INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana state Rep. Rita Fleming announced Monday that she is retiring, citing a desire to spend more time with her family.
The Democratic lawmaker from Jeffersonville in southern Indiana was first elected to the state House in 2018. Fleming’s statement said she is leaving office immediately.
“I have 15 grandchildren, and they and the rest of my family are my priority,” Fleming said in a statement. “Legislative sessions at the Statehouse in Indianapolis are long and it takes a lot of work to properly represent House District 71.”
Fleming faced a rematch in the general election against Republican Scott Hawkins, whom she narrowly defeated in 2022 by a margin of about one point. A caucus will choose her replacement on the November ballot.
Fleming was the ranking minority member of the Insurance Committee and served on the Natural Resources and Public Health Committees.
Fleming, a retired obstetrician-gynecologist, is known for writing and supporting legislation related to reproductive health care, including a 2022 law banning the chaining of prisoners during labor and delivery.
This year, she authored a bill that would require hospitals to offer contraception to postpartum Medicaid patients. Democrats became divided over it after a committee removed the option to offer intrauterine devices or intrauterine devices.
The latest law, signed by Republican Governor Eric Holcomb, requires hospitals to offer these patients a subdermal arm implant contraceptive option after delivery.
“As a retired physician with decades of experience, Rita’s empathy, caring and firsthand insights have helped her improve Indiana’s public health and health care policy,” House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta said in a statement .
