Submitted
Garcia Wilburn
State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) has filed her legislation for Indiana’s 2025 legislative session. Her nine bills focus on keeping Hoosiers safe, supporting public safety officials, promoting public and mental health, championing families, and working with young advocates.
House Bill 1093 will expand sexual assault victims’ rights by increasing annual reporting with the goal of eliminating institutional silos standing in the way of justice for survivors.
“I am proud that HB 1093 is the result of many conversations with sexual assault survivors, advocates, law enforcement and prosecutors,” Garcia Wilburn said. “Right now, institutional barriers are preventing us from getting a full picture of how well the state is ensuring that sexual assault cases are prosecuted and justice is served. HB 1093 will help us fully assess our successes and failures so we can better deliver results for survivors in the future.”
Garcia Wilburn filed two bills to support public safety officials. HB 1091 will enhance the penalty for sexual battery against a law enforcement officer on duty. HB 1092 will build upon her 2023 law to implement first responder mental health and wellness training by providing sustainable funding for the program into the future.
“Our community cares deeply about supporting the first responders who keep us safe,” Garcia Wilburn said. “No law enforcement officer should have to fear sexual violence while on the job, but it’s a sad reality that some people want to harm our LEOs. HB 1091 will serve as a deterrent against this. Additionally, a day on the job as a first responder is often more difficult and traumatic than civilians experience over the course of years. We need to continue building on 2023’s House Enrolled Act 1321 to ensure that police, fire and EMS are sustainable careers for the brave men and women in them.”
HB 1090 would make joint custody the standard in custody proceedings unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that joint physical custody is not in the child’s best interests. HB 1107 establishes the Family Recovery Court Fund. The bill also would ensure that family recovery courts target cases of abuse or neglect where a parent or primary caregiver suffers from a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders.
“Ensuing families can thrive in Indiana is a priority for me,” Garcia Wilburn said. “This year, I plan to continue this mission with HB 1090 and HB 1107. HB 1090 requires that every parent who is capable and can be trusted to care for their child can do so. This bill would require courts to find clear and convincing evidence that joint custody is not in the child’s best interest. HB 1107 establishes the Family Recovery Court Fund to ensure that the justice system prioritizes the wellbeing of children who may have experienced abuse or neglect as a result of a parent’s substance use disorder.”
Building on Garcia Wilburn’s work on HB 1053 last session, she is co-authoring HB 1167, which decriminalizes fentanyl test strips.
“The CDC approximates that 1,877 Hoosiers died from a drug overdose last year, a 22 percent decrease from the previous year,” Garcia Wilburn said. “Every one of these people likely had family and friends and were members of our communities. I co-authored HB 1167 to continue reducing these tragic deaths by protecting harm-reduction methods that have the potential to save lives.”
Here is the full list of Garcia Wilburn’s proposed legislation:
- HB 1089: Grow the workforce by expanding workforce ready credit-bearing grants to English as a second language courses
- HB 1090: Makes joint custody the standard in custody proceedings
- HB 1091: Increases the penalty for sexual battery against a law enforcement officer
- HB 1092: Provides additional funding for the first responder mental health training first introduced by Garcia Wilburn’s 2023 law
- HB 1093: Expands sexual assault victims’ rights
- HB 1107: Establishes the Family Recovery Court Fund
- HB 1154: Offers a tax credit to behavioral health practitioners who provide a preceptorship
- HB 1237: Designates the Indiana bat as the official state mammal
- HB 1238: Expands Medicaid reimbursement to schools offering medically necessary reimbursable services
“I am honored to receive the privilege of representing District 32 again,” State Rep. Garcia Wilburn said. “It’s the same community where my husband served and we raise our three children. I don’t take this opportunity lightly, and I will use it to advocate for the needs of our community on the House floor and advance legislation that makes our communities safer and stronger.”