Campbell’s Catch Up: Monthly Update for July
Welcome to Campbell’s Catch Up, my new monthly newsletter, where I will provide legislative and community updates for you as your state representative for West Lafayette. Please reach out to my office at h26@iga.in.gov if you have any questions or concerns or thoughts on what you’d like to see in this newsletter.
Indiana Supreme Court upholds GOP’s near-total abortion ban
Dear Neighbor:
On June 30, thousands of women lost access to essential reproductive care after the temporary court injunction was lifted. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Republican supermajority passed a near-total abortion ban in a special, summer session. The near-total ban terminates the licensure of clinics and has limited exceptions for the health of the mother, victims of rape or incest or a fatal fetal abnormality.
With such limited exceptions, this ban will have irrevocable consequences for Hoosier women. Effective on Friday, thousands of women have lost access to essential reproductive care. This decision stripped women of their medical dignity, personal freedom, economic mobility and safety. Abortion bans do not stop abortion only safe, legal ones which puts government influence above the well being of women. One of the most troubling parts of Indiana’s law is the restriction of abortion for rape and incest survivors after 10 weeks or for a fatal fetal abnormality after 20 weeks. Both are time limits that are not based on scientific data or the responses of medical professionals.
As an official who has long advocated for the freedom of choice, I released the following statement:
“The Indiana Supreme Court's decision this morning has reversed over 50 years of freedom, liberty, and bodily autonomy for Hoosier women. This strips them of their personal dignity to make their own, private medical decisions. Having a child is potentially the most serious choice individuals and families can make during their lives. No matter what, I remain committed to fighting for freedom of choice."
(Rep. Campbell speaking on the House Floor)
This Saturday, July 1, several new laws passed during the 2023 session of the Indiana General Assembly took effect.
House Enrolled Act 1138, authored by Democratic Rep. Carolyn Jackson, mandates lead testing for preschool and child care facilities water supplies annually.
House Enrolled Act 1219, authored by Democratic Rep. Maureen Bauer, creates a PFAS biomonitoring pilot program to help improve health outcomes for firefighters exposed to the carcinogen.
House Enrolled Act 1157, authored by Democratic Rep. Justin Moed, creates the residential housing development program in Marion County to help address the county’s housing crisis.
House Enrolled Act 1568 will allow trained pharmacists to prescribe women with hormonal birth control pills, patches and rings for up to one year. This bill will help mitigate the large number of women living in OB/GYN deserts and allow more working women and women in lower-income or rural communities get the care they need to take control of their health and family planning.
House Enrolled Act 1050 extends the state’s annual one cent gas tax increase. Initially, this was set to expire in 2024.
House Enrolled Act 1015 authorizes the Indiana Department of Transportation to use cameras to monitor construction zones and ticket individuals found speeding. This pilot program is an effort to reduce construction zone injuries and fatal collisions.
For a full list of bills signed into law this year by Gov. Eric Holcomb this year, click here.
(Rep. Campbell with Red Cross volunteers on smoke detector installation day in Lafayette)
President Biden expands broadband access throughout country
President Joe Biden announced last week that every household in the nation would have access to high-speed internet by 2030, using cables made here in the United States.
More than $40 billion will be distributed throughout the country to enhance connectivity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw firsthand the impacts that disparities in internet access can have. In our ever-evolving world, having access to strong, reliable internet is essential for economic opportunity and social community.
This pledge from President Biden will have long-lasting, positive impacts for Americans from all walks of life and those living in rural communities, and I’m excited to see this plan roll out in Indiana.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act promotes equality in the workplace
On June 27, the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act went into effect. The PWFA provides reasonable accommodations for employees related to pregnancy, childbirth, or other related conditions. Accommodations may include flexible work schedules, more breaks to sit and rest, providing leave for appointments and even a closer parking space.
Previously in Indiana, pregnant workers had the power to request accommodations or changes in protocol, but their employer could be denied. Under this new law, employers must provide reasonable accommodations, unless it will cause the employer significant difficulty or expense. The PWFA ensures that women who are pregnant or recently have experienced childbirth get the care, support and relief they deserve.
