The 2023 Indiana General Assembly

Each year, the Hoosier Environmental Council seeks and builds partnerships within the General Assembly to help push forward legislation that includes protection of our waters from toxic pollutants, conservation of natural spaces, pushing forward the transition to clean renewable energy, being prepared for climate change, and much more. The outcomes are dependent upon legislators hearing from your, their constituents, about your environmental priorities.

Some legislators have proven themselves as advocates in line with HEC’s mission, and we want to recognize them. Oftentimes, we find common cause with your elected representatives on some issues, but opposition on others. Occasionally, some legislators push forward legislation that is so damaging to our environment and quality of life that we must call them out for the damage that could be caused by their policies.

In each case, we hope you will make your voice heard. By sharing stories of environmental impact on your life – both good and bad – with your legislators, you can make a difference in your state representative’s and state senator’s decision making. At HEC, we work to give you the information you need to be an effective advocate. Below is a list of members of the Indiana General Assembly that stood out to HEC this past legislative session. Read below to learn more about the impact they are having.

Do you have questions about your legislator’s environmental record? Please reach out to our team for more information.

Legislators who were Advocates for the Environment

Rep. David Abbott (R-Rome City)
  • Championed increased funding for DNR’s lake and river enhancement program (HEA 1304)
  • Introduced legislation which would have reduced the negative impact of wakeboarding on lakes (HB 1305)
  • Co-authored legislation that creates an option for Indiana counties to form watershed commissions (HEA 1639)
Sen. Ron Alting (R- Lafayette)
  • Authored a bill which would have created a climate taskforce (SB 335)
  • Supported amendment to remove dangerous coal ash provisions from HEA 1623
Rep. Mike Andrade (D- Munster)
  • Co-authored legislation that creates a biomonitoring program for PFAS in firefighters (HEA 1219)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
Rep. Michael Aylesworth (R- Hebron)
  • Championed legislation that creates an option for Indiana counties to form watershed commissions (HEA 1639)
  • Introduced a bill which would have reduced the number of failing septic systems, thus protecting our waterways (HB 1218)
  • Co-authored a bill that would have lowered property taxes for property owners who preserve wetlands (HB 1515)
  • Co-authored legislation that will help reduce children’s exposure to lead (HEA 1138)
  • Sponsored the creation of a solar panel and wind power equipment disposal study (SEA 33)
Sen. Eric Bassler (R- Washington)
  • Co-authored a bill that would have created a climate taskforce (SB 335)
  • Authored legislation that would enable Indiana’s Environmental Rules Board to update air permit fees (SEA 155)
  • Supported amendment to remove dangerous coal ash provisions from HEA 1623
Rep. Maureen Bauer (D- South Bend)
  • Introduced legislation creating a biomonitoring program for PFAS in firefighters (HEA 1219)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
Sen. Mike Bohacek (R- Michiana Shores)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions, including testifying on the Senate Floor in favor of removing these provisions (HEA 1623)
Rep. Pat Boy (D- Michigan City)
  • Introduced legislation that would have improved the safety of coal ash disposal (HB 1190) and that would have created a greenhouse gas inventory grant program (HB 1193)
  • Introduced legislation that would have lowered property taxes for property owners who preserve wetlands (HB 1515)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions, including introducing an amendment on the House floor to remove these provisions (HEA 1623)
Sen. Jean Breaux (D- Indianapolis)
  • Sponsored increased funding for DNR’s lake and river enhancement program (HEA 1304) and legislation that creates an option for Indiana counties to form watershed commissions (HEA 1639)
  • Championed appropriate use of floodplain maps in SEA 242 including introducing a beneficial amendment on the Senate floor
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
Sen. Michael Crider (R- Greenfield)
  • Supported increased funding for land conservation
  • Refused to hear anti-transit legislation as chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Transportation Committee (SB 245)
  • Sponsored the creation of a biomonitoring program for PFAS in firefighters (HEA 1219)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
Sen. Spencer Deery (R- Lafayette)
  • Spoke out against legislation which will increase energy costs, give more control to utilities, and potentially hinder renewable energy implementation (HEA 1420) in committee by highlighting the importance of sustainability, reliability, and affordability in transmission decision making
  • Supported amendment to remove dangerous coal ash provisions from HEA 1623
Sen. Dan Dernulc (R- Highland)
  • Co-authored a bill that would have created a climate taskforce (SB 335)
  • Authored legislation that enables Indiana’s Environmental Rules Board to update air permit fees (SEA 155)
  • Sponsored legislation that will help reduce children’s exposure to lead (HEA 1138)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
Rep. Sue Errington (D- Muncie)
  • Co-authored legislation that will help reduce children’s exposure to lead (HEA 1138) and that would have lowered property taxes for property owners who preserve wetlands (HB 1515)
  • Sponsored legislation that enables Indiana’s Environmental Rules Board to update air permit fees (SEA 155)
  • Introduced an amendment on the House floor to create a community solar facility program. This program would have legally established third-party community solar, which would have increased consumer choice and solar energy in our state.
  • Introduced an amendment on the House floor to remove dangerous wetlands language from SB 414
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
Sen. Jon Ford (R- Terre Haute)
  • Co-authored a bill that would have created a climate taskforce (SB 335)
Sen. Sue Glick (R- LaGrange)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions, including testifying in favor of removing these provisions (HEA 1623)
  • Supported and authored legislation to improve the safety of coal ash disposal (SB 399)
  • Sponsored legislation that creates an option for Indiana counties to form watershed commissions (HEA 1639), legislation to create a biomonitoring program for PFAS in firefighters (HEA 1219), and increased funding for DNR’s lake and river enhancement program (HEA 1304)
  • Championed appropriate use of floodplain maps in SEA 242
Rep. Carey Hamilton (D- Indianapolis)
  • Introduced a bill that would create a commission to study the impact of climate change in Indiana (HB 1604)
  • Co-authored legislation that creates an option for Indiana counties to form watershed commissions (HEA 1639)
  • Championed appropriate use of floodplain maps in SEA 242 including introducing a beneficial amendment on the House floor
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D- Hammond)
  • Championed legislation that will help reduce children’s exposure to lead (HEA 1138)
  • Co-authored legislation to reduce the negative impact of wakeboarding on lakes (HB 1305)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
*Sen. Jean Leising (R- Oldenburg)
  • Worked carefully in conference committee with Rep. Beau Baird and many stakeholders on policy regarding the use of floodplain maps (SEA 242)
Sen. Rick Neimeyer (R- Lowell)
  • Introduced and championed legislation that enables Indiana’s Environmental Rules Board to update air permit fees (SEA 155)
  • Authored legislation that would have helped hold factory farms accountable and reduced the level of pollution caused through these operations (SB 91)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
  • Sponsored legislation that will help reduce children’s exposure to lead (HEA 1138)
  • As chair of the Senate Environmental Affairs committee, gave a hearing to legislation that would create a climate task force (SB 335); this is tempered by the fact that he did not hold a vote on this legislation.
Rep. Matt Pierce (D- Bloomington)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions, including speaking forcefully on the House Floor against the bill and these provisions (HEA 1623)
  • Consistent champion for expansion of distributed energy generation and freedom in energy choices
Sen. Rodney Pol (D- Chesterton)
  • Championed the removal of dangerous coal ash provisions from HEA 1623, including introducing amendments and testifying on the Senate floor
  • Authored and introduced legislation to improve the safety of coal ash disposal (SB 399)
  • Sponsored legislation to create a biomonitoring program for PFAS in firefighters (HEA 1219) and introduced a senate version of the same bill (SB 482)
  • Introduced an amendment to increase funding for trails in the Senate version of the state budget
Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D- Indianapolis)
  • Co-authored a bill to create a climate taskforce (SB 335)
  • Sponsored legislation to create a biomonitoring program for PFAS in firefighters (HEA 1219)
  • Championed appropriate use of floodplain maps in SEA 242 including introducing a beneficial amendment on the Senate floor
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)
Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D- East Chicago)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions, including testifying in favor of removing these provisions (HEA 1623)
  • Sponsored legislation to create a biomonitoring program for PFAS in firefighters (HEA 1219), increased funding for DNR’s lake and river enhancement program (HEA 1304), and legislation that will help reduce children’s exposure to lead (HEA 1138)
  • Co-authored legislation that would enable Indiana’s Environmental Rules Board to update air permit fees (SEA 155)
Sen. Greg Walker (R- Columbus)
  • Authored legislation that creates of a solar panel and wind power equipment disposal study (SEA 33)
  • Supported an amendment to remove damaging coal ash language from HEA 1623
Sen. Shelli Yoder (D- Bloomington)
  • Introduced and championed a bill to create a climate taskforce (SB 335)
  • Sponsored legislation that will help reduce children’s exposure to lead (HEA 1138), and increased funding for DNR’s lake and river enhancement program (HEA 1304)
  • Authored a bill that would have created an energy audit of the state government campus (SB 221)
  • Opposed legislation with damaging coal ash provisions (HEA 1623)

