1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support an amendment to Senate Bill 4 that protects Indiana public libraries from defunding. With a vote scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2026, immediate action is needed to prevent this legislation from fundamentally destabilizing library services across our state. As currently written, SB4 contains no guardrails on budget reduction for public libraries. If a library grows its budget at or above 50% of the Maximum Levy Growth Quotient, the bill could result in significant defunding and would not prevent library budgets from being zeroed out entirely. This represents a radical departure from how library governance has worked in Indiana for generations, allowing libraries to be easily defunded by their county or city without meaningful oversight. I ask you to support amendments that would restore guardrails limiting budget reduction to 10%, delay implementation until January 1, 2029 in alignment with SEA 1, and limit the focus of binding review to fiscal concerns. These changes would preserve local control while preventing the complete elimination of library funding that SB4 currently allows. Public libraries provide essential services that Hoosiers rely on daily, from early literacy programs and homework help for students to job search assistance and internet access for those without home connectivity. Allowing these institutions to be defunded without reasonable limits threatens the educational and economic opportunities of constituents across Indiana. The proposed amendments offer a balanced approach that addresses fiscal concerns while maintaining the stability libraries need to serve their communities effectively. I strongly encourage you to support these amendments when SB4 comes to a vote on February 23rd. Our public libraries deserve protection from arbitrary defunding that could eliminate services thousands of Hoosiers depend on.