As the 2025 legislative session comes to a close, Indiana lawmakers have finalized a $44 billion budget that includes a significant increase in cigarette taxes and multiple funding cuts. The Republican majority celebrated the budget as a means of addressing priority areas, while Democrats criticized it for lacking essential investments and risking public health. Notable provisions of the budget include a $2 hike in the cigarette tax aimed at generating revenue amid a projected budget shortfall, and reductions in funding for higher education and public health services. Additionally, measures that will introduce vouchers for all students in 2026 were approved. The session had its share of last-minute negotiations, resulting in cuts to public broadcasting and economic development funding, leading to concerns about local impacts and future growth. Lawmakers are now sending several bills, including modifications to health care and state contracts, to the governor, hoping to navigate through the complexities of the budgetary constraints ahead.