By GARRETT BERGQUIST
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Braun
Gov. Mike Braun on Wednesday officially threw his weight behind Republican-backed measures on utility rates and housing costs.
In his second State of the State speech, the Republican governor explicitly endorsed House Republican priority bills to change how utility rates are calculated and to limit the regulations local governments can impose on design elements for housing and accessory dwelling units. He went so far as to back the bills’ authors by name – Republican Reps. Alaina Shonkwiler of Noblesville and Doug Miller of Elkhart, respectively.
“There are too many Hoosier who can’t afford to own a home at all. Home prices have surged because we aren’t building enough and unnecessary regulations are driving up costs,” Braun said, adding, of Miller’s bill, “I support it 100 percent.”
Shonkwiler
Republicans and Democrats in both chambers have said cost-of-living issues will be their top priorities during this session. Miller and Shonkwiler’s bills carry the designations House Bill 1001 and 1002, respectively, which are reserved each session for the majority caucus’ priority bills. Democrats in both chambers have called for repealing the sales tax on utilities and creating tax-free savings accounts for first-time home purchases.
Democrats said the governor is responding to a crisis they have been warning about for years. Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said Braun will need to match his words with quick action.
“Hoosiers are not confused. They see a pattern. Affordability is talked about but costs keep rising. Supports are cut and families are being told to do more with less,” she said. “Hoosiers want leadership focused relentlessly on the cost of living, not on distractions, not on power plays, not on Washington politics. Affordability cannot be a slogan. It is a test of leadership and any government that asks families to do more with less while playing politics with more has failed that test.”
Yoder said Republicans’ focus on affordability is an opportunity for Democrats to push through some of their ideas, such as legislation on medical debt.
Braun faces a shorter than usual calendar to push his agenda through. Lawmakers plan to end the 2026 session by Feb. 28 in order to offset the early start for December’s redistricting debate. Rather than provide a list of policy requests to lawmakers, Braun instead endorsed several bills already moving through the legislative process. He did, however, add one demand without endorsing a particular piece of legislation: finding a way to lower child care costs. The governor told lawmakers he wants to see a program to allow businesses to contribute to the costs of child care, something Democrats have asked for.
The governor also addressed the controversy surrounding data centers. He said his administration will push prospective data center developers to ensure they offset 100 percent of any increased generation costs. State law already requires proposed data centers to cover 80 percent of the cost of increased generation even if the center is ultimately not built.
“AI is going to be key to the jobs and wages of the future but data centers can’t stick Hoosiers with the power bill,” he said. “If other companies will follow this model, we’ll lead the country in the AI race and Hoosiers’ electricity rates won’t go up – they’ll go down.”
Legislative Republican leaders said they took exception to Democrats’ assertion they are turning to the minority party’s ideas to address affordability. Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray, R-Martinsville, said Republicans are focusing on assistance through deregulation rather than government spending. He said Republicans are focused on lowering tax burdens and reducing the costs associated with starting up new businesses, including those that serve families.
“Take a look at daycare, for instance. We’ve been trying over the last several years to decrease the regulation not so that it becomes unsafe but because, you know, when you decrease the regulation, you make it a little less expensive,” he said. “So those are some conservative ideas we’re trying that’ll decrease some of the costs for Hoosiers around the state.”
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/politics/indiana-gov-braun-addresses-affordability-in-state-of-the-state-speech.
Rokita
Rokita: Gov. Braun “hit the mark”
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Attorney General Todd Rokita released the following statement in response to Governor Mike Braun’s State of the State address on Wednesday evening.
“From driving down costs created by the Biden administration to highlighting major job wins, celebrating school choice, and praising public safety gains, Gov. Mike Braun’s State of the State address hit the mark.
“I look forward to continuing my office’s partnership with him to put Hoosiers first.”
Huston
Speaker Huston: House GOP “laser focused” on maintaining momentum
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Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) issued the following statement after Gov. Braun’s State of the State address.
“Gov. Braun did a great job telling Indiana’s story tonight and highlighting the strong progress and positive momentum that’s occurring in the Hoosier state. It’s worth repeating that our economy is growing at a faster rate than all of our neighboring states and most of the country. We’re attracting investment, jobs and the kinds of opportunities that improve quality of life for Hoosiers and bring more people to our state.
“House Republicans are laser focused on continuing this momentum while addressing affordability. We look forward to continuing to work together on legislation this year to make it more affordable to own a home, reduce energy costs and get government out of the way to unleash opportunity for Hoosiers.”
House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) represents House District 37, which includes a portion of Hamilton County.
Buck
Buck: “ready to work with my colleagues to accomplish more”
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State Sen. Jim Buck (R-Kokomo) made the following statement in response to Gov. Mike Braun’s 2026 State of the State address.
“Listening to the governor today, it was encouraging to hear Indiana’s economy and GDP are growing much faster than our surrounding states.
“There were many new projects and high-paying job opportunities mentioned as well, and it is always great to see Indiana continue to grow and develop as a state. It goes to show the Hoosier dollar goes far, and that our state’s future looks bright.
“I am also pleased to see the governor recognize the importance of affordability, especially with child care.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues to accomplish more for Indiana this session.”
