Braun joins protestors at Indiana Statehouse rally calling for property-tax reform
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Gov. Mike Braun joined a few hundred protestors at the Indiana Statehouse on Monday afternoon who demanded the Legislature pass widespread property-tax reform and threatened to vote out lawmakers who don’t deliver.
Many of those in the crowd, whose chants could heard throughout the Statehouse, wore green to symbolize the money they say is lost through property taxes. Many held up signs, both handwritten and printed, with sayings such as “Property tax is theft,” “My home is not your piggy bank,” and “Eliminate property taxes now.”
Dressed in his signature blue button-up shirt under his jacket, Braun told the crowd he was rolling up his sleeves and would make sure Senate Bill 1, this year’s primary bill for property-tax relief, would be in “a good place.”
Braun advocated for a plan that would institute growth caps and expand the homestead deduction, but the Senate instead passed legislation last month that would slow property-tax growth and target relief to vulnerable demographics. Last week, Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, introduced yet another bill version that would overhaul the system and provide relief over time.
The bill is on hold for a few weeks while the House Ways and Means Committee negotiates and finds common ground on an amendment.
Conservative WIBC-FM 93.1 radio hosts, advocates and politicians called out lawmakers who introduced or voted for a pared-down version of the original Senate Bill 1, which initially contained Braun’s ambitious plan.
“They want you to act like they’re doing something,” said Rob Kendall, WIBC talk show host and rally organizer. “As bad as [the Senate’s bill] was, it might be better than what the House came up with.”
The crowd broke out into several chants of “vote them out” and “primary” in a call to challenge incumbent lawmakers who don’t work to pass property-tax reform.
Speakers mentioned two Republican leaders by name: Thompson and President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville. The pair, along with Sen. Travis Holdman of Markle, have felt the brunt of constituent pushback because their favored legislation would not lower tax bills in 2026 but rather slow increases over time.
The primary hurdle for expansive property tax relief is the reluctance of local governments to cut millions of dollars out of their budgets. Local leaders warned that Braun’s proposal and the Senate’s plan would result in significant cuts to critical services.
Braun, who spoke largely without a script, said lawmakers need to get the message many of their constituents are asking for.
“I so often hear from the folks that we need to get [lawmakers’] minds right about real property-tax relief,” Braun said. “They say they’re not hearing it. Well, they’ll be hearing it today if they haven’t before.”
Also on hand were Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Reps. Craig Haggard of Mooresville, Andrew Ireland of Indianapolis and J.D. Prescott of Union City, who stirred the crowd with speeches as well.