Sen. Eddie Melton

House and Senate Democrats' 2021 legislative agendas are focused on issues that they say the pandemic showed to be incredibly urgent.

Sen. Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) became the new Senate minority leader Friday – the first Black leader of a legislative caucus in state history.

GARY, Ind. (AP) — A state senator from northwestern Indiana says he will continue his campaign for governor rather than seek the congressional seat being given up by Democratic Rep. Pete Visclosky.

Sen. Eddie Melton of Gary announced Friday he is "firmly committed to becoming the next governor of Indiana and fighting to improve the quality of life of every Hoosier." Melton is one of three candidates for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb in the 2020 election.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A Democratic state senator is formally entering the Indiana governor's race with the state's Republican schools chief expected by his side.

First-term state Sen. Eddie Melton has a campaign announcement event set for Tuesday evening in his northwestern Indiana hometown of Gary. He filed state documents creating a gubernatorial campaign committee on Friday.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A new state budget plan would send some more money to Indiana schools but far less than what advocacy groups have said is needed for teacher pay raises.

The Republican-sponsored proposal endorsed Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee would boost base school funding by 2.7% in the first year and 2.2% in the second year of the new two-year state budget.

Lawmakers will consider legislation this session, that would create a type of early warning system to to help identify schools facing significant financial problems.

The state took over Gary and Muncie Community Schools last year after their finances reached crisis levels. Now, Sen. Eddie Melton (D-Gary) has filed legislation to prevent more major state takeovers by catching financial problems early. He says it’s a way the state could step in to help before it’s too late.