When you think of a politician, you probably picture someone in a high-rise office in D.C., arguing on a cable news network. But the folks making the rules that actually touch your daily life—like how much you pay in property taxes or what your kid learns in school—are the Indiana state senators who usually have regular day jobs back home.
Honestly, the Indiana Senate is a bit of a weird beast. It’s a "part-time" legislature. That sounds like they’re just hanging out at the Statehouse for a few weeks and then heading to the lake, but the reality is way more intense. These 50 individuals represent about 135,000 people each. They have to cram an entire year's worth of lawmaking into just a few months.
If you live in Indiana, you’ve probably heard of the Senate, but you might not realize just how much power they’ve grabbed lately. From the 2026 session battles over welfare reform to the massive property tax overhauls from 2025, these senators are the ones pulling the levers.
Who’s Actually Running the Show in 2026?
It’s easy to get lost in the sea of 50 names, but a few people basically hold the keys to the kingdom. Right now, the Republicans have a "supermajority." That’s a fancy way of saying they have so many members they can essentially do whatever they want without needing a single vote from a Democrat.
Rodric Bray, the President Pro Tempore from District 37, is the guy at the top. He’s the one who decides which bills even get a chance to be heard. If he doesn’t like an idea, it’s basically dead on arrival. Then you’ve got Chris Garten (the Majority Leader) and Shelli Yoder, who recently took over as the Minority Leader for the Democrats.
While the "leadership" gets the headlines, the real work happens in the committees. If a bill is about money, it goes to Travis Holdman and the Tax and Fiscal Policy committee. If it’s about schools, it’s hitting Jeff Raatz’s desk.
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A Quick Look at the Current Heavy Hitters:
- Rodric Bray (R): The boss. Period.
- Micah Beckwith (R): The Lieutenant Governor, who technically presides over the Senate as President.
- Shelli Yoder (D): Leading the uphill battle for the Democratic caucus.
- Ryan Mishler (R): The guy who controls the state's checkbook as the Appropriations Chair.
The "Citizen Legislator" Myth vs. Reality
Indiana loves to brag about its "citizen legislature." The idea is that your senator is a farmer, a lawyer, or a small business owner who just happens to make laws on the side.
Is that true? Kinda.
Take Scott Baldwin from District 20. He’s a business owner. Tyler Johnson from District 14 is an ER doctor. They bring "real world" experience to the table, which sounds great in a campaign ad. But being a "part-time" senator in 2026 is a full-time headache. Even when they aren't in session in Indianapolis, they're constantly in meetings, answering emails from angry constituents, and studying 500-page bills.
The schedule is also a total sprint. In even-numbered years like 2026, they have to be completely done by March 14. They started on January 5, and they’re already racing to meet deadlines. If a bill isn’t out of committee by the end of January, it’s probably toast.
What Indiana State Senators are Fighting Over Right Now
If you peek into the Senate gallery this week, you’re going to see a lot of arguments about three things: money, "values," and who gets to run things.
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1. The Property Tax Hangover
Everyone in Indiana is still talking about Senate Bill 1 from the 2025 session. It was supposed to provide property tax relief, but as the Indiana Farm Bureau pointed out, it's hitting different people in very different ways. Farmers are worried it’s going to shift the burden onto them, while homeowners in Indy are still seeing their assessments climb. Senators like Travis Holdman are back at it in 2026, trying to tweak the math so the state doesn't go broke while trying to keep voters happy.
2. Welfare and Fraud
This is a huge priority for the GOP this year. Chris Garten recently filed legislation to crack down on what he calls "welfare fraud." The goal is to "protect taxpayers," but the Democrats, led by Shelli Yoder, argue that these rules often just make it harder for poor families to get food or healthcare. It’s a classic Indiana political showdown.
3. The "Oddball" Bills
Every year, you get bills that make you scratch your head. For example, Senate Bill 21 in the 2026 session is literally about designating an "official state sandwich." (Spoiler: It’s the breaded pork tenderloin, obviously). While it seems silly, these "identity" bills take up real floor time.
How to Get a Senator to Actually Listen to You
Most people think calling their senator is a waste of time. They think some intern just puts a checkmark in a box and ignores it.
That’s not quite how it works. Since there are only 50 Indiana state senators, they actually feel the heat when 20 or 30 people from their specific district call about the same thing.
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Pro Tip: Don't just email. They get thousands of emails. If you want to get their attention, you need to show up or call.
- The Phone Number: Call the Senate switchboard at (317) 232-9400 or (800) 382-9467.
- The Physical Address: 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.
- The Page Program: If you have a kid in school, they can actually spend a day on the Senate floor as a "page." They get an excused absence from school and get to see the chaos firsthand.
Why This Matters for Your Wallet
The Indiana Senate has a "fiscally conservative" reputation, but they also love spending on big projects. They’re the ones who decide how much money goes to I-69, how much goes to Purdue and IU, and whether your local library gets a budget cut.
Right now, there’s a massive debate about Senate Bill 6 regarding water services and annexation. If you live in a rural area that's being swallowed by a nearby city, your state senator is the only person who can stop your taxes from doubling overnight.
Actionable Steps: What You Should Do Now
Don't just read this and forget it. If you’re a Hoosier, you have more influence than you think. Here is how you can actually engage with the Indiana state senators before the 2026 session ends in March:
- Find your District: Go to the Indiana General Assembly website and use the "Find Your Legislator" tool. You might think you know who it is, but redistricting happens, and things change.
- Track a Specific Bill: Don't just "follow politics." Pick one thing—like property taxes (SB 1) or education—and track that specific bill number. You can sign up for alerts so you know exactly when it's moving to a vote.
- Check the Calendar: The 2026 session is short. The "Third Reading" deadline—the last day for a bill to pass the Senate—is January 29. If you want to support or kill a bill, you have to act before that date.
- Watch the Live Stream: You don't have to drive to Indy. Every session and committee meeting is streamed live on the IGA website. Watching a committee meeting for 20 minutes will teach you more about how Indiana works than four years of high school civics.
The 124th General Assembly is moving fast. By the time the tulips bloom in April, the laws for the next year will already be set in stone. Whether it's a "state sandwich" or a multi-billion dollar tax shift, these 50 people are the ones making the call.
Stay informed and make sure they're hearing from you, not just the lobbyists in the hallway.