligned with charter interests.

28:45 SB 277 – Environmental deregulation (IDEM)We describe how this bill weakens environmental protections by changing statutory requirements and limiting enforcement, increasing risks to communities and neighbors.

32:05 SB 267 – Influence campaign / protest reportingFramed as “transparency,” we explain how this bill targets protest activity and political expression, creating chilling effects on organizing and dissent.

35:30 SB 200 – Political access in schools (no slide)This bill comes up organically without a slide; we discuss how it limits school discretion by requiring access for outside political or advocacy groups.

38:10 HB 1065 – Ban on gratuities for public officialsWe note this as a rare piece of genuinely positive legislation aimed at reducing corruption and unethical gift-giving.

39:50 HB 1066 – Government vehicle purchase limitsDiscussed as a common-sense accountability measure to prevent misuse of public funds for luxury vehicles.

41:40 SB 85 – Medical debt protectionsFlagged explicitly as good news, this bill strengthens protections for patients facing medical debt and aggressive collection practices.

43:30 SB 91 – Syringe exchange extensionWe emphasize the public-health stakes, explaining how syringe exchange programs save lives and what Indiana risks if the program expires.

46:05 SB 182 – Legal sex definitionsDiscussed as a dangerous, ideologically driven bill that erases trans and nonbinary Hoosiers from statute and invites further discrimination.

49:20 SB 236 – Abortion pills and reporting requirementsWe spend extended time on how this bill escalates abortion criminalization, chills medical care, and creates spillover harms for miscarriage and pregnancy treatment.

53:20 SB 285 – Criminalization of homelessnessWe describe how the bill punishes unhoused people while preempting local governments from pursuing humane, evidence-based solutions.

56:40 HB 1086 – Ten Commandments in classroomsWe close the bill discussion by calling this an unconstitutional culture-war bill mandating religious displays in public schools.

59:10 Wrap-up and calls to actionFinal thoughts on advocacy priorities, tracking bills, and where listeners can still intervene.

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

Progressive Indiana Network is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

With a heavy snowstorm pummeling the state, the town hall — originally scheduled to take place at Bloomington’s Unitarian Universalist Church — went virtual. Progressive Indiana Network was proud to help broadcast it to a wider audience. Natalia Nelson at the Indiana Daily Student had the following write-up of the event:

Snow plow maintenance, sheriff’s office vehicle replacements, food pantry support and raises for local government employees.

These were just some of the areas local officials warned could take a hit under Senate Enrolled Act 1 at a virtual town hall Saturday.

The event, “It Takes a Village,” was sponsored by groups including Reverse Citizens United of Monroe County, Indiana Rural Summit, Monroe County Democrats’ Club and Organizing Indiana. Over 100 people attended via Zoom.

The town hall revolved around the continued impacts of SEA 1, a property tax relief law signed by the governor last year. It gives tax credits to homesteads, reducing their property tax bill by 10%, and increases exemptions for personal property taxes for businesses. It also slashes how much local income tax governments can collect by lowering the maximum rate from 3.75% to 2.9%.

Speakers expressed concerns about the bill’s impacts on public services, infrastructure and tax rates. The bill’s author, Republican Sen. Travis Holdman, said it was important to provide a fair balance between local government’s needs and those of homeowners and to promote transparency.

State Rep. Matt Pierce, a Democrat representing Bloomington, said at the town hall the wealthiest Hoosiers are benefiting the most from the law, whereas those whose homes have low assessed value get little property tax relief and will likely end up paying a larger chunk of income in income tax.

“The tax and fiscal policy, the state is not working to move our state forward, and it’s not investing in individual people,” Pierce said. “It’s creating wider income gaps.”

Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson also spoke on the bill, saying she anticipated residents would end up paying more taxes than before SEA 1 was passed once the city implements local income taxes to recover some of the lost property tax revenue.

She said the city was seeing a $1.4 million loss in the 2026 budget, which it anticipates will grow to $30 million in lost revenue in two and a half years. She said the city would continue to focus on meeting the basic needs of its residents and stretching existing funds to make them last longer, but it would increasingly struggle to fill social service gaps.

Bloomington City Councilmember Hopi Stosberg said it was hard to say what she would suggest cutting from the budget. If the city raises income taxes to recover revenue from property taxes, she said, that’s just shifting the tax burden in ways that are “really uncomfortable.”

