State Senator | District 40
Shelli Yoder
Minority Caucus Leader
Proudly Serving District 40
Indiana Senate District 40 encompasses the majority of Monroe County and includes the Indiana University-Bloomington campus.
Elected
2020
Occupation
Senior Lecturer at Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Education
Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Services, Indiana University South Bend Master’s in Divinity, Vanderbilt
Acknowledgements
Personal
Lives in Bloomington with her spouse and three children
Stay Connected
with
Senator Shelli Yoder
Follow me on Facebook
Posts from Senator Yoder
No leader should ever call the dehumanization of Black Americans "a great move."![]()
![]()
No leader should distort our history to justify oppression.![]()
![]()
And no leader should stay silent in the face of injustice.![]()
![]()
I stand with faith leaders, civil rights advocates and Hoosiers across Indiana demanding better.![]()
![]()
Read our full Senate Democratic Caucus response here: ⬇️
On Friday, the Indiana General Assembly passed the final version of the two-year state budget. But while Republicans claim victory, Senate Democrats are calling the budget what it truly is: a dangerous misalignment of values that puts private interests and political power ahead of the people Indiana should be protecting — our kids, our working families and our aging parents and grandparents. ![]()
![]()
While the budget may be passed, the fight is far from over. We're not done fighting – and we'll keep showing up to make sure this state works for the people who make it run.![]()
![]()
Read the graphic for the full press#INForAll #INForAll
SB 287 passed its concurrence in the Senate today—26 to 24. A razor-thin margin for a bill that will do absolutely nothing to improve the lives of our children, support our educators or strengthen our schools. Nothing.![]()
![]()
Instead of tackling the real challenges facing students—underfunded classrooms, teacher shortages or learning loss—this bill chooses to politicize school board elections. It invites partisan labels into places where collaboration and community should come first. It distracts from real issues with performative politics that divide us, not uplift us.![]()
![]()
Our teachers didn’t ask for this. Our parents didn’t ask for this. And our kids certainly didn’t ask for this.![]()
![]()
Let’s be clear: this bill isn’t about transparency. It’s about power. It doesn’t solve a single problem plaguing Indiana schools. It only creates more. We should be passing legislation that feeds hungry students, supports overworked educators and helps our schools thrive. SB 287 does the opposite.![]()
![]()
I voted no, and I will keep fighting for an Indiana where education is about learning, not partisanship. Where our schools are centers of excellence, not battlegrounds. And where our kids are at the center of every decision we make.![]()
![]()
This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. #INForAll
As the final hours of this legislative session tick away, I want you to know—I'm still here, still showing up and still giving it everything I’ve got.![]()
![]()
Because the truth is, some of the most important decisions get made when the cameras turn off and the clock starts winding down. And I refuse to let this moment slip by without standing up for the people who sent me here.![]()
![]()
All session long, I’ve worked to elevate the voices too often ignored—fighting for affordable healthcare, fair wages, clean water, and the freedom to make our own choices. And that work doesn’t stop now. It only intensifies. Just this week, I filed Senate Resolution 71 urging action against reckless tariffs that threaten our farmers, workers, and families.![]()
![]()
So let’s keep going. Let’s keep watch. Let’s keep speaking truth to power. I’ll be here until the final gavel falls—because our shared future is worth every second of effort.![]()
![]()
#INForAll
I had a moment of joviality presenting a resolution honoring Mrs. Mobley’s Lighthouse Christian School 4th grade class. I met with the students during their visit to the Statehouse upon the conclusion of their unit studying Indiana state government and civic engagement. The students asked me if I would help them pass a bill proposing Ice Cream Fridays. I explained we’re unfortunately passed the bill filing deadline, however, we agreed to work on a resolution together. It was a privilege to recognize their curiosity, highlight Ice Cream Friday and celebrate their voices at the Statehouse! #INForAll
Join the conversation on X
Latest News
From Senator State Senator Shelli Yoder
Just 4resh Dezigns