Occupation/Current Position
Grape Grower/Substitute Teacher
Education
B.A., Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis B.S., Lake Michigan College
Campaign Email
contact@maureenbauer.com
The first bill I will champion in 2027 is strengthening protections against non-consensual, AI-generated sexual images. Technology is moving faster than our laws, and Hoosiers deserve clear protections against exploitation and abuse.
My other top priorities reflect what I hear from constituents every day. I will continue fighting to address PFAS contamination and protect public health, building on our firefighter biomonitoring work. I will advance policies that support survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, focusing on prevention and access to services. I will also work to lower costs for working families, including utility affordability and healthcare access.
Finally, I will continue to defend fair representation by opposing efforts like mid-decade redistricting.
First, we must invest in people. Workforce development should align with industry needs by expanding career and technical education, apprenticeships, and pathways into healthcare, the trades, and education.
We must support working families by addressing affordability, including childcare, healthcare, and housing. Childcare is an economic issue. When families cannot afford it, people are pushed out of the workforce and business growth suffers.
We also need reliable infrastructure like roads, broadband, and energy, while keeping utility costs fair.
Finally, we must attract talent by protecting public health, our environment, and quality of life.
Above all, stability matters. Businesses and workers depend on fair rules and responsible government focused on long-term growth.
I opposed SB 1 in 2025, along with cities and towns across Indiana of all political backgrounds that warned they could not sustain the cuts. Despite the blatant overreach into local government, those warnings were ignored, resulting in a bill that failed everyone. Property taxes remain too high, while the services people rely on to keep communities safe and places people want to live, like fire protection, police, schools, and libraries, were underfunded.
These reforms do not strike the right balance. Property tax relief should not come at the expense of essential local services.
I support a more balanced approach that provides targeted relief to homeowners while preserving stable local funding, ensuring corporations pay their fair share, and giving communities flexibility to meet local needs.
Indiana’s K–12 funding system must prioritize public schools as the foundation of our education system. For too long, the legislature has diverted resources from public classrooms while expanding private school vouchers beyond their original intent.
Today, vouchers are universal, yet pre-K programs were cut, limiting access for families who need early education most. At the same time, high-income families can use public dollars for private tuition. That is not fair or sustainable.
Education is the greatest equalizer. Every child deserves access to a high-quality education. I support reinvesting in public schools, restoring pre-K access, and ensuring accountability for all schools receiving public funds, including consistent standards for curriculum, discipline, and reporting. Our policies should reflect fairness and transparency.
Our education system should ensure every student is prepared for life after graduation. However, these requirements must not come at the cost of flexibility or create new barriers.
I am concerned that readiness seals could limit student choice, especially for those still exploring their interests or facing resource gaps between schools and districts. Critics have noted that many students may struggle to meet these new requirements without the access to internships, dual credit, or career programs. Not all communities have those same opportunities, and we cannot create a system where a student’s future is determined by their ZIP code.
I support changes that restore individual student flexibility, ensure equitable access across communities, and provide schools with the resources needed to help every student succeed.
Indiana’s firearms laws should prioritize public safety and responsible ownership, especially when children are involved.
I was proud to author a law requiring education on safe firearm storage in homes where a child is present, because prevention starts with awareness.
I support common-sense safe storage laws and increased funding for gun locks and other safety devices to help prevent accidental shootings and unauthorized access by minors. Safe storage is also critical for suicide prevention and protecting victims of domestic violence, where access to a firearm can turn a crisis into a tragedy.
When a child gains access to an unsecured firearm, there must be accountability for the parent or guardian responsible for maintaining a safe home environment.
These policies are about protecting families and preventing tragedies before they occur
Addressing Indiana’s maternal and infant health crisis was one of the main reasons I ran for office. For too long, we were not even fully studying these outcomes. Indiana’s first maternal mortality report was released in 2018, and the findings were alarming. One life lost is too many, and the majority of these deaths, often around 80%, are preventable.
We have made some progress. Expanding Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum in 2021 was a step in the right direction, though Indiana lagged behind other states.
I have taken steps requesting an interim study committee to examine the role of midwives and birth centers in addressing OB and hospital deserts across our state. As rural hospitals continue to close, too many families are left without access to care during pregnancy and childbirth. Every Hoosier family deserves a safe start.
