While HEC watches many pieces of environmental legislation during the Indiana General Assembly, not all of it advances in the legislative process. Here are summaries of some of the bills we watched that did not move on this legislative session. To see active legislation in the General Assembly, visit our Bill Watch 2024 Page.
Bill Watch 2024
Bills that Did Not Advance in 2024
Support
HB 1117: School grants for lead testing and remediation
Introduced by Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D- Hammond) and co-authored by Rep. Michael Aylesworth (R- Hebron) and Rep. Mike Andrade (D- Munster), HB 1117 will create a state fund to pay for lead testing and remediation in schools. Since this is not a budget year, money would not be allocated to this fund yet, but it could receive grants or donations.
Final Update (as of 2/23):
While the concept of HB 1117 was added to SB 5, it has been removed at the request of Rep. Jackson due to technical difficulties.
Oppose
HB 1165: Regulatory sandbox
Introduced by Rep. Jake Teshka (R- South Bend), HB 1165 would establish a "regulatory sandbox" and a "right to start" program within the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) with the stated goal of promoting innovative businesses by allowing them to sidestep established and necessary regulations for health, safety, and the environment. A new Regulatory Relief Office would be formed under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce and housed in the IEDC to pick companies from within a pool of applicants who might receive a waiver or suspension of state law or regulation.
Update (2/2):
Despite passing the House Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee, HB 1165 was not heard in the House Ways & Means Committee ahead of the committee report deadline, meaning it does not advance to the full House. While this is positive, we remain watchful of this language re-emerging this Session.
Support
SB 259: Local wastewater and clean energy districts.
Introduced by Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis), SB 259 creates a funding avenue for local governments to support clean energy improvements including community solar, on-site solar, battery storage, and efficiency projects on commercial, industrial, agricultural property, school buildings, and local government buildings. Additionally, it would ensure meaningful participation from underserved communities by requiring a community benefits agreement for qualified clean energy improvements. SB 259 also creates a funding avenue for local wastewater improvements including connecting properties to the municipal sewer system.
Final Update (as of 2/2):
Unfortunately, SB 259 did not receive a hearing in the Senate Tax and Fiscal Committee by the committee report deadline, meaning it does not advance.
Oppose
HB 1382: Delaying fossil fuel closures
Authored by Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Boonville), HB 1382 would delay coal plants closures and limit any replacement energy generation sources to only natural gas, coal, nuclear, and any other "on-demand" energy sources. Besides adding an unnecessary burden to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), this bill encourages our public utilities to keep their current energy generation sources running as long as possible which are majority fossil fuels. Additionally, this bill includes language that significantly limits Indiana’s ability to benefit from federal clean energy funds including funds from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program (CPRG). Overall, HB 1382 favors fossil fuels and would significantly impact Indiana’s transition to clean renewable energy.
Update (as of 2/2):
HB 1382 did not receive a hearing in the House Utilities Committee ahead of the committee report deadline, meaning it does not advance to the full House. While this is positive, we remain watchful of this language re-emerging this Session.
Support
HB 1193: Community Solar
Introduced by Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), HB 1193 would support independent community solar in Indiana which would make solar accessible to homeowners, renters, small businesses, and more. The bill language would ensure a fair rate for solar credits which would be directly applied to subscriber utility bills to generate real bill savings for subscribers. Additionally, it would ensure meaningful participation from underserved communities.
The Hoosier Environmental Council is working in coalition with Hoosiers for Community Solar to bring community solar to Indiana. We need your help too. We're asking HEC supporters to contact your state legislators about the importance of community solar for Indiana. For more information and talking points on independent community solar, visit our community solar action page.
Update (as of 2/2):
Unfortunately, HB 1193 did not receive a hearing in the House Utilities Committee by the committee report deadline, meaning it does not advance.
Support
SB 177: Agrivoltaics task force
Authored by Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) with Sen. Blake Doriot (R- Goshen), SB 177 would create an agrivoltaics task force to research and determine what role the state plays in agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics is a term used to describe a dual use parcel of land with solar and agriculture. Agrivoltaic projects in Indiana and other Midwestern states have successfully grown a variety of crops and grazed animals between solar panels, showing agrivoltaics has potential to produce clean energy and food on the same piece of land.
This task force would determine the impact agrivoltaics has on the environment while reviewing best practices to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are stored in agricultural land. SB 177 has the potential to advance Indiana’s transition to clean renewable energy and a sustainable food system.
Update (as of 2/2):
Unfortunately, SB 177 did not receive a hearing in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee ahead of the committee report deadline, which means it does not advance.
Support
HB 1154: Prohibition of taking a designated homestead
Introduced by Rep. Robb Greene (R- Shelbyville), HB 1154 would create the Hoosier Homestead Farm program, which would be administered by the Indiana State Dept. of Agriculture. This Program would:
- commemorate as Hoosier Homestead farms properties that have been owned by the same family for at least 100 years, and
- Maintain an electronic registry of Hoosier homestead farms
HB 1154 would prohibit eminent domain projects from taking properties registered in the Hoosier Homestead Farm Program. The Hoosier Homestead Farm Program would honor Indiana's rich agricultural heritage and protect Indiana's farmland from future development.
Update (as of 2/2)
Unfortunately, HB 1154 has not received a hearing in the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee ahead of the committee report deadline, meaning it does not advance.
Support
HB 1305/SB 249: Major groundwater withdrawal facilities
HB 1305 (introduced by Rep. Sharon Negele, R-Attica) and SB 249 (introduced by Sen. Spencer Deery, R-Lafayette), would require a feasibility study and permit before a facility could withdraw 10 million gallons of groundwater per day or more for commercial or industrial purposes. This is a first step forward in state water supply planning. Rep. Negele spoke about this legislation at our Troubled Waters Ahead? webinar in December 2023 - watch the recording.
Update (as of 2/2):
Unfortunately, neither HB 1305 nor SB 249 received hearings in committee ahead of the committee report deadline, meaning they do not advance.
Support
HB 1172: Committee on climate resilience and economic growth
Authored by Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis), HB 1172 would create a Committee on Climate Resilience and Economic Growth to help Indiana seek climate-resilient, sustainable investments to address challenges and opportunities related to climate change. The Committee would also evaluate and identify ways the state can prepare for and address climate change impacts on Indiana’s economy including agriculture and manufacturing.
Update (as of 2/2):
Unfortunately, HB 1172 did not receive a hearing in the House Environmental Affairs Committee ahead of the committee report deadline, meaning it does not advance.
