Peggy Mayfield: Delivering for Hoosiers at the Statehouse - dailyjournal.net

Opinion X Editor’s note: Opinion content is solely the opinion of the writer and not the Daily Journal. The Indiana General Assembly recently wrapped up the 2026 legislative session, and I want to share some of the key priorities we delivered for Hoosiers this year. House Republicans focused on lowering costs for families, cutting government bureaucracy and strengthening protections for youth while continuing to prioritize public safety. Lowering costs for Hoosiers was one of our top priorities this session. House Enrolled Act 1001 expands Indiana’s housing supply by rolling back costly regulations that can slow development and drive up the price of home ownership. House Enrolled Act 1002 helps ensure energy remains affordable and reliable by establishing performance-based accountability for utilities. Providing tax relief was another important step toward easing financial burdens for working families. We passed Senate Enrolled Act 243 to align with President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill and deliver tax cuts to hardworking Hoosiers. For tax year 2026, Hoosiers will be able to deduct qualifying tips and overtime pay from their state taxable income. Additionally, House Enrolled Act 1210 provides expanded property tax relief for Indiana’s veterans. Alongside efforts to reduce costs, lawmakers also worked to streamline government and reduce bureaucracy. House Enrolled Act 1003 reduces the size of government by combining, eliminating or streamlining dozens of redundant or inactive boards and commissions. House Enrolled Act 1004 cuts red tape in education by eliminating outdated regulations and giving K-12 schools more flexibility to focus resources on educating our students. This session also included new efforts to support Hoosier youth and families. To grow child care access across the state, we passed House Enrolled Act , expanding the state’s employer child care tax credit to businesses providing child care options for their employees. House Enrolled Act 1408 establishes stronger safeguards for adolescents on social media, including requiring parental consent for minors, improving parents’ ability to monitor activity and restricting certain addictive features. Public safety remains a top priority for me as your state representative. I supported Senate Enrolled Act , which strengthens Indiana’s immigration enforcement laws by ensuring cooperation between local and federal authorities and requiring local governments to comply with immigration detainer requests. Senate Enrolled Act 256 also creates one of the nation’s strongest foreign adversary transparency frameworks, protecting Indiana land from prohibited foreign actors, securing our research institutions from hostile interference and preventing prohibited foreign actors from receiving state tax incentives. As we enter March Madness, I’d be remiss to not mention House Concurrent Resolution , which I’m proud to have ushered across the finish line. Passing unanimously, it urges the Indiana Department of Transportation to rename a portion of State Road 45 near Assembly Hall on Indiana University’s Bloomington campus after the late legendary basketball coach Bob Knight. Coach Knight remains synonymous with IU basketball and his contributions to the game and to Indiana will be remembered for generations. Serving as your state representative is an honor, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent the people of District 60. While the legislative session has concluded, my office remains available to help you navigate state government and hear your thoughts, questions or concerns. My office can be reached at in.gov/h60 or by calling 317-232-9760. To learn more about these new laws and others signed by the governor, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/2026-bill-watch/ . State Rep. Peggy Mayfield, R-Martinsville, represents House District 60, which includes portions of Johnson, Morgan and Monroe counties. Johnson County representatives share in writing a rotating monthly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected] . Featured Local Savings