The new act will work alongside existing legislation that protects pregnant workers from discrimination, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This is a huge step forward in the right direction for Hoosier and American families. For more information on the PWFA, click here.
Renew your Medicaid coverage as pandemic pauses end
During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal law allowed more Hoosiers to have Medicaid coverage thanks to a pause in annual eligibility redeterminations. Unfortunately, that pause has come to an end. Since late May, thousands in Indiana have been unenrolled due to unfamiliarity with the redetermination of eligibility process. I want to make sure Hoosiers are aware of the current situation so you don’t lose your Medicaid coverage. This includes residents enrolled in Indiana’s Healthy Indiana Plan, Hoosier Healthwise, Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), or Hoosier Care Connect.
The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has begun mailing redetermination notices to certain enrolled individuals in order to verify and continue eligibility to receive medical care. There will be an eligibility review for each month between April 2023 and March 2024.
I am especially concerned because recent reporting from FSSA showed that out of the 52,000 Hoosiers who lost coverage during the first review month, 88% of those people lost their coverage because of procedural reasons - not because they’re ineligible.
Be sure to watch your mailbox for an eligibility redetermination. Follow the steps below to secure your coverage by updating your contact information and income information.
Use this info sheet as your guide to renew coverage:
Please do not wait to renew the coverage. I will continue to provide updates when I have them.
So that you don't mistake this important letter from FSSA as a scam, here is a sample letter below for your reference:
Additionally, if you want to help FSSA get the word out about annual redeterminations resuming, this page includes helpful print and digital outreach materials, including materials translated into Spanish and Burmese.
An update on education in Indiana before the school year starts
With the school year starting in August, it’s important to know all the changes made to educational policies in Indiana this year. During the 2023 legislative session, education was a common topic with 100 bills introduced on the assembly floor. However, instead of strengthening public education, many of these bills further dismantled it.
Even though 87% of children attend public institutions, Republican lawmakers expanded the private school voucher program, putting private pockets before the collective good. Compared to a 5.4% increase in funding for public education, funding for private school vouchers increased by 72.3%. Additionally, a new income eligibility threshold will erase the original intent to provide options for low-income families. Nearly 97% of families will be eligible for vouchers since the income limit threshold increases to $220,000 a year.
Along with a focus on public dollars for private schools, new policies heavily support charter schools. SEA 391 required tax revenue in four counties to be shared between public and charter institutions, further straining the traditional public schools that nearly 9 out of 10 Hoosier students attend. Charter schools are often exempt from essential regulations, curriculums and oversight and result in unstable test scores. A recent article by Chalkbeat Indiana, highlights the instability and inconsistent academic results of charters in Indianapolis.
Every Hoosiers parent has the choice to send their student to a system that works best for them. With a majority of parents choosing public options, state lawmakers have a constitutional obligation to provide a quality, uniform system of public education. As a state representative who has long advocated for education, I will continue to advocate to prioritize our public schools.
For more information on educational options by the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, click here.
(Rep. Campbell at a meeting with teachers to discuss fair funding and teacher rights during the 2023 session)
Relevant News
Over 65 Tax Deduction: For those that qualify for the over 65 property tax deduction or circuit breaker credit, I wanted to provide an update from the Tippecanoe County Auditor's Office that the application does not need to be submitted annually if certain criteria have not changed over the past year. However, if your assessed value increases significantly, you buy additional property, or your income changes significantly, you may need to reapply. Once you have applied, the deduction is automatically renewed for the next fiscal year.
While the application does not need to be resubmitted, I encourage individuals to stay up to date with their forms and documentation and practice caution. While your financial circumstances may not have changed over the past year, it can’t hurt to make a habit out of annually checking with the Auditor’s Office to make sure you’re all good to continue receiving this deduction.
WL Housing Crisis: Affordable, quality housing can be difficult to find in Tippecanoe County. Recent articles have highlighted the continued lack of availability, poor conditions and uncomfortable situations that renters may face. It’s important to be aware of your legal options and rights as a tenant in the state of Indiana. For more information, click here for updated information from the Journal & Courier.