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Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales starts statewide visits to all 92 counties in 2025. These visits are designed to strengthen community engagement, build valuable partnerships, and highlight office initiatives. Secretary Morales will travel across Indiana to meet with mayors, local officials, business leaders, and Hoosiers in each county.

With a week into the new year, Secretary Morales has already visited several counties with more stops planned throughout the week and month.

This is Secretary Morales’ third official round of visiting all 92 counties. In 2023, he visited all 92 counties within 6 months. Last year, he broke his own record and did it within 3 months.

“I’m excited to return to every corner of our great state again to meet with our local leaders and share the important work happening in our office. Visiting all 92 counties allows me to hear directly from Hoosiers we serve, learn about their priorities, and promote the services our office provides. Whether in elections, business services, or consumer protection, we strive to continue to meet the evolving needs of our state. I want our local leaders to know they have a partner in the Secretary of State’s Office,” said Diego Morales, Indiana Secretary of State.

During the statewide visits, Secretary Morales will hold one-on-one meetings with local leaders and stakeholders. These visits provide an opportunity for Secretary Morales to share new office initiatives and gain input on how the Secretary of State’s Office can continue to be a resource at the local level, to ensure community leaders and Hoosiers have access to the tools and support needed for success.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita says convoluted regulations will increase housing costs for working-class homeowners

Attorney General Todd Rokita is partnering with 15 states and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to challenge new radical energy standards that will make the American Dream of homeownership unattainable for many hardworking Hoosier families.

According to the NAHB, new standards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can add up to $31,000 to the price of a new home and take up to 90 years for a home buyer to realize a payback on the added cost of the home. For every $1,000 increase in the median price, more than 100,000 American households are priced-out of being able to buy that home.

Even the agencies concede that by requiring all HUD- and USDA-financed new single-family home construction to meet the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2019, they will drive down production of affordable housing at a time when low and middle-class families are finding homeownership out of reach.

“As a conservative, I love efficiency and would note that one cannot be a true ‘conservative’ without being willing to ‘conserve’ God’s green earth. But over-regulation, that doesn’t yield meaningful results and comes with wild costs, is a bad deal that common sense Hoosiers should reject,” Attorney General Rokita said. “In their name, we are rejecting this latest liberal crackpot whim with this lawsuit that if successful will help keep already terrible home ownership and rental costs from going through the roof. We’re seeing it more and more. We will continue standing up for homeowners and renters and fighting back against federal overreach.”

Attorney General Rokita thanked the Indiana Builders’ Association (IBA) for bringing this issue to his office. Rick Wajda, CEO of the IBA, said this ill-conceived policy will act as a deterrent to new construction at a time when Indiana and the nation desperately needs to boost its housing supply to lower shelter inflation costs. It is also in direct conflict with the current energy codes in the majority of jurisdictions around the country.

“At a time when Hoosiers are struggling to qualify for a mortgage or make a rent payment, this federal policy is the last thing our potential customers need,” Wajda said. “For every $1,000 increase in the cost of a house in Indiana, over 1,900 Hoosier households are priced out of the market. We need to reduce barriers to housing, not increase them. The Indiana Builders Association appreciates the efforts of Attorney General Rokita to stop these onerous costs being put on Hoosier homebuyers and renters.”

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and all Senate Republicans in reintroducing the Laken Riley Act. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday, is expected to be considered later this week in the Senate.

The legislation would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend or commit further crimes. The bill would ensure states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.

“Laken Riley should still be with us today. The man who killed Laken entered the United States illegally and was arrested and released multiple times before killing Laken,” said Senator Young. “Securing our border is a national security priority, and this bill is one of many steps we should take to reverse the Biden Administration’s open border policies.”

The entire Senate Republican Conference cosponsored the Laken Riley Act for the 119^th Congress, including Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.Dak.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Hoeven (R-N.Dak.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Boozman (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Curtis (R-Utah), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Rounds (R-N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) also cosponsored the legislation.

