INDIANAPOLIS – The 124th Indiana General Assembly has officially adjourned sine die, marking the end of the 2025 Legislative Session. State Sen. La Keisha Jackson (D-Indianapolis) offered reflections on her first session serving in the Indiana Senate:

“Government should be a system by the people and for the people,” said Jackson. “Unfortunately, this session left far too many Hoosiers behind — our children, aging parents and grandparents, public school students, minority communities, and working families. My caucus and I fought to the very end, but the Republican-led budget fell short. And many last-minute policy decisions made in this chamber were not just rushed — they were dangerous.”

Jackson specifically called out Senate Bill (SB) 289, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 34-16. The bill effectively dismantles diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the state.

“DEI is not a political buzzword — it’s a foundational value that makes our communities stronger, more creative and more inclusive,” said Jackson. “By eliminating DEI, we are limiting perspectives and ignoring the richness of our diverse state. Life is not black and white — there is nuance, and we must embrace the complexity that makes Indiana what it is.”

Jackson highlighted several bills she worked on and co-sponsored this session which had a positive fiscal impact including HB 1024, 1391 and 1453.

“All three of these bills are focus on the health and well-being of residents in the state of Indiana, said Jackson. “HB 1024 allows for Medicaid reimbursement for children’s hospitals so families can get the care their child needs even if the service is offered out of state. HB 1391 allows for aging Hoosiers to age in place with dignity through the CHOICE program. Lastly, HB 1453 provides grants for breast cancer and pediatric cancer treatments and clinical trials. I was happy to play a role in getting these necessary pieces of legislation passed.”

Jackson also voiced strong opposition to the biennial budget of over $44.4 billion passed this session, citing inadequate funding for critical services.

“Cuts to public education, Medicaid, child care, and pre-K services are not solutions — they’re setbacks,” said Jackson. “My caucus proposed several thoughtful, Hoosier-centered alternatives that would have expanded funding for these vital areas. But those solutions were either rejected outright or never seriously considered. Instead, the budget prioritized the wealthiest Hoosiers and large corporations.”

Jackson cautioned public education cuts after the passage of SB 1 just one week ago.

“Local governments could be seeing massive cuts to schools among other critical services under SB 1,” said Jackson. “It does not make fiscal sense to further underfund these schools especially when they are preparing for tighter budgets in the future.”

Jackson ultimately voted “no” on House Bill (HB) 1001, the budget, stating it failed to invest in Indiana’s future.

“This budget doesn’t support our children, working families or our seniors — it supports the privileged few,” said Jackson. “As a first-year Senator, I’ve learned so much, and I’m more energized than ever to return next session ready to fight for real, Hoosier-centered solutions.”

Looking ahead, Jackson plans to spend the interim months engaging directly with her constituents.

“Over the next nine months, I’ll be in the community — listening, learning and building policy that reflects the real needs of Hoosiers,” said Jackson.

She will host a town hall on June 26th to provide a legislative session recap and gather community input for the 2026 session.