Small and rural communities across Indiana are key to our identity as a state. From family farms to main street festivals, our rural areas are the source of a lot of Hoosier pride and hospitality. That's why I consistently support laws that help these communities.

Protecting farmland, water and energy

Indiana is fortunate to have abundant natural resources – like water – that play a vital role in our state's success. To protect those resources, I co-authored a law that ensures our state's water supply is managed properly and restricts the ability of big corporations to use too much of a community's water. I also co-sponsored a law to restrict the ability of large corporations to use too much of a community's energy

Expanding access to health care in rural communities

Recognizing the unique needs of rural communities, I have voted for laws that protect and expand access to health care in rural parts of the state.

For example, a new 2026 law requires medical students in Indiana to do a rotation working in a rural community. Hopefully, this law will spur more of our doctors in training to choose to practice in our small towns.

Other recent laws ensure rural Hoosiers will have adequate pharmacy coverage from their pharmacy benefit manager and prevent large hospital networks from making anti-competitive contracts with insurers that put our rural hospitals at a financial disadvantage.

Fostering economic prosperity

Smaller rural communities have unique economic development needs. In recognition of this, I have consistently supported economic development in our small towns. This includes creating a state Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation to support small businesses.

In the 2026 session, 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.

Maintaining election integrity

For nearly two decades, Indiana has been a leader in ensuring our elections remain secure by requiring voters to have a valid photo ID when they cast their ballot. In 2025, I co-authored a bill to strengthen Indiana's voter ID law by prohibiting student IDs issued by state colleges or universities from being recognized as an ID to vote, since college IDs are less secure than other forms of identification and standards vary from school to school.

This session, I authored Senate Enrolled Act 112, which will help ensure Hoosiers are voting where they live and remove a step a former candidate needs to take if they move and must withdraw from a race.

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.