Her spending priorities included keeping streets safe and clean, clean water, emergency services, trash pickup, fair salaries for city employees and operational transportation corridors.

County officials shared those sentiments. Monroe County Councilmember David Henry said SEA 1 puts the county council in a horrible situation to choose which of the community’s essential services get prioritized. The Board of Commissioners have had to pull back from funding projects like rural internet productivity, Commissioner Jody Madeira said.

“We’ve had to pivot in just sometimes fighting for basic services,” she said.

Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté said the sheriff’s office has always been conservative with taxpayer dollars, trying to save costs in jail kitchens and on patrol vehicles. But as a result of SEA 1, he said, the office may need to delay vehicle replacements and technical upgrades.

“The areas most at risk are not extra,” Marté said. “They are staff, training, equipment and core public safety services.”

He said in order to adapt, the sheriff’s office will prioritize public safety, emergency response, jail security and policing. Discretionary spending, he said, will be reviewed by the office before funding shortages compromise frontline services.

Township trustees worried their services could also take a hit. Benton Township Trustee Michelle Bright said that if townships receive less or no funds from local income taxes due to SEA 1, the budget might have to be cut by one-third. The township would have to start reducing non-essential services, such as cemetery mowing, she said.

Efrat Rosser, Bloomington Township Trustee, said she estimated an immediate revenue loss from SEA 1 of about 5% of the township’s budget, or $15,000. She said due to the loss, the township wouldn’t be able to add part-time support for a food pantry or expand a service that helps people depending on fixed income like social security manage finances and pay for housing.

William Ellis, a Republican and an Ellettsville town councilmember, said the town was unable to give raises to its employees due to a budget shortfall, and in the future Ellettsville may shift to a “longevity system of rewarding people” rather than standard increases each year.

“When it comes to SB1, I’ve said it’s the worst of both worlds,” Ellis said. “I don’t think very many residents are going to see tax savings from this, but what they have seen is unable to increase any services of parks and anything.”

In closing, host Steve Brewer said he hoped the town hall would inspire a greater awareness of the challenges faced by local governments and organizations and encouraged viewers to vote.

“It’s up to us to support candidates who will listen to local voices,” he said. “It is the decisions of state and federal officials that frustrate our best efforts to solve the problems that beg for attention.”

Chapter Markers

----------------------

0:00:00 - Introduction & Opening Remarks

0:03:51 - Rep. Matt Pierce - State Tax Policy & Impact on Local Government

0:09:58 - Mayor Kerry Thomson - Bloomington City Budget Response & Revenue Challenges

0:15:38 - Bloomington City Councilmember Hopi Stosberg - City Council Priorities & Spending Philosophy

0:21:18 - Ellettsville Town Councilmember William Ellis - City Revenue & Property Tax Discussion

0:26:31 - Monroe County Councilmember David Henry - County Budget Challenges

0:31:02 - Sheriff Ruben Marte - Law Enforcement & Corrections Budget

0:35:30 - Monroe County Commissioner Jody Madeira - County Budget & State Mandate Impacts

0:39:29 - Township Trustee Michelle Bright - Rural Township Services & Budget

0:42:58 - Township Trustee Efrat Rosser - Urban Township Assistance Programs

0:47:58 - Megan Betz (Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard) - Food Security & SNAP Impact

0:53:59 - Rev. Forrest Gilmore (Beacon/Shalom) - Homeless Services & Housing

1:00:32 - Tracy Hutchings-Goetz (Hoosier Action) - Medicaid & Healthcare Policy

1:09:41 - Erin Aquino (Exodus Refugee) - Refugee Resettlement Services

1:16:11 - Keri Miksza (ICPE) - Public Education Funding & Vouchers

-----------

1:20:48 - Q&A Session Begins

1:20:48 - Food Security & Hunger Response

Question: “What response has there been to hunger in Monroe County because of cuts from the federal budget as well as state governments?”

Respondent(s): Megan Betz (Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard)

1:24:05 - Affordable Housing Definition

Question: “Who decides what is affordable housing? Is it a standard equation? How do we get around legislation that blocked municipalities from regulating rents?”

Respondent(s): Hopi Stosberg (City Council Member)

1:27:42 - Public Education Cuts & Vouchers

Question: “Could Matt Pierce address the impacts of cuts to public education via private school vouchers? The unfair lack of requirements for privates and charters, the no income limit on getting vouchers, the lack of accountability in terms of testing and oversight. Was most of this in SEA 1 also?”

