Urgent Request to Reform SEA 1 to Protect Public Libraries and Local Services

I write as a concerned constituent and advocate for education, equity, and public access to knowledge. The recent passage of HB1, also referred to as SEA 1, has caused deep alarm in communities across Indiana, particularly among libraries and local governments that depend heavily on property tax and Local Income Tax revenue. I urge you to take immediate action to reverse or significantly reform this legislation to safeguard essential public services. The harm is already evident and will worsen. Many public libraries rely on property taxes as their primary funding source, and SEA 1 reduces property tax growth. Changes to the LIT distribution formula further jeopardize funding, making budgets unpredictable and potentially insufficient. Some library systems are already freezing hiring, merging departments, and cutting programs in anticipation of budget shortfalls. Smaller or rural libraries are especially vulnerable—they may be forced into structural deficits, staff cuts, or even closure. These cutbacks will not only limit book lending or programming, but also hinder public internet access, database services, tutoring spaces, meeting areas, and community literacy programs—services that disproportionately benefit rural, low-income, and under-resourced communities. Weakening libraries is not simply a matter of fewer books on the shelves; it is a threat to democratic access to learning, information, and civic engagement. Why repeal or reform is necessary: 1. Preserve equity and access. All Hoosiers deserve access to libraries, broadband, learning resources, community meeting spaces, and educational support. 2. Local control and predictability. Local governments must be able to plan budgets and fund infrastructure based on community needs. 3. Avoid cascading damage. Cuts to libraries will ripple outward, harming literacy, workforce development, and the digital divide. 4. Restore community trust. Legislators must earn public confidence by listening and undoing harmful overreach. What I am asking: • Repeal HB1 / SEA 1, or at minimum suspend its most harmful provisions • Restore or protect funding for libraries and other critical local services to pre-HB1 levels • Establish a bipartisan commission to study the impacts of HB1 and recommend corrective changes • Provide flexibility or emergency funding for communities already facing service cuts • Guarantee a transparent review process with public hearings so Hoosiers can voice their concerns As your constituent, I strongly believe that public institutions like libraries are not optional—they are essential to a functioning democracy, lifelong learning, and community cohesion. I urge you to act promptly and courageously in the next legislative session to undo this damage. Please notify me of how you will respond. I, and many others, will be watching your next steps closely. Thank you for your time and public service.