As your state senator, it is my priority to ensure Indiana is a great place to live, work and raise a family. That's why I voted in recent years to support new laws that benefit all Hoosiers.
Cutting taxes for Hoosiers
In the 2026 session, I 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.
I also supported a plan to cut Indiana's income tax to one of the lowest rates in the country. This 2023 law lowers the income tax rate every year until 2027, when the rate will reach 2.9% and be among the lowest rates in the country. This cut is estimated to save Hoosiers $2 billion in income taxes over the first five years.
In the 2025 session, I also supported a new law to save Hoosier homeowners $1.3 billion in property taxes. This legislation also included targeted relief for seniors, farmers and small-business owners. Beginning with 2027 bills, the business personal property tax will be eliminated for all businesses with equipment under $2 million.
Improving students' reading skills
I supported a 2023 law that refocused literacy education on phonics, commonly referred to as the Science of Reading. These efforts were paired with $170 million in new funding from the General Assembly and the Lilly Endowment to improve reading instruction.
Senate Republicans also made improving Hoosier students' reading skills our top priority in 2024, focusing on further emphasis on the Science of Reading, assessment, remediation and, as a last resort, retention. Our students first learn to read, then read to learn, which is why it is critical for our students, teachers, schools and state to place such a high priority on reading skills.
Thankfully, these efforts are paying off:
Protecting farmland
To preserve Hoosier farmland and prevent hostile foreign actors from operating in Indiana, Senate Republicans have repeatedly voted to limit land purchases by businesses from foreign adversary nations, including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
In 2024, the General Assembly passed a law prohibiting the purchase of land within 10 miles of a military base or the purchase of any farmland by citizens and companies of foreign adversaries. In 2026, I voted to expand this law to prohibit these businesses from purchasing any land in Indiana.
Preserving safety nets for Hoosiers who need them most
This year, I supported a measure to ensure illegal immigrants can't get taxpayer-funded welfare, which was a top priority for Senate Republicans during the 2026 legislative session. Senate Enrolled Act 1 is designed to root out waste, fraud and abuse in Indiana's welfare programs by increasing eligibility checks for SNAP, preventing illegal immigrants from claiming benefits and updating Indiana's laws to comply with new federal Medicaid reforms, including work requirements for able-bodied, working-age adults. This is Indiana's latest effort to catch bad actors and preserve programs like SNAP and Medicaid for Hoosiers who need them most.
Ensuring public safety
Unchecked illegal immigration during the Biden administration has harmed the entire country, not just border states. In 2024, I supported a law that requires information sharing from Indiana's county sheriffs to ICE if an arrestee is suspected to be in the country illegally.
During the 2026 legislative session, I supported Senate Enrolled Act 76, which continues to fight illegal immigration by backing up the federal government's work with tools available at the state level and strengthening cooperation between Indiana and federal law enforcement.
I encourage you to contact me with any questions or comments they may have by filling out a "Contact Me" form online or by phone at 800-382-9467.