Respondent(s): Rep. Matt Pierce

1:31:12 - ICE & Immigration Enforcement

Question: “What is the local plan for when (not if) ICE comes to town?”

Respondent(s):

- Sheriff Ruben Marte (initial response)

- Mayor Kerry Thomson

- Commissioner Jody Madeira

1:38:53 - County Jail & Long-Term Debt

Question: “Why is Monroe County proposing a $250 million prison and what will this do to Monroe County’s long-term debt?”

Respondent(s):

- Commissioner Jody Madeira

- David Henry (Monroe County Council)

1:44:05 - Sheriff’s Department & Sanctuary City Lawsuit

Question: “What was the result of the Indiana Attorney General’s lawsuit claiming that the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department was violating the anti-sanctuary city statute?”

Respondent(s): Sheriff Ruben Marte

1:46:15 - Teacher Contract Requirements (HB 1004)

Question: “Current House Bill 1004 would remove required work hours from individual teacher contracts, giving school districts unilateral authority to add duties and extend work days without additional compensation. 25% of teachers in Monroe County already work a second job. Can officials please work to reject this?”

Respondent(s):

- Rep. Matt Pierce

- Hopi Stosberg (City Council Member)

1:50:28 - Trans Community Protections

Question: “With the constant attacks by our legislature on the trans community, what can our state and county governments do to protect them, especially as it pertains to public access?”

Respondent(s):

- Megan Betz (Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard) - regarding grant reporting flexibility

- David Henry (Monroe County Council) - regarding Sophia Travis grant program

- Jody Madeira (Commissioner) - regarding employment protections

1:54:00 - Closing Remarks & Thank You

Thank you Marin, kate mosher, Amy, and many others for tuning into our live video! Join us for our next live video in the app.

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

To Submit Testimony: tinyurl.com/mv-testimony

Donate to MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

…and please consider subscribing to Progressive Indiana Network. All of our work is free, but a paid membership helps keep this vital project going.

HoosLeft’s Scott Aaron Rogers and Jessica Bunch from MAD Voters discussed the Indiana Statehouse’s recent activities. MAD Voters tracks legislation, with key bills including House Bill 1021 on firearm storage, House Bill 1073 on rape kit backlogs, and Senate Bill 79 on data center transparency. They highlighted the urgency of contacting legislators, especially during the last week of committee hearings. Bills like House Bill 1423, which reduces IPS school board power, and House Bill 1176, allowing charter schools to bypass regulations, were also discussed. The session emphasized the importance of public engagement to influence legislative outcomes.

Introduction and Overview of MAD Voters

* Scott Aaron Rogers introduces Jessica Bunch from MAD Voters and the purpose of the meeting.

* Jessica explains that MAD Voters is a local, volunteer-powered nonprofit focused on civic engagement and progressive policies.

* Jessica explains that MAD Voters is a local, volunteer-powered nonprofit focused on civic engagement and progressive policies.

* Jessica emphasizes the importance of reading every bill and amendment to understand legislative actions.

Impact of Sped-Up Legislative Session

* Jessica discusses the sped-up legislative session, attributing it to the time wasted on the failed redistricting bill in December.

* The session started in January, making the legislators a month behind schedule.

* The session is expected to end in mid-February instead of mid-March, compressing the timeline for committee hearings and floor votes.

* Jessica highlights the importance of the last week for committee hearings and the urgency of contacting legislators.

Committee Process and Public Testimony

* Jessica explains the significance of committee hearings, where real work on bills is done, and public testimony is allowed.

* Committees are crucial for adding amendments and hearing expert testimony.

* The chair of the committee has significant influence over which bills are heard and can stop a bill by never scheduling a hearing.

* MAD Voters provides tools for contacting legislators and submitting written testimony to ensure public voices are heard.

High-Priority Bills and Legislative Actions

* Jessica highlights House Bill 1021, which aims to reduce unintentional firearm deaths by promoting safe storage.

* House Bill 1073 addresses the backlog of rape kits, ensuring timely processing and justice for victims.

* Senate Bill 79 focuses on transparency around data centers, including their impact on local communities and tax abatements.

* Jessica encourages contacting committee chairs and legislators to support or oppose these bills.

Bills Moving Forward and Legislative Priorities

* House Bill 1423 aims to reduce the governing power of the IPS school board, raising concerns about public education.

