In Fishers Voting Recap - SEA 2 Medicaid Matters

At the end of the Indiana General Assembly’s 2025 session, the Republican supermajority voted to pass Senate Enrolled Act 2, Medicaid Matters. Several Democratic lawmakers, including Hamilton County’s own Victoria Garcia Wilburn, proposed amendments to ameliorate the bill’s consequences, but they were all voted down.

With its required additional and extensive administrative reviews, SEA 2 will not only cost Indiana taxpayers more, but will also cause many eligible Hoosiers to lose Medicaid benefits. When more people are uninsured, healthcare prices increase for everyone.

Senate Enrolled Act 2 added work requirements and quarterly eligibility reviews for Medicaid recipients. This bill was authored by Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-9), Sen. Chris Garten (R-45), and Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-5). Gov. Mike Braun signed it into law on May 1, 2025.

Fishers legislators Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler (R-29), Rep. Chris Jeter (R-88), and Sen. Kyle Walker (R-31) all voted in favor of this bill. Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-32) was the only Fishers legislator to vote against it. As Speaker of the House, Rep. Todd Huston (R-37) chose not to vote. 

So overall, the impacts of SEA 2 include:

1. The required quarterly reviews (as opposed to annual reviews) will cost taxpayers more.

2. More Hoosiers will lose coverage due to complicated work requirements.

3. Insured Hoosiers' healthcare costs will increase to compensate for the increase in the uninsured population.