Lawmakers head back to the state House for round two of the session.

Indiana students are graduating at record levels and syringe exchange programs could get another decade.

From the television studios at Wfyi Public Media.

It's Indiana Week in Review for the week ending January 9th, 2026.

Indiana Week in Review is produced by Wfyi in association with Indiana Public Broadcasting stations.

Additional support is provided by PA Ritchey.

Indiana lawmakers gathered the statehouse this week for the second part of the session, following a contentious start in December over redistricting.

As Ben Thorpe reports, Democrats and Republicans laid out priorities focused on cost of living issues.

The shorter session means that lawmakers will need to pass bills and a much tighter timeline, with committees expected to meet only a handful of times.

House Minority Leader Phil Gia Quinto says his caucus wants to address the cost of utilities, health care, housing and childcare.

In the abbreviated session.

I'm eager to put redistricting behind us and get to work for Hoosier wallets this season.

Republicans in the Senate underlined the importance of ending the session early and under budget.

In the House, Speaker Todd Houston promoted bills rolling back regulations in housing and education.

Houston says the way to help Hoosiers is for the government to get out of the way.

Our priorities are aimed at continuing Indiana's momentum while addressing some of the highest costs facing Hoosiers, including the cost of owning your home and energy costs.

Lawmakers are expected to conclude at the end of February.

So are lawmakers going to be able to accomplish anything of substance during this shortened session?

It's the first question for our Indiana Weekend Review panel.

Democrat Terri Austin, Republican Whitley Yates.

Ebony Chappelle, director of brand and community strategy at Free Press, Indiana.

And Nikki Kelly, editor in chief at Indiana Capital Chronicle.

I'm Jill Sheridan, managing editor at Wfyi.

So, Terri, do you think Indiana lawmakers are going to be able to tackle some of these cost of living issues that they're speaking about?

Now, as we get into the second part of the session?

Well, I have no doubt that they'll try to tackle some of these.

The real question is, will it be anything of substance?

Is it going to lower the dial for Hoosier families?

Will they be able to afford more?

An example is the performance based incentives for utility companies.

Because heaven knows, utility companies need incentives to make more money and gain efficiencies.

That's not going to help Hoosier families.

And Whitley, we've heard a lot about, you know, from Republicans about doing some deregulation, you know, cutting a lot of the red tape.

do you see this helping Hoosier families?

I do, and I think that the focus on utilities, which the Ryan administration has out of the gate, been focused on, coupled with some of the taxes that they're looking to change.

I think that they are going to attempt to do some things.

Will everyone be able to come together to get everything done in a short session?

Listen, I don't think that that's realistic, but I do think that a good faith effort will happen for Hoosiers.

Now, Nick Carnes, we're really digging into what lawmakers are saying about what they want to accomplish.

We are hearing from, you know, both parties that the cost of living issues are going to be a major, major issue.

Are we going to be able to reopen the budget and fix would that help?

Know they're not going to reopen the budget even though we got some, you know, good revenue news in December.

governor Mike Braun and Republican leadership are absolutely not interested in using any of that revenue to, for instance, you know, use more childcare vouchers for low income Hoosiers or things like that.

So they're going to try to get through with, you know, bills that don't cost the state any money and still try to have an impact on Hoosiers, but at least they're admitting there's an affordability issue, which some people, you know, at least that was an issue on the federal level, was even acknowledging that it exists.

And, certainly everyone is aware that, you know, their their pocketbooks are a little bit tighter these days.

And, and when we're looking at, you know, some of the, some of the proposals that are going to be considered by Indiana lawmakers, does anything stand out to you that says, you know, this could really have an impact?

Yes, absolutely.

to Whitley's point about utilities, I think it is extremely promising that you see some energy on that from both sides.

What I think would be something impactful is if on the Republican side, they brought in the sales tax removal that the Democrats are recommending in there who are working families agenda.

I think that that's something that would be impactful.

And people we actually feel to bring down the dial, as Terry mentioned.

it's promising that there is energy on both sides.