* House Bill 1176 allows charter schools to be exempt from regulations and sell public school buildings to private entities.

* House Bill 1002 focuses on utility affordability, aiming to prevent utility companies from raising rates.

* House Bill 1001 addresses housing affordability by streamlining the approval process and reducing local regulatory barriers.

Opposed Bills and Legislative Threats

* Senate Bill 88 mandates conservative religious instructions in schools, including the display of the 10 Commandments.

* Senate Bill 182 targets trans, intersex, and non-binary Hoosiers by defining sex and gender based on biological characteristics.

* Senate Bill 236 criminalizes receiving or mailing abortion pills, impacting access to reproductive health care.

* Senate Bill 285 criminalizes homelessness by making camping on public grounds a crime, affecting vulnerable populations.

Call to Action and Final Remarks

* Jessica urges the public to use the MAD Voters bill tracker to find their legislators and contact them.

* MAD Voters provides a Tiny URL for submitting written testimony, ensuring public voices are heard.

* Jessica emphasizes the importance of public pressure in influencing legislative actions.

* Scott and Jessica conclude by encouraging viewers to support MAD Voters and the Progressive Indiana Network to amplify their voices.

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

To Submit Testimony: tinyurl.com/mv-testimony

Donate to MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

…and one last time — please consider subscribing to Progressive Indiana Network. All of our work is free, but a paid membership helps keep this vital project going.

Brianna sits down with Ryan Price, Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 66, for a candid conversation about community priorities, statehouse realities, and what motivates him to run. They cover housing, education, local leadership, and the challenges of moving policy in Indiana. A clear, grounded look at a candidate focused on practical change.

In this episode of The Recovered Republican, Brianna sits down with Natasha Baker, a Family & Consumer Sciences teacher, proud Hoosier mom, and candidate for Indiana State Senate District 22. Natasha brings a grounded, community-centered perspective shaped by her life in Tippecanoe County, her years in the classroom, and her commitment to building a state that actually works for families.

Together, we dig into Natasha’s vision for Indiana—from strengthening public schools to addressing the realities facing Hoosier families, and from the challenges inside the current legislature to the urgent need for better healthcare access across the state.

This conversation covers it all:

* Public education and why Indiana’s schools need real investment, not political games

* Affordability, including groceries, childcare, and housing—issues Natasha sees firsthand as a teacher and parent

* Healthcare access and the gaps Hoosiers face in both rural and urban communities

* Representation, and why Natasha believes Indiana needs more diverse voices in the Statehouse

* The lived experience of being a progressive voice in rural Indiana and finding the courage to speak up

Natasha’s story is one of service, advocacy, and deep love for her community. Whether you’re in District 22 or simply paying attention to the future of Indiana, this episode gives you a clear, candid look at a candidate who understands the stakes—and is ready to fight for real change.

If you want to learn more about Natasha Baker, her platform, and her campaign, this episode is your one-stop introduction to everything you need to know.

This episode launches a weekly collaboration between Progressive Indiana Network and MAD Voters to track and explain Indiana Statehouse activity during the 2026 legislative session. The inaugural discussion focuses on education policy, identifying two dominant legislative trends:

* Christian nationalist efforts to inject religion into public education, and

* Continued privatization and defunding of public schools through vouchers and charter expansion.

Host Scott Aaron Rogers and MAD Voters’ Devon Wellington walk through how bills move through the Indiana General Assembly, then analyze several House and Senate bills. The conversation frames these proposals as ideologically driven, constitutionally dubious, poorly grounded in research, and frequently disconnected from actual educational outcomes. The episode closes by emphasizing civic engagement, legislative accountability, and the role of MAD Voters’ bill tracker as a tool for public action.

Breakdown of the Included Discussion

1. Purpose of the Series & Guest Introduction

* Announcement of a weekly legislative recap show during session, focused on explaining bills before they pass rather than reacting after the fact.

* Devin Wellington introduced as an education policy expert with MAD Voters.

* MAD Voters described as nonpartisan but not neutral, focused on grassroots civic engagement and legislative transparency

2. How a Bill Becomes Law in Indiana

* Overview of the four main stages:

* Committee assignment and hearings (many bills die here).

* Second and third readings in the originating chamber, with amendments and votes.

* Crossover to the opposite chamber for the same process.

* Conference committee and governor’s signature, if needed.

