Linda Rogers State Senator - District 11
February 20, 2026
Legislative and State Government Updates
The National Debt's Risk to Our Security
On Monday, Feb. 16, I participated in a press conference hosted by State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla to discuss Indiana's leadership in building a growing movement from the states calling for federal action on the national debt crisis.
Indiana has maintained our strong fiscal footing thanks to decades of conservative leadership that has passed balanced budgets, paid down our state's debt and cut taxes.
Senate Republicans have championed paying down our state's largest unfunded pension liability, the Pre-1996 Teachers Retirement Fund, with an additional $3.7 billion in recent years in addition to our annual $1 billion payments.
However, at the federal level, our national government's debt has grown to more than $38.6 trillion. Of this debt, more than $8 trillion is owed to people outside our nation – including more than $1 trillion owed to individuals in China. This debt owed to foreign individuals, companies and nations represents a looming future threat to our nation's economy and security.
Last year, I supported Senate Resolution 51, which recognizes the urgency of our federal debt and its threat to national security. As State Chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council, I worked with other members of ALEC to turn this resolution into a national model for other states to use to help draw attention to the seriousness of the national debt.
Our federal government must take real steps to cut debt to help secure our economic future and ensure that burden does not fall on future generations of Americans.
College Goal Sunday Coming This Weekend
Financial aid experts will be on hand at 34 sites across Indiana this Sunday, Feb. 22, to offer free assistance to Hoosier families filing the FAFSA, which is a required form for students seeking financial aid for postsecondary education.
College Goal Sunday, the state's largest FAFSA filing event, gives families an opportunity to ask questions as they fill out the FAFSA for their student.
The sites will open at 2 p.m. local time.
Community Calendar
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Contact My Office
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
800-382-9467
www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Rogers
Follow the caucus on social media
February 6, 2026
Legislative and State Government Updates
General Assembly Reaches Halftime
The Indiana General Assembly has reached the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session, meaning bills must have passed out of their original chamber to continue through the legislative process.
Of the 290 Senate bills introduced this year, 112 were passed by the Senate. More than 90% of these bills passed with bipartisan support and nearly half passed with unanimous support.
This year, welfare reform and public safety top our caucus's priority list.
Senate Bill 1 would root out waste, fraud and abuse in Indiana's welfare programs by increasing eligibility checks for SNAP, ensuring illegal immigrants do not claim benefits and updating Indiana's laws to comply with new federal Medicaid reforms, including work requirements for able-bodied, working-age adults.
Senate Joint Resolution 1 seeks to amend the Indiana Constitution to allow judges to deny bail if a suspect clearly poses a substantial risk to any other person in their community. If passed, SJR 1 would go before the voters in November.
I am also prioritizing legislation that would:
- Increase the state matching contributions for the state's deferred compensation program;
- Address multiple property-tax issues to support Hoosier taxpayers; and
- Empower families and support educational choice.
I encourage you to contact me with any questions or comments you may have. You can reach my office by simply replying to this email, filling out a Contact Me form online or by phone at 800-382-9467.
Local Spotlight: Elkhart Public Library's Growing Readers Program
The Elkhart Public Library offers a variety of resources to local children and parents, including Growing Readers, a free reading tutoring program for young students.
Growing Readers helps preschoolers get on track for kindergarten and gives kindergarten to second grade students who are falling behind an opportunity to catch up on their school's core reading curriculum.
Elkhart Public Library patrons and students who attend Elkhart schools, including homeschoolers, are eligible to participate in Growing Readers. Children must be at least three years old.
Tutoring sessions occur in the lower level of the downtown library at 300 S. Second Street in Elkhart. Students will have a weekly appointment between 12:30 – 6 p.m.
Throughout a child's enrollment, parents are expected to read to their child at least five times per week, be involved during the lessons and bring their library card to ensure children can check out books used during the session.
I highly encourage anyone with a child who might be struggling with their reading to consider signing up for Growing Readers. Reading is the cornerstone of a child's education, and this is an excellent program to keep children on track by encouraging them to improve their reading skills.
Community Calendar
Elkhart County St. Joseph County
Contact My Office
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
800-382-9467
www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Rogers
Follow the caucus on social media
Bill to Bring More AEDs to Schools Ceremonially Signed by Governor
This week, language I authored that would require more automated external defibrillators to be present at athletic and extracurricular activities was ceremonially signed into law by Gov. Mike Braun.
House Enrolled Act 1515 requires athletic coaches, marching band leaders, drama or musical leaders, and leaders of certain extracurricular activities to ensure an AED is present and operational at certain events. These leaders are also required to make any individual coaching or leading the event and the children attending the event aware of the location of the AED and any emergency plans regarding the use of the AED.
I was joined at the ceremonial signing by many supporters of this AED language, including the following individuals.
- Julie West, the founder of the Play for Jake Foundation, who lost her son to sudden cardiac arrest
- Tonya Aerts, a program coordinator for Project ADAM and a teacher at New Prairie who works to help schools become heart safe
- Christina Cesnik, the director of Indiana Government Relations for the American Heart Association
- John Doherty, a licensed athletic trainer and physical therapist and a staunch supporter of AEDs
- Drew Strasser, a Rochester High School student who survived sudden cardiac arrest due to the use of an AED
I am happy to see the governor support this important measure to ensure the safety of our children. AEDs, and a plan of action to use them, can save lives, especially for those who may not be aware they have a heart condition.
I have worked closely with many people from my local community and throughout the state for several years on legislation regarding the accessibility of AEDs, specifically in schools. This ceremonial signing not only acknowledges the importance of AEDs, but also recognizes all of the stakeholders and individuals who helped craft this important language, and I am grateful to all those who helped me.
Holding Indiana Schools Accountable
Here in Indiana, we believe access to a quality education is a key to success. Our state budget reflects this priority, with over $10 billion per year – almost half of our budget – dedicated to K-12 education. That's why I supported a bill to hold Indiana schools accountable and recognize excellent performance with an updated A-F grading scale.
Though schools were previously given A-F grades from 2011 to 2018, grades have not been given out for seven years for a variety of reasons.
House Enrolled Act 1498 directs the Indiana State Board of Education to update the factors and methodology used for school accountability grades so parents have a better idea of how schools are performing and which school may be the best fit for their child to attend.
Factors that must be used in determining a school's grade include ILEARN pass rates, IREAD-3 pass rates and students graduating with advanced coursework and vocational experiences.
The state is currently reviewing options for the future grading scale, and a first draft was recently released. To learn more about the process of creating a new grading scale, click here.
Indiana’s robust school choice environment puts parents in the driver’s seat of decisions for their child’s education. Improving transparency and accountability for our schools will help ensure Hoosier parents have the information they need to ensure their kids receive the education that works best for their individual needs.
Volunteers Needed at State Fair Fishin' Pond
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteers to help at the DNR Fishin' Pond during this year's Indiana State Fair. If you would like to register to volunteer this year, click here.
This year's Indiana State Fair runs from Aug. 1-17. For more information about this year's fair, click here.
Discounts Available at Indiana State Park Inns
Indiana State Park Inns are currently offering a 25% discount if you stay two consecutive nights through Aug. 28 on Sundays through Thursdays. To learn more, or to reserve a room, click here.
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IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Rogers / 800-382-9467
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