INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Assistant Minority Leader Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis) was honored on the Senate floor with a resolution recognizing her leadership and service advocating for Hoosier families, students and working communities.
Since joining the General Assembly in 2022, Hunley has brought the realities of classrooms, neighborhoods and working households directly into the policymaking process. A former public school educator and administrator, she has grounded her work in firsthand understanding of the barriers families face and has become a leading voice on issues of affordability, opportunity and economic stability.
Throughout her time in the Senate, Hunley has translated that experience into action. She has authored legislation to create a statewide ombudsman to oversee psychiatric hospitals and protect vulnerable patients, led efforts to establish Indiana’s Vision Zero task force to reduce traffic deaths and championed policies to expand access to health care and strengthen protections for patients and families. She has also consistently worked to lower the cost of child care, expand access to safe and affordable housing, support youth in the foster care system and defend investments in public education.
Her approach to policymaking has remained rooted in a clear belief: public policy is not abstract. It determines whether a parent can afford care for their child, whether a family can remain safely housed and whether students have the support they need to succeed.
Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) issued the following statement recognizing Hunley’s impact and leadership:
“Sen. Andrea Hunley has never allowed the Statehouse to lose sight of the real lives behind every decision we make,” Yoder said. “She brings the perspective of an educator, an advocate and a community leader into every room she enters. Andrea has challenged this institution to confront the realities Hoosier families face and to respond with urgency, compassion and practical solutions.”
“As Assistant Minority Leader, Andrea is a steady and principled leader whose voice carries both clarity and purpose,” Yoder continued. “She asks hard questions, centers the needs of working families and ensures that policy debates remain grounded in real-world consequences. Her leadership strengthens our caucus, elevates our conversations and continues to shape how this institution serves Hoosiers.”
Hunley reflected on her work and ongoing commitment to the communities she serves:
“As an educator, I have seen firsthand how policy decisions show up in people’s daily lives — in whether a parent can afford child care, whether a family can keep a roof over their head or whether a student has the support they need to succeed,” Hunley said.
“That is why I entered public service, and it remains what drives my work every day. I believe government has a responsibility to expand opportunity, protect those who are most vulnerable and ensure that every Hoosier, no matter their background, has a fair chance to thrive.
“I continue to carry the voices of my community with me into every room at the Statehouse. Their experiences, their challenges and their resilience shape every decision I make, and I remain deeply committed to fighting alongside them to build stronger, more stable and more equitable communities across Indiana.”
