Wendy Dant Chesser
STATE REPRESENTATIVE · DISTRICT 71
Showing up for
Southern Indiana,
every day.
RE-ELECT · NOVEMBER 2026
I'm Wendy Dant Chesser, your State Representative for District 71. I came to the Statehouse with a record of building jobs and opportunity here at home – and I'm running again to keep delivering for the families, workers, and businesses of Clark and Floyd Counties.
12,000+
JOBS CREATED IN SOUTHERN
INDIANA
120+
COMPANIES EXPANDED TO THE REGION
25+
YEARS OF PUBLIC & COMMUNITY SERVICE
50+
COMMUNITY EVENTS & TOWN HALLS THIS YEAR
A Jeffersonville native, a builder, a neighbor.
I
was raised on Maple Street near downtown Jeffersonville, graduated from Jeff High, and went on to Indiana University Southeast. After college I served in
the O'Bannon/Kernan administration, eventually leading the Indiana Rural Development Council – fighting for the Hoosier communities too often left behind.
In 2012 I came home to lead One Southern Indiana. Working with partners across Clark and Floyd Counties, we helped bring more than 120 companies to our region and create over 12,000 jobs for our neighbors. Today I bring that same focus on jobs, opportunity, and accountability to the Statehouse – where I have the honor of representing District 71.
I live in Jeffersonville with my daughter and my partner Eric. I'd be honored to continue earning your vote.
– Wendy
Legislative Wins
WHAT WE'VE DONE
Showing up. Following through. A first look at what your representation in the Statehouse has delivered for District 71, and what's still on the docket.
Medicare Supplement Insurance
Prohibits an issuer of a Medicare supplement policy or certificate from denying, conditioning the issuance or effectiveness of, or discriminating in the pricing of a Medicare supplement policy or certificate because of the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition of an applicant who meets certain conditions.
Disclosure of Details for Appointed Officials
Requires disclosure of the appointing authority and term of an appointed public officer: (1) in the meeting notice and agenda of the board on which the public officer is appointed to serve; and (2) on the board's website or appointing authority's website, if any. Provides that if the appointing authority or board does not have a website, the information must be published on the Internet through the computer gateway administered by the office of technology.
Real Estate Deposit Trust Rules
Requires a broker company to deposit funds belonging to others into a trust account that the broker company maintains. Requires that residential real estate sales disclosure forms include disclosures by an owner that a property is located within a locally designated historic district. Requires that residential real estate sales disclosure forms include disclosures by an owner of any conservation easement. Requires the Indiana professional licensing agency in consultation with the Indiana real estate commission to perform annual and random audits for compliance of more than one percent (1%) but less than ten percent (10%) of the practitioners who hold a broker's license required to take continuing education courses. Provides that to become a managing broker, an individual, among other things, must: (1) hold an active broker's license for at least three years; and (2) pass a written examination. Amends provisions relating to real estate agreements. Makes a technical correction.
Oversight of Sheriff's Commissary Fund
Requires the state board of accounts to establish annual or biennial training requirements for a sheriff and the sheriff's designee responsible for the oversight or administration of a jail commissary fund (fund). Requires a sheriff to provide a copy of the record of receipts and disbursements for the fund to the county fiscal body on a quarterly basis. (Current law requires the sheriff to provide a copy of the record of receipts and disbursements for the fund to the county fiscal body semiannually.) Provides that the fund may be used to pay for an audit or review of the fund by an independent certified public accountant for years in which the fund is not audited by the state board of accounts or otherwise required to be audited by an independent certified public accountant in a manner approved by the state board of accounts.
Government Efficiencies with Boards and Commissions
Creates the agricultural promotion and regulation task force to study various agriculture related topics. Makes changes to requirements for the readoption of administrative rules. Repeals, merges, consolidates, or otherwise modifies various boards, commissions, and other governmental bodies. Modifies or establishes various funds. Makes changes to the membership, duties, and operations of various boards, commissions, and other governmental bodies. Expands the applicability of a statute concerning county hospital governance to Perry County, Spencer County, and Orange County. Repeals the fire prevention and building safety commission (commission). Transfers the commission's responsibilities and administrative rules to the department of homeland security. Makes certain changes to the administration of building and safety statutes and building and safety codes. Makes technical corrections. Makes an appropriation.
Committee Assignments
WHERE I SERVE
Committees that shape District 71's future. Most of the real work in the Statehouse happens in committee – where bills are written, amended, and decided long before they reach the House floor. Here's where I sit, and why each one matters for our community.
commerce, small business,
& economic development
Financial
institutions
03
Insurance
04
roads &
Transportation
Priorities for District 71
WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR
Practical, people-first policy that reflects the values of Southern Indiana. Built from years of listening to workers, families, and small business owners across our community.
01
Restoring
TRUST and
accountability
Transparency is the cornerstone of public trust.
I pledge to communicate openly with the people I serve, uphold honesty and integrity, and stand with our local community, government, and law enforcement.
02
Creating opportunity
for hoosiers
I've spent my career building partnerships that bring jobs to Southern Indiana.
As your Representative, I'll keep fighting for our share of the state budget — and for long-term, higher-paying opportunities for our workers.
03
Education & workforce development
Our community thrives when working people have a real path to grow.
I'll champion access to skills training, certifications, licensure, and higher education — so every Hoosier can reach their potential.
04
Affordable, accessible childcare
Indiana ranks 50th in licensed childcare facilities per capita. That's unacceptable.
Childcare keeps families in the workforce — I'll push for the grants, tax credits, and support our providers and parents need.
What people are saying
IN THE NEWS
This campaign is powered by
neighbors.
GET INVOLVED
Whether you have ten dollars or ten hours, there's a place for you on this team. Here's how to plug in today.
THE NEWS AND TRIBUNE
Hoosiers talk disability-related issues at INSILC town hall with Clere, Dant Chesser
March 31, 2026
WAVE 3
Indiana State representative holds town hall recapping 2026 legislative session
Mar 7, 2026
WDRB
Indiana legislative session wraps up with Medicaid reform, bans camping on state property
February 27, 2026
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