I would also point out, a bill from the Republicans House Bill 1001, which speaks to the increasing the housing inventory that, if that's able to happen, could be a game changer for Hoosiers, where we already don't have enough inventory, which skyrockets the price, eliminating so many people from enjoying the benefit of home ownership, which we know is a driver of wealth.

I mean, I think we've heard that for so many years now that housing affordability, the housing crisis is really front of mind.

We are seeing, you know, bills on both sides that are trying to address this, you know, maybe this is where, deregulation might actually, come into play is we're trying to make it easier to build the, the, the housing that we need in the state of Indiana.

Does that make sense to you, Terry?

Well, here's one of the problems.

When and I believe deregulation, done smartly and responsibly, can help change the environment.

However, in this case, what you need to be careful of is it doesn't give builders a license to throw up cheap housing, and the prices don't come down and people are stuck with homes that are done in a shoddy manner or don't hold up.

I mean, eliminating things like inspections and local building codes is really not a smart idea.

Yeah.

What would you like to know?

I mean, as someone that worked in real estate development for quite some time, building apartment complexes, mixed use, there are shoddy houses.

Apartments have buildings going up all the time, whether it is deregulated or not.

And I think with the deregulation that they're looking to do it is to increase the amount of developers that we have here so that they are able to begin the processes in development, as opposed to skirting around the red tape of things that would make it safe for people to live there.

Something else I notice on that point, is it expanding our, beliefs or our understandings of what can be considered viable housing?

So in Los Suites and things being put on property that right now is not able to happen.

So it makes me think about tiny homes and things like that that could provide a safe, quality place for somebody to live that's just outside of the scope of what's available right now.

That's a. Great example.

We own almost three acres and when my parents moved to Indiana, we wanted to put them like make a very nice garage slash apartment for them so they'd have their own space.

And we went to our county and they said, you're not allowed to add an additional housing area, even though we had plenty of space.

so that's that's an idea that it's worth looking into.

I know the zoning issue here in Indianapolis have certainly been something that many lawmakers have tried to get around.

Nicki, let me ask you about, you know, one of the Republican priorities, as it looks to waste and fraud again, as and we're talking about, snap.

And we've seen, you know, the governor tout success with, having people off the Medicaid rolls.

is that something that's really going to save money in the long run?

I don't know, I mean, the snap bill came out just recently.

It largely just conforms to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill act.

there are some changes, for instance, on hip, which would only allow it they would do six month renewals instead of lasting a year.

some things like that.

So, you know, I, I've not actually seen any, you know, proof of waste or fraud in the system.

They're just really trying to make sure everyone who is on it, you know, should be and meets the eligibility requirements.

Yeah.

I mean, as as well, in most of the reporting I've done, we haven't seen a lot of, fraud and waste on those types of programs.

maybe not something that lawmakers should prioritize.

Well, I think they're always going to continue to look at health care costs because there's so many pieces of the system.

There's still a lot that can be done on pharmaceutical costs.

You know, looking at PBMs, things like that.

But part of the problem has been, if you continue to do some of this in a piecemeal fashion, you run the risk of creating actually more problems down the road than actually solving the issues.

The other thing is, cutting Hoosiers off of Medicaid, who may really need it, is going to drive up costs for the providers, the hospitals and others, and they're already facing some real issues, with some of the things that have been done at the state level and federal level.

Well, they were seen another priority being announced to try to, cut down on the number of commissions or boards at the statehouse.

You know, we saw a similar, you know, movement last year with the federal government because we're trying to, you know, reduce government.

Does that make an impact?

Should lawmakers be focused on that?

I'm not sure.

I don't know how I'd feel if the egg board got removed.

That's one of my favorite boards.

But I do think that having an efficient government is important, and it does help Hoosiers in ways that we can find to make Indiana more efficient.

Whether they be cost efficient, whether they be efficient for how the government moves is a benefit for everyone.