Lawmakers who were Obstacles for the Environment

Representative Steve Bartels (R-Eckerty)
  • Championed legislation that adds additional burdens on Indiana’s agencies, including the Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) (HEA 1623)
  • Insisted on the inclusion of damaging coal ash provisions in HEA 1623
Sen. Chris Garten (R- Charlestown)
  • Lead effort against the removal of damaging coal ash provisions from HEA 1623, including testifying on the Senate Floor
*Sen. Jean Leising (R- Oldenburg)
  • As Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, denied a hearing to legislation that would have helped hold factory farms accountable and reduced the level of pollution caused through these operations (SB 91)
Rep. Doug Miller (R- Elkhart)
  • Introduced an amendment which would have reduced protections for Indiana’s wetlands, tempered by the fact that he spoke with stakeholders and state agency personnel afterwards and did not advocate further for its inclusion after the wetland amendment was ruled nongermane
Sen. Ryan Mishler (R- Bremen)
  • As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, allowed for the removal of funding for land conservation from the senate version of the state budget
Rep. Alan Morrison (R- Brazil)
  • As Chair of the House Environmental Affairs Committee, denied hearings for legislation that would have improved the safety of coal ash disposal (HB 1190) and which would have reduced the number of failing septic systems, thus protecting our waterways (HB 1218)
  • As Chair of the House Environmental Affairs Committee, allowed a damaging wetland amendment to be added to an unrelated bill (SB 414) in a manner that excluded stakeholder input