Throughout my time as your state senator, I have always worked to make sure the voices of Senate District 1 are heard at the Statehouse.

I have been working on a variety of issues that directly impact our Northwest Indiana community. The legislation that I carry, support and receive comes from the outreach and needs of the Hoosiers of Lake County.

That's why I recently carried and supported legislation pushing utilities to provide more affordable, reliable power to Hoosiers.

In 2022, lawmakers passed a law to eliminate the state's utility receipts tax, resulting in $220 million in savings for Hoosiers on their utility bills. This year, I voted for House Enrolled Act 1002, which will ensure utilities prioritize more affordable, reliable power to Hoosiers.

Unfortunately, a bill I authored this year that would have prioritized utility affordability and addressed rising NIPSCO rates in Northwest Indiana did not get a hearing. The bill would have required affordability to be the most important attribute of electric utility service and that utility companies like NIPSCO must consider this when making changes to their electric energy services. It would have also mandated that utility companies could not charge customers for the complete cost of certain infrastructure projects until the work is done and customers have started to see a benefit. The NIPSCO energy increase on homes and business is something that needs to be addressed, and I will continue to work to address this issue.

Another issue I worked on this year is preventing human trafficking and child grooming. A new law I authored added more specific facilities, locations and events to the list of restricted places where convicted child predators cannot enter, attend or work. It also creates a criminal charge if a person repeatedly contacts a child about inappropriate sexual behavior or with the intent to make the child less resistant to inappropriate sexual behavior in the future.

I also supported a new law to save Hoosiers $237 million in taxes on tips, overtime pay and loan interest on American-made vehicles. This law pairs Indiana's tax code to the federal code, meaning Hoosiers will have the same tax benefits at the state level as they do at the federal level for wages earned in 2026 regarding no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on loan interest for American-made vehicles. The law also establishes a tax program rounding transactions to the nearest nickel associated with state taxes, local government taxes and businesses based in Indiana

I also supported a law that helps move toward eliminating emissions testing on northwestern Indiana vehicles and a law to increase sentences for fentanyl dealers.

I am also happy to say Indiana extended our hand in business to the Chicago Bears by offering them a fiscally responsible place to build their new stadium. I am sure many of us in the Region would welcome having Da Bears a little closer to home.

I encourage you to contact me with any questions or comments you may have by filling out a "Contact Me" form online or by phone at 800-382-9467.