INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana General Assembly has officially adjourned Sine Die. State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. (D-Chesterton) released the following closing remarks on the legislative session:

“Hoosiers, you have worked tirelessly over the past few months advocating for critical investments—whether in public education, local control or essential relief programs,” said Pol. “While we saw some important victories both in senate district 4 and statewide, there were also several missed opportunities where policies ultimately fell short in delivering for all Hoosiers.”

Senator Pol highlighted a few notable wins included in the finalized state budget, such as:

  • New transparency and accountability measures for the use of taxpayer dollars by state officials,
  • A legislative study into the Department of Child Services (DCS) workload to improve efficiency and support vulnerable children and
  • The expansion of psilocybin research to address the growing mental health crisis.

“I’m also pleased to see efforts to hold state officials more accountable when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars, noted Pol. “The DCS study will allow us now to have an opportunity to make that agency more effective in serving Hoosier families. I’m especially encouraged by the continued support for psilocybin research, which I’ve supported to help address mental health challenges across Indiana.”

However, Pol also criticized the budget for what he described as “deeply disappointing” cuts and regressive shifts in funding priorities. Among the areas of concern:

  • Cuts to special education funding,
  • Giving millionaires taxpayer dollars for private school tuition,
  • Cutting child care vouchers for people making under $45,000,
  • Chronic underfunding of public schools, police and fire departments,
  • Defunding of public broadcasting, and
  • Reductions to adult day care services.

“Education is one of the most essential investments a state can make—yet it remains persistently underfunded in this budget,” said Pol. “We’re diverting money from special education and shifting it toward a universal voucher program that subsidizes private schools for millionaires who can already afford them. In a time of a $2.4 billion shortfall, we should not be expanding programs to benefit the wealthy. Meanwhile, access to child care is being narrowed, not expanded. And cuts to public broadcasting and adult day care programs further chip away at services Hoosiers rely on—especially working families and seniors.”

Pol emphasized that Senate Democrats filed over 70 amendments aimed at funding vital programs, generating revenue and advancing people-centered solutions. All were rejected, many without any meaningful debate.

“On the final week of session, our caucus came to the table with real, practical solutions. But Republicans refused to even consider them,” Pol said. “One of the solutions, the legalization of marijuana, would have brought Hoosier dollars back to Indiana which had been funneled out of state to Illinois and Michigan for years. Additionally, it would have brought over hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over the biennium.”

In closing, Pol criticized the overall direction of the budget and called for more inclusive policymaking.

“Ultimately, the Republican-crafted budget delivers cuts to the services working Hoosiers rely on while increasing funding for programs that benefit the wealthiest among us,” said Pol. “That doesn’t reflect the needs or voices of the millions across Indiana who are struggling and speaking out—it only serves the privileged few.”