INDIANAPOLIS—Today (Jan. 16), the State Budget Committee convened to review Governor Mike Braun’s proposal for the 2026-2027 budget, following a mid-morning Senate Appropriations Committee meeting. State Senator David Niezgodski (D-South Bend), the Senate Democrats’ voting member on the State Budget Committee and Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement: 

“Budgets are more than just numbers on a page; they are a clear reflection of our priorities and how we represent the voices of Hoosiers at the Statehouse,” said Niezgodski. “Our caucus is committed to ensuring that this budget prioritizes public education, affordable health care and housing, which are key areas that directly impact the well-being of all Hoosiers.” 

During the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, members discussed one bill: Senate Bill (SB) 2, addressing Medicaid matters. 

“SB 2 poses concerns for low-income Hoosier families,” Niezgodski said. “Restricting the Healthy Indiana Plan to 500,000 members or fewer, limiting benefits for pregnant women to just 36 months and imposing a 20-hour weekly work requirement as a condition of receiving vital health care coverage will only cause financial hardship on families who will be forced to delay healthcare, and the legislature and taxpayers will be further burdened by a drop in public health outcomes and increases in healthcare costs.” 

Niezgodski further emphasized the broader consequences of SB 2: 

“This bill won’t only leave more Hoosiers uninsured, it will also lead to delayed medical care, increased reliance on emergency rooms and greater medical debt for countless families. While I support increased Medicaid reporting and review requirements for the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), the rest of this bill still leaves many of our most vulnerable residents in great need.” 

The State Budget Committee heard Governor Braun’s fiscal vision for the next biennium this afternoon.  

“With a proposed biennium budget of upwards of $46 billion, our focus must be on investing in programs that foster growth for our children and protect the vulnerable,” said Niezgodski. “This legislature cannot both prioritize making health care more affordable and accessible while supporting the reduction in insurance coverage in SB 2. We have additional opportunities for funding accessible healthcare—solutions like the legalization and regulation of cannabis, an effort I have supported and authored in past sessions.” 

If SB 113 is enacted, the legalization of cannabis could generate $46.6 million to $92.6 million in revenue by 2026 and $50.8 million to $101.7 million by 2027. 

“With revenue projections like these, it’s hard to understand why Indiana hasn’t moved forward on this issue,” Niezgodski continued. “While neighboring states benefit from this growing industry, we’re leaving millions of dollars on the table that could be used to support Medicaid, public education and our local health departments. Choosing which essential services to cut is unthinkable when sustainable alternatives exist.” 

Sen. Niezgodski expressed his commitment to collaborating with Governor Braun and his administration to improve the budget: 

“I look forward to working with the governor’s team to ensure the State of Indiana places the highest priorities on improving the health, education and wellbeing of the people we serve/represent. There’s much work to be done before this budget reflects the best interests of Hoosiers across Indiana.”