The Indiana Senate Democratic caucus will focus on healthcare, education and housing in the 2025 session, which the caucus acknowledged differs from the majority’s agenda but focuses on important issues. The main task of the session, though, will be crafting a budget to cover state funding over the next two years. The legislature will determine how to spend $44 billion for schools, health insurance programs and infrastructure, among other fiscal issues. “Budgets are more than numbers — they’re a reflection of who we fight for,” said Minority Caucus Leader Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, in a press release. “Budgets are moral documents. They show what we value, and we believe every dollar should go toward building a healthier, more prosperous future for all Hoosiers.” State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, speaks in support of shutting down Summit scrapyard during an Indiana Department of Environmental Management hearing in Gary on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Michael Gard/for the Post-Tribune) Minority Caucus Chair Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, said given the budget session, Senate Democrats picked issues that impact the most vulnerable Hoosiers from children to the elderly. Housing provides people with safety, healthcare costs have to be addressed, and public schools have to be protected as Republican legislators eye dismantling public schools for charter schools and the state faces a teacher shortage, Pol said. “We always have a focus on the people who need help the most,” Pol said. On the healthcare front, Senate Democrats filed bills to mandate Medicaid reimbursement for doula services, expand postpartum mental health care, establish a stillbirth prevention pilot program, and create a behavioral health helpline for mothers. Senate Democrats also filed bills to end medical debt practices by prohibiting wage garnishments and property liens, capping interest rates, and protecting Hoosiers during insurance appeals. Among the education bills Senate Democrats filed are proposals that would set a minimum salary for K-12 teachers at $65,000, fully fund the state’s Child Care and Development Fund, and invest $50 million in critical school staffing. Tom Davies/APIndiana state Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, speaks during a news conference alongside state Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom Davies) “Education and health care are not just moral priorities — they are economic imperatives. Strong schools create a skilled workforce, and affordable health care keeps families and communities strong. These investments are the foundation of Indiana’s long-term prosperity,” said Assistant Minority Leader Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis. To address housing, Senate Democrats filed bills that would require landlords to provide 60 days’ notice before property sales and ensure essential repairs are completed within a timely manner. Another bill would prevent utility companies from shutting off services on Fridays, weekends or holidays and would end fees for reconnections and unpaid balances. “Stable housing is a fundamental human right. Our bills ensure that no Hoosier has to fear sudden evictions or utility disconnections, and they hold landlords and utility companies accountable. Housing stability drives health, education and economic success,” Pol said in the press release. Senate Republicans presented their agenda Wednesday, ahead of the start of the 2025 session, where they outlined their plan to focus on property taxes, Medicaid, health care costs, water resources management and contract accountability. While education is the state’s second-largest budget item, it wasn’t part of the Senate Republican’s agenda, Yoder said. “Hoosiers deserve more than silence on these critical issues,” Yoder said. “Our priorities aren’t just ideas — they’re solutions to the challenges we’ve heard from families across Indiana. This agenda is about listening, acting and delivering.” Pol said the Senate Republican and Senate Democrats leadership teams met Thursday afternoon to review the bills they filed so far and their legislative priorities. The meeting was productive, Pol said, with discussions about how to further or improve certain bills. “It was one of the best outcomes from a meeting,” Pol said. [email protected]