New 2024 Population Estimates Show Nation’s Population Grew by About 1% to 340.1 Million Since 2023

December 19, 2024

Written by:

Kristie Wilder

Following historically low growth at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. population grew substantially by almost 1% since 2023, outpacing average annual growth since 2000 and signaling a significant turnaround from the meager population gains at the start of this decade.

By 2024, after three consecutive years of population growth exceeding 0.5%, the United States seems to have recovered from pandemic-era lows.

The U.S. Census Bureau today released July 1, 2024, population estimates for the nation and states. The U.S. population reached 340.1 million, up 0.98% from 336.8 million on July 1, 2023 — the highest year-over-year increase since a jump of 0.99% between 2000 and 2001.

Population Trends Since 2000

Since 2000, the nation has grown by almost 58 million, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 0.8%. The most robust growth occurred between 2001 and 2008, fueled by changing migration trends and higher birth rates.

However, population trends have fluctuated over the past two decades, reflecting how major world and national events can influence population growth.

For instance, national security concerns immediately following 9/11 resulted in fewer migrants, slightly tempering population growth between 2001 and 2003.

Similarly, the financial crisis which started in 2008, dubbed “The Great Recession,” impacted both fertility and immigration in the United States. Between 2008 and 2009, births dipped by nearly 3% and net international migration fell almost 12%.

Figure 1. Annual Percent Change in U.S. Population: July 1, 2000-July 1, 2024

By the early 2010s, the pace of U.S. growth had begun to slow down. After a slight uptick in 2014-2015, population growth slowed again and 2016 ushered a new period of sluggish growth brought on by declining net international migration and falling birth rates (Figure 1).

That marked the start of a prolonged period of below-average growth.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery

At the start of the 2020s, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the nation’s population growth further.

A national emergency declaration resulted in travel restrictions, temporarily limiting entry. Also during this time, the number of deaths surged and births declined. This combination resulted in the United States experiencing the slowest period of growth on record in 2021 — as the population increased by just 0.16% — underscoring the pandemic’s effect on the population.

When the nation recovered from the pandemic, its population growth did as well, more than doubling from 2021 to 2022.

As travel restrictions started to ease and migration increased, the pace of growth quickened. A slight rise in births and decrease in the number of deaths supported the turnaround.

By 2024, after three consecutive years of population growth exceeding 0.5%, the United States seems to have recovered from pandemic-era lows.

What Influences Population Change?

Natural increase (births minus deaths) and net international migration (immigration minus emigration) are the major influences on population growth, but their relative contributions to growth have changed over time (Figure 2).

Figure 2. U.S. Annual Population Change, Natural Increase and Net International Migration: July 1, 2000-July 1, 2024

Natural increase has historically been the cornerstone of U.S. population growth. Yet, in recent years, its contribution has dwindled due to fewer births and more deaths. The aging of the population is fueled by the large number of Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 entering high mortality ages.

There was a brief uptick in births from 2021 to 2022, but rates returned to their downward trend in 2023.

In contrast, net international migration’s influence on population trends has increased over the last few years. Since 2021, it accounted for the majority of the nation’s growth — departure from the last two decades, when natural increase was the main factor.

More U.S. and state population and demographic components of change are available in the most recent population estimates release.

Kristie Wilder is a demographer in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Branch.

Attorney General Todd Rokita warns consumers about products recalled in December

Attorney General Todd Rokita is alerting Hoosiers to important consumer protection concerns for products recalled in December. The office is encouraging consumers to take advantage of opportunities available to them to return, fix, dispose, or replace a purchased recalled item that could be harmful to their families.  

“The holidays are over, now there is no better time to check your gifts for recalls,” Attorney General Rokita said. “If you purchased an item in December that has been recalled, then you should immediately stop using the product and see what forms of reimbursement the company that sold or manufactured the product is offering.”

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in December:    

If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice (linked above for all products). Then follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product, how to get the product fixed, how to dispose of the product, how to receive a refund for the product, or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product.      

To view recalls issued prior to December visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission website.       