Well, it's going to be a fast and furious session, and we will be watching Indiana's high school class of 2025 achieve the highest graduation rate on record, though some gaps between student groups do remain.

Eric reports.

The state Department of Education says nearly 92% of seniors graduated last year.

That continues a three year trend of improvement following the pandemic.

The state also says the number of students graduating without a waiver also hit a record high.

That means 90% of graduates met all academic and career readiness standards without needing an exception.

Despite this, progress, gaps remain.

Graduation rates for black and Hispanic students improved, but they still trail the average and lagged behind their white peers.

The data comes as the state prepares a new career focused diploma requirements for the class of 2029.

So, Whitley, should schools be proud of these rates?

Absolutely.

I think schools should be proud.

Parents should be proud.

Teachers should be proud.

The current secretary of education, Doctor Generous, should be proud.

And we should all be proud.

As Hoosiers 92% graduation rate is phenomenal.

And after Covid, where we saw the decline of everything within the education sector from kindergarten all the way through high school.

Seeing this type of momentum is great.

Despite these do still exist.

So there's always room for growth and progress.

But anyone who wouldn't be applauding the state of Indiana for where we are right now is asinine.

And the state has applauded itself quite a bit in the past for, you know, successful graduation rates, something that we've pretty consistently, you know, seen across the state.

should we be doing more even?

I know a lot of schools have, you know, adapted in order to make these, these rates where they are today.

And they should be proud.

However, I think the one thing we really need to be honest about in this whole, you know, when we're touting our success is the gaps and the gaps, impact kids for a lifetime.

Those are the kinds of things that we used to have a lot of attention paid on the achievement gaps.

You never hear anybody talk about it anymore.

And that's sad.

And I'll say that as a former educator, we've got to make sure that we're making sure that all kids get a chance to have high achievement.

Ebony, what do you think?

You know, I know we've also had a lot of emphasis on literacy rates, and that's been a way that the state has been trying to focus on, on these rates for, for children for a while.

But, you know, the numbers are looking pretty good.

Yeah.

something that I want to point out is there are places where this is working abundantly.

Well, one school district in our state that has drawn quite a bit of attention from the state.

IPS, IPS outpaced the state's record of graduation by 2%, which I think is phenomenal, also outpaced the state's record when it came to those of black and Hispanic students graduating.

So it may be time to pay more attention to what it is that they are doing well, as well as other people who are working to improve that gap.

Because while it may not be paid attention to on a state level, they're everyday people making sure that, our children are well educated and set up for success.

And the lawmakers are trying to do that, you know, recently or last session with the iree changes and, you know, not passing third graders then or some of the steps the legislators have taken.

You know, working.

Do you think, Nikki?

Well, I mean, I don't think we're going to know that for a couple more years because, you know, the students aren't anywhere near graduating yet, but they're certainly those those test scores are improving.

And so, you know, everyone needs to be pretty proud of both those achievements and, you know, it.

We don't have a lot of good news to celebrate sometimes.

So it's nice when you when you get a good win.

Moments of joy.

Time now for our viewer viewer feedback.

Every week we pose an unscientific online poll question.

This week's question should schools be doing even more to increase graduation rates?

Answer yes or no.

The last question posed to viewers should districts around the state be paying attention to charter school debate happening in Indianapolis?

95% saying yes and 5% saying no.

Indiana's syringe exchange programs would be extended another decade under a bill before lawmakers.

During a lengthy committee hearing this week, many advocates and lawmakers spoke in favor.

But as Ben Thorpe reports, not everyone supports the legislation.

Needle exchange programs allow drug users to bring in used needles and get new ones.

Advocates provided data showing the programs reduce the spread of diseases like HIV, help get people into treatment, and increase safety for law enforcement officers.

But Chris Daniels with the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, says the group is opposed to extending the program.

And we see a huge amount of increase in needles being found.

We've been hearing more and more people that are dealing with accidental sticks.

Senator Shelly Yoder called Daniels's testimony, which she said relied on anecdotes.

