District update: Town hall recap, bill signings, and community happenings
Indiana House District 32 legislative and community update from State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn
Dear neighbor,
I want to thank everyone who attended my Fishers and Carmel town halls at the end of last month to share their opinions on the issues impacting our community. I appreciated hearing from everyone, including the constituents who don’t always agree with me on a given issue. This is how we move our district and state forward - by coming together and engaging in respectful dialogue.
If you didn’t get a question answered or couldn’t attend, please reach out to h32@iga.in.gov with your questions, feedback, or concerns.
For an impartial take on the conversation at the town halls, check out these stories from our awesome local media outlets here and here.
In service,
Celebrating impactful legislation passed this year at ceremonial bill signings
Last year, I authored a bill, along with Rep. Jenny Meltzer, and Sen. Rodney Pol, to clarify the legality of life saving test strips. Test strips, a form of harm reduction, can and have prevented overdoses from fentanyl and, as technology improves, the potential to detect other deadly substances.
Although we didn’t receive a hearing in the Senate we had a team of bipartisan and dedicated legislators try again. We were glad to welcome Sens. Clark, Jackson and Yoder to sign House Enrolled Act 1167 into law and celebrate alongside community partners Hoosier Action and Overdose Lifeline.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
Make your voice heard as AES seeks to raise rates again
AES is seeking another rate hike from our utility regulators after implementing a $9/month hike in 2024. Learn more below about how to make your voice heard in the consumer feedback process and visit the Indiana Office of of Utility Consumer Counselor website to learn more about providing comment on pending cases.
These frequent rate hike requests concern me because they start to add up big time for Hoosiers’ household budgets. I believe we can deliver reliable utility service without breaking the bank for Hoosiers.
Join our district public libraries’ 2025 Summer Reading Programs
All of the public library systems in House District 32 are off to a running start with their summer reading programs for kids and adults alike. Start logging your reading hours and earning prizes today!
Learn more from the Carmel Clay Public Library here, the Hamilton East Public Library here, and the Indianapolis Public Library here.
Disaster assistance available following the April 2 Carmel tornado
Carmel residents: Please see the below information about the State Disaster Relief Fund, which is available to qualified homeowners to assist with repairs following the April 2 tornado that hit our community. Read more about this fund below or on the Indiana Department of Homeland Security site here.
Navigate HC is Hamilton County’s new website that brings the resources you need, during your time of need, to your fingertips!
Select “Get Resources”
Choose your zip code
Select the type of resources you need
Select “Search” to bring up the list of contacts
Healthcare, mental health & wellness
Financial, housing, employment, education
Military, Veteran, VHA, VBA, Vet Center
Caregiver support, health enrollments
Or request a Navigator to assist you connecting with the resource you need
Stronger Veterans, Stronger Communities Coalition is doing great work advocating for our veterans
Stronger Veterans, Stronger Communities is a Hamilton County coalition for the prevention of suicide for service members, veterans, and their families and caregivers. Learn more today to advocate for our veterans, find community, and get resources. SVSC has a website as well as a Facebook and Instagram page.
I appreciate the work the coalition is doing to decrease veteran suicide rates in our community and make sure every veteran knows that they do not have to walk alone.
Supporting our law enforcement officers at their annual state conference
This week, I had the honor and privilege to stand alongside Carmel FOP Lodge 185 Indiana and the FOPs across our state at their annual state conference.
Community and policing partnerships are key for building greater trust and prioritizing safety. Our law enforcement officers’ oath to serve and protect is vital to the growth of our communities, and I’m proud to champion their initiatives at the Statehouse.
I’m grateful for the sacrifice our law enforcement officers make day in and day out. Thank you, Carmel, Fishers, and Indianapolis PDs, for answering the call.
New crisis & psychiatric urgent care resource coming to Hamilton County this fall
Aspire Indiana Health will be opening a new Crisis and Psychiatric Urgent Care Center this fall in our district. This vital new resource, called Rely Center, is the result of a partnership between County leadership, Aspire and Riverview Health, the Hamilton County Health Department, the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol & Other Drugs, and MindWell Solutions.
Rely Center will be located on Aspire’s Cumberland Road campus in Noblesville, offering 24/7 access to care for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises. Staffed by a multidisciplinary team of behavioral health and medical professionals, it will provide triage, rapid stabilization, symptom relief, short-term observation, and onward treatment planning, all in a safe, supportive setting.
Congratulations to all the community partners involved in this effort. We are leading our state in innovative approaches to behavioral health, and it’s a privilege to work to further these efforts at the Statehouse.
Congratulations to our district’s future educators who received Next Generation Hoosier Educator Scholarships!
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has provided nearly 300 scholarships in the ninth year of the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, including 16 Carmel High School and Hamilton Southeastern High School graduates.
Through a competitive application process based on academic achievement and additional criteria, the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship provides recipients a renewable scholarship of up to $10,000 per year (up to $40,000 total). In exchange, students agree to teach for five years at an eligible Indiana school or repay the corresponding, prorated amount of the scholarship.
To keep our schools excellent, it’s important that we keep incentivizing high-performing students like these accomplished individuals to enter the teaching field. See who won from our district high schools here.
Indiana counties prepare for major cuts to popular public health program
Indiana slashes number of children in state preschool program
Connecting you with support services in Hamilton County
Fishers Arts Council Seeks Hispanic Artists for Upcoming Gallery Exhibit
Braun defends move on IU trustees while terminated members speak out