Jordan, Donato hear public concern on bills proposed this legislative session

State Senator Stacey Donato, R-Logansport, and State Rep. Jack Jordan, R-Bremen, heard public concern on legislation proposed on education matters, the banning of "abortion-inducing drugs" and the dissolvement of township governments and fire territories at this year's first Legislative Breakfast in Fulton County.

The Fulton County Chamber of Commerce and Fulton County Farm Bureau's 2025 Legislative Breakfast series kicked off Saturday morning at the Kewanna-Union Township Public Library. The event, serving as an opportunity for the public to communicate one-on-one with their state legislators, featured State Senator Stacey Donato, R-Logansport, and State Rep. Jack Jordan, R-Bremen. They provided a legislative preview, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Jordan spoke to the crowd on upholding fiscal responsibility by passing an honest and balanced two-year state budget that maintains critical investments in education and infrastructure while protecting taxpayers. Jordan believes that reducing regulations on K-12 schools in Indiana would increase flexibility while focusing on outcomes to give local communities more control over education. 

“It’s crazy the things that our public schools have to do on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “It’s just way overregulated,” Jordan said.

“Teachers know better about what to do in a classroom,” he added. 

Among those in the crowd Saturday arguing against the bill was former art teacher for Rochester Community School Corporation, Gretchen Coplen.

"These things talking about being removed in House Bill 1002 are things that you talk of as regulations that are also opportunities and assets to programs that further higher education. Public schools have been around this area for around 200 years and have grown to include so many things, including helping families with children who are struggling with poverty, or in abusive situations. They've provided food, counseling, and helped in many aspect for those in the community who may not have that help. This bill makes many of these programs being taken away. One of the things this bill takes away is an advanced program for math and science, as well as the art education program," Coplen said. 

House Bill 1002 removes and repeals various education provisions and expired education provisions, including certain department of education requirements, program for the advancement of math and science, the arts education program, grants for mental health counselor licenses for school counselors, funds for elementary school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists program, and more. 

Jordan responded to Coplen by saying he hoped the intention of the bill was to give local schools more freedom and flexibility.

Many local firefighters were also among the crowd on Saturday, with concerns about House Bill 1233, which if passed would mean that on Jan. 1, 2027, in all counties except Marion County, the township government would be dissolved, with the county executive assuming the powers and duties of township trustees with regard to fire protection and emergency services.  All fire protection districts and fire protection territories would be dissolved. Fire services would then be provided in accordance with a county fire protection and emergency medical services plan, where the county emergency management director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of administering the county plan. 

District 5 Chairman of the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association John Grolich was among those speaking against the bill, representing the fire service of Marshall County and 39 fire departments in several surrounding counties. Grolich highlighted that the bill replacing all fire chiefs, fire districts would cut into pensions and affect the community greater than lawmakers realized. 

 “We’re so passionate about this bill, that if you support this bill, we can no longer support you,” Grolich said. 

Another among the crowd, Sarah Straeter-Tackett, a nurse for the past 16 years who has served Parkview’s flight crew in Fulton County for the past decade. Tackett's biggest question and concern was over Senate Bill 171, which seeks to ban "abortion-inducing drugs." She stated that while some medications were indeed used for abortions, they also have life-saving measures that can be used for hemorrhage post-birth, endometriosis, certain cancers, as well as ectopic and tubal pregnancy.

Tackett urged law makers to think more about banning necessary medications that could potentially save lives.

"Just because they're labeled as medication used for abortions doesn't mean that they don't have life-saving capabilities that could potentially save a life," she said. 

Other legislative breakfasts are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Akron Community Center, featuring Indiana 2nd District Congressman Rudy Yakym, and Saturday, March 8, featuring a local update from Rochester Mayor Trent Odell and Fulton County Commissioners Bryan Lewis, Rick Ranstead and Dave Sommers.