Bold lives are at stake.

The bill passed out of committee and now heads to the full Senate.

So what Nikki is.

Nikki, it seems like lawmakers have become more comfortable with this types of programs.

I mean, I remember ten years ago, I wasn't going to say compared to when we first put these programs in place, it was extremely, you know, controversial.

So I, you know, I think people are far more understanding now and realizing the difficult road of addiction and the different ways you can't just one thing isn't going to work.

And so you've got to have multiple different avenues to make this work for, to try to get Hoosiers, you know, better.

And this is one way to protect them from, you know, larger issues.

Yeah.

And I mean, we've talked about this, you know, as a harm reduction tool, as a tool, like Nikki said.

And I do think there is a greater understanding amongst, you know, just the general population as well, that, you know, this is a tool that we need to continue to use.

Yeah, I think on a lot of levels there is that greater understanding.

But you still have, a selection of people who place a morality filter on top of something that is simply a public health issue.

The facts are facts.

People use drugs, people use alcohol, people use all sorts of different things.

But when we realize that there's a public health issue at stake, you mentioned ten years ago, a city in southern Indiana.

I'm going to mess up the names.

I'm not going to say it to say it wrong, but in Scott County at Austin, in Scott County, you had this HIV outbreak, hundreds of people, and then you amplified that.

Hundreds of families impacted by a loved one who has contracted HIV due to intravenous drug use.

They implement these programs.

The latest data that we have less than five cases.

The last time the Indiana Department of Health survey new HIV cases in this state, only five cases in Austin.

So that shows and I think people stick on the needle thing.

We're allowing them to have, you know, clean tools to use drugs.

It's wraparound services attached to this.

So looking at the root causes of substance abuse and then making sure that the gap is filled in that way.

I mean, we've learned a lot during the opioid crisis.

And you know, here we are again a number of years later, but we have seen others point to cities where maybe these programs have gone a little out of control.

Do you think that's a concern for, you know, Indiana and communities in Indiana?

I don't and I think that this is an issue that honestly has touched all communities.

from the most luxurious to the least of these and the way in which we're looking at addiction as a disease now, as opposed to criminalizing it back in the 90s when we had the crack epidemic, I think is a sign of us doing better.

So making sure that we are supporting people that are suffering with addiction and making sure that those around them are safe as they're engaging and interacting, I think is something that Indiana lawmakers and Indiana health officials are doing a good job at.

Terry, were you a part of some of those discussions back in the day when we were starting some of those programs?

Oh, yeah.

I could remember vividly, the debates that raged over initially giving counties the authority to do the needle exchange programs and some of the, I would say, the rhetoric, you know, a lot of it was false rhetoric, the fears that were thrown up.

I will also say that, you know, some of those first attempts, those first few years where they made things widely available, without any real accountability.

People learned from those.

And that's what you want.

That's a good public health program where you say, look, we need to modify this.

So they started doing things like even exchanges, number of needles you turn in, rather than just throwing them down on the ground where kids and others could pick them up.

Those are the kinds of things that you should learn from and implement in future state policies.

Yeah, it certainly seems like an effective program, and it was interesting to see such bipartisan support as lawmakers considered this week.

Also before lawmakers this week, the Indiana Department of Transportation is saying that it will have to postpone more than 300 projects due to funding issues.

The department says it's dealing with inflation, supply chain issues and shrinking tax revenue.

At a committee meeting this week, department legislative director Aaron Wayne Scott gave more details about the delays.

It's not necessarily just, oh, this this road isn't going to get a, you know, traffic signal or this road isn't going to get extra turn lane here.

It's major projects.

Wayne Scott confirmed the number of postponed projects has grown in the last year, though he couldn't give an exact number.

The department says the delays mostly affect the timing and scope of the project.

So Ebony, I know and you know said a number of reasons why we're quite behind on some of these major projects.

Some of them are what does do you think this tells us about, you know, the future of infrastructure funding in the state?