* Emphasis on the power of committee chairs to quietly kill bills by denying hearings.

* Context of the short session, compressed timelines, and lost time due to redistricting

3. Major Themes in Education Legislation

* Culture war legislation as distraction from unpopular economic and education policies.

* Privatization of public education, including vouchers, charter schools, and religious institutions receiving public funds.

* Legislating education by lawmakers with little to no education background.

* Federal context: dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and shifting responsibility to states without guaranteed funding

4. Christian Nationalism in Public Schools

House Bill 1086 (Author: Michelle Davis) – Ten Commandments Displays

* Requires posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms and school libraries.

* Framed as:

* A First Amendment violation (Establishment Clause).

* A recurring “zombie bill” used to energize the base rather than pass.

* Linked to broader efforts by the governor and attorney general to reinstall a Ten Commandments monument at the Statehouse.

* Discussion of coercion, especially for young students unable to meaningfully opt out

Senate Bill 138 (Author: Stacey Donato) – Chaplains in Schools

* Allows volunteer religious chaplains to provide guidance, including religious guidance with parental consent.

* Criticized for:

* Lack of training, licensure, and accountability.

* Undermining professional school counselors.

* Increased risk to student safety and confidentiality.

* Hypocrisy highlighted in light of abuse scandals within religious institutions

Senate Bill 88 (Author: Gary Byrne) – “Various Education Matters”

* A catch-all bill including:

* Incorporation of Ten Commandments into civics instruction.

* Restrictions on discussing racism, sexism, and class conflict.

* Promotion of abstinence-only education.

* Critiqued as:

* Historically dishonest.

* Contrary to educational research.

* Internally contradictory, given the Bible’s own engagement with class conflict and inequality

5. Privatization of Public Education

House Bill 1176 (Author: Jake Teshka) – Converting Public Schools to Charters

* Makes it easier to convert public schools into charter schools.

* Core criticisms:

* Charter schools in Indiana function as privately run entities funded with public money.

* Reduced accountability compared to public schools.

* Property tax revenue sharing further starves traditional public schools.

* Framed as intentional defunding followed by claims that public schools are “failing” rather than under-resourced

Indianapolis Case Study (IPS)

* State-mandated restructuring via the ILEA.

* Transfer of power from the elected school board to the mayor.

* Bipartisan complicity, including Democrats funded by pro-charter interests.

* Historical context involving mayoral charter authorization and groups like the Mind Trust

6. Pro-Public School Oversight Efforts

Senate Bill 86 (Fady Qaddoura) – Charter Accountability

* Proposes:

* Transportation requirements for charter students.

* Public budget transparency.

* Increased oversight.

* Praised as good policy but acknowledged as likely DOA under the current supermajority.

* Highlights disparity between rhetoric and reality around charter accountability

7. Attack on Teachers’ Unions

House Bill (Andrew Ireland) – Payroll Dues Deductions

* Seen as a direct assault on teachers’ unions.

* Part of a broader anti-union, anti-public-sector strategy.

* Framed as destabilizing public education by weakening collective bargaining power

8. Civic Engagement & Call to Action

* MAD Voters’ bill tracker highlighted as a key public resource.

* Tools include:

* Bill summaries and status updates.

* Thumbs up/down/needs-more-info indicators.

* Legislator contact info and call scripts.

* Reinforcement of weekly updates and the importance of early public pressure during fast-moving sessions

Today’s post features my conversation with Ethan Sweetland‑May, a Democratic candidate stepping into the race for Indiana’s State Senate in District 47. Ethan is part of a new wave of Hoosiers who aren’t waiting for permission to demand better — they’re stepping up, organizing locally, and insisting that Indiana deserves a future built on dignity, access, and common sense.

In our conversation, we dig into:

* What pushed him to run and what he’s hearing from voters across southern Indiana

* The real‑world impact of underfunded public institutions — schools, libraries, and community services

* Why reproductive privacy and bodily autonomy remain defining issues for Hoosiers

* How rural communities are being left out of statewide decision‑making

* What it looks like when a candidate actually shows up, listens, and stays accessible

Ethan brings clarity, humility, and a grounded understanding of what everyday families are facing. Whether you live in District 47 or you’re watching Indiana politics with a mix of hope and frustration, this conversation offers a glimpse of what genuine public service can look like.

If you prefer to watch the full interview, the video is embedded below.