State Sen. Jim Buck (R-Kokomo) represents Senate District 21, which includes Tipton County and portions of Hamilton and Howard counties.
Yoder
Yoder delivers Democrats’ rebuttal, calls Braun’s Affordability Agenda “long overdue”
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Indiana Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder delivered a forceful rebuttal to Gov. Mike Braun’s State of the State address Tuesday night, welcoming the governor’s stated focus on affordability while sharply criticizing what she called a year of policy decisions that have failed to deliver real relief for Hoosier families.
“Affordability is not a slogan. It is a test of how leadership serves the people,” Yoder said. “If policies were working, Hoosiers would feel it. Right now, they don’t.”
Yoder acknowledged that Braun’s agenda echoed long-standing Democratic priorities, including addressing medical debt, housing costs and utility bills, but questioned why the governor didn’t take responsibility for the Hoosier affordability crisis built on 20 years of Republican control.
“Agreement is welcome,” Yoder said. “But agreement without urgency is just a press release. Hoosiers have been living this affordability crisis for years.”
In her remarks, Yoder cited concrete pressures facing families across Indiana, including child care closures, rising housing and utility costs and continued barriers to affordable health care. She pointed to Braun-directed cuts to child care funding and reimbursement rates as decisions that directly contributed to growing child care deserts and workforce disruptions.
“You cannot claim to support workers and the economy while dismantling the system that allows parents to go to work,” Yoder said.
Yoder also directly challenged the governor’s public safety claims, pointing to Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1), signed into law last year, which reduced revenue available to local governments.
“Public safety is not a talking point. It’s whether help arrives when someone calls 911,” Yoder said. “SEA 1 cut funding that cities and towns rely on for police, firefighters and emergency medical response. No matter how it’s framed, that undermined public safety.”
Yoder emphasized that Hoosiers believe in the rule of law, accountability and due process, but warned that fiscal choices must align with those values.
“You cannot claim public safety as a priority while weakening the very services that keep communities safe,” she said.
Framing the moment as a broader reckoning, Yoder argued that Braun’s embrace of affordability rhetoric reflects years of unmet need under one-party control at the Statehouse.
“After 20 years of Republican control, Indiana is in an affordability crisis,” Yoder said. “Hoosiers don’t care who gets credit. They care who gets results.”
Yoder closed by urging the administration and legislative leaders to move beyond messaging and deliver measurable relief for working families.
“Hoosiers are doing everything right, and yet still fall behind” Yoder said. “They deserve leadership that offers more than words. Hoosiers deserve follow-through that offers real relief right now.”
State Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) represents Senate District 40, which includes the majority of Monroe County and includes the Indiana University-Bloomington Campus.
GiaQuinta
GiaQuinta: Hoosiers “need real relief, not lip service”
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House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) issued the following statement reacting to Gov. Mike Braun’s 2026 State of the State address.
“House Democrats agree with Gov. Braun that Hoosiers are no better off than they were a year ago – and that’s thanks to him and the Braun supermajority.
“If Statehouse Republicans wanted to lower costs, they would have already done that. They’ve been in charge for the past 20 years.
“Now that Gov. Braun is catching up to the fact that Hoosiers are struggling, he’s talking about affordable utilities and child care. But his actions over the past year speak differently. Under Gov. Braun’s watch, Indiana has seen the highest utility rate hikes in 20 years, doubled health insurance premiums for 300,000 Hoosiers, and dozens of child care centers close because of his voucher cuts.
“Gov. Braun has failed at making life more affordable for Hoosiers while gutting the programs that help them get by, like health care, food assistance, child care, and public safety. The proof is in Hoosiers’ wallets – they need real relief, not lip service without action.”
Tallian
Tallian on Braun: “anyone else . . . would be fired”
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Indiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian released the following statement in response to Gov. Braun’s State of the State Address.
“Hoosiers are interested in workers, wages and wallets, but Governor Braun continues to pander to corporate interests and elites that put him in power. Hoosiers can see the truth: 20-plus years of Republican rule have created this affordability crisis in Indiana.
“Due to the Republican Party’s failing economic policies, wages are stagnant, costs are rising and small businesses are hurting. Even larger businesses are struggling, such as Dalton Corporation foundry in Warsaw, Ind. which recently announced it was closing its doors after 100 years in business. Braun failed to mention the tsunami of rural hospital closures, which has left some communities, such as Dearborn County, Ind., with no place for women to safely give birth.
“In his rosy assessment of the Indiana economy, Braun also fails to mention the crumbling roads and potholes across the state. He fails to mention the looming disasters for local government and impending cuts to local police and fire departments, all thanks to yet another GOP misguided property tax overhaul.
“Braun and the Republican legislature continue to drive our economy off the cliff. From my position in the Senate, I watched years of failed Republican policies on so many counts: road funding, worker rights, health care and more. Each ‘fix’ required a subsequent ‘fix’; and they are responsible for every mistake.
“What started as bickering among the factions of the Republican party has now evolved into all out public warfare, resulting in what appears to be a legislative session where they will accomplish nothing except establish an official state sandwich.
“Anyone else who performed this poorly for this long would be fired on the spot.”