I think it tells us, and forgive my opinion, that Hoosiers need to buckle up and get prepared for an even more bumpy ride.

it is.

I mean, I'm just really confused.

We have 300 projects being postponed, but there is $1 billion going into improving a roadway in southern Indiana.

there's not a lot of clarification being offered.

from Mr.

Wayne Scott about.

Okay, well, why are we pausing this?

And then we didn't get a chance to review the application, but for the federal government for tolling.

So it's just all of this happening at the same time.

the issues have persisted for years and years and years.

I'm sure, Terry can attest to that in our experience.

so now we're just at this place where we need the funding to come in, and then you have the years long wait until any of that even becomes available.

So.

Well, I guess I buried the lead because, you know, the toll road is.

What?

Yeah.

I mean, these are obviously, you know, connected.

You know, they're explaining hundreds and not just 300.

They couldn't give us a number, but it was clearly way more than 300.

These projects that are being delayed or postponed or canceled altogether, maybe that's just kind of greasing the wheel for, oh, here's our tolling application.

And this is going to bring in all this money and we can do those projects that we've had to delay.

Is that where we're headed today.

Well it won't surprise me at all.

There's been an, an appetite among some legislators and the administration to toll.

However, I will tell you, when we voted on the road funding bill in 2017, and they raised the gas tax $0.10 right off the bat and then indexed it every year after that.

I can remember Representative Solid Day who helped carry that bill, say this would fund our roads for the next two decades.

That was eight years ago.

Where's the money gone?

We've never done an audit at Indot.

We've never done a complete audit of all of these projects and everything.

And I think it's time to really take a look at this.

Either people were sold a bill of goods to vote on this, that what was the road funding bill or some money has been terribly mismanaged.

So.

Willie, what a year.

We had four years of the highest inflation under the Biden administration, with Biden nomics busting everyone's budget, and now projects that we had budgeted to do for certain amounts of money we cannot do anymore.

And if we're being quite honest, is there a Hoosier out there that is going to be sad that we're delaying more road work?

Our highways have been under.

I feel like road work for so long now.

Indiana has been cited as having one of the best infrastructures in the country.

Our roads are not as bad as we may make them seem.

But in the grand scheme, it is fiscally responsible to look at the budget and what we are able to do financially without having to continue to raise taxes on Hoosiers.

Well, we are at the crossroads of America, and you know, we have to fund these roads.

I mean, there's absolutely no question.

And some of these are major projects.

Well, let me just say this.

There's a statute on the books that the state of Indiana can only be responsible for 12,500 miles of roadway, believe it or not, 80% plus of roads are at the local level.

So when you've cut local funding through Senate Bill one, and you've taken away some of the funding that used to flow directly and make them compete for it, locals are the ones who are really facing these difficulties.

I don't know if you all have paid any attention, but our roads are some of the worst marked in the entire country.

I mean, you cannot see those dividing lines or the reflector lines on each shoulder, but you go to Ohio, you go to Kentucky.

My gosh, it's a world of difference.

These are the kinds of things that we need to do, quite honestly, that would help improve safety.

And then we talk about, do we really need to spend $1 billion down in southern Indiana for this project?

Well, I mean, it is a huge discussion.

And yes, anyone that's covered, the city knows it is a major issue.

And I don't know, I mean, I don't like construction, but also I want to get some of these projects done.

That's Indiana Week in Review for this week.

Our panel has been ... Democrat Terry Austin Republican, Whitley Yates Ebony Chappel, director of brand and community strategy at Free Press Indiana Niki Kelly, editor in chief at Indiana Capital Chronicle You can find Indiana Week App.

Im Jill Sheridan, managing editor at WFYI And we do have some sad news today.

We lost a longtime member of the Wfyi family this week.

Jerry Prince was a producer, a director, and an editor on many, many of our programs, and he will be deeply missed.

The views expressed are solely those of the panelists.

Indiana Weekend Review is produced by Wfyi in association with Indiana Public Broadcasting stations.

Additional support is provided by PA Ritchey.