The 2025 Indiana Legislative Session begins on Wednesday, January 8th. For additional resources, click the images below.
Indiana General Assembly
Bill Watch 2025
Following
HB 1001: State Budget
The legislative vehicle for Indiana’s biennial budget always originates in the House and is labeled HB1001. This year’s bill was flavored by Governor Braun’s input, with new priorities and a tight fiscal projection. HEC has been working closely with our conservation allies on the budget for DNR in general, as well as for State Parks and for the President Harrison Conservation Trust.
HEC will work hard in the second half of the session to increase funding for our priorities. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the conservation funding needs and what is provided in the current budget bill.
HEC priorities HB 1001
Harrison Conservation Trust $15m over two years $0
State Wildlife Action Plan $5 m/year $0
State Parks $50m/yr deferred Maintenance $50m/yr
Trails/Next Level Trails $5 m/yr state park trails $0
Clean Water Indiana $3.9m/yr $6m/yr
DNR general fund $15m/yr (DNR ask) $15m/yr
Note, too, that all the dollars in this proposed budget reflect a 5% across the board reduction based on Governor Braun’s demand.
We have much work to do and invite you to speak to your legislators to tell them why you value state parks, trails and preserved spaces for recreation and quiet enjoyment.
Update
HB 1001 was amended on 2/17, vigorously debated on the House floor on 2/19, and passed the House on vote of 66-28 on 2/20.
Oppose
SB 178: Natural Gas as a Clean Energy Source
SB 178 states that natural gas is a "clean" or "green" energy source for state and federal funding purposes. While it’s true that burning natural gas or methane releases less emissions than coal or oil, the process of drilling, extracting, and transporting it generates significant methane leaks. Methane is 34 times stronger than CO2 at trapping heat over a 100-year period and is a major contributor to climate change. HEC suspects this bill’s aim is to attract new federal and state funding towards expanding the use of methane. New investment in fossil fuel resources risks becoming stranded investments because of the dramatic growth in lower cost clean energy technologies.
Update
SB 178 passed its third reading on the Senate floor on 2/17, gaining House sponsor Rep. Doug Miller (R-48) as a House sponsor and Sen. James Tomes (R-49) and Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D-2) as coauthors. On 2/18, it was referred to the House.
Oppose
SB 254: Biofuel Tax Credits
SB 254 authored by Sen. Brian Buchanan (R -Dist. 7) provides increased tax credits for higher blends of biofuel in gasoline and diesel fuel, such as ethanol. Biofuels are energy sources that are typically created from plant matter, like corn and soybeans. Blending with gasoline or diesel fuel is a common practice to reduce emissions from tailpipes. However, ethanol and other biofuels are not climate-friendly solutions. Ethanol blends and biofuel produce harmful emissions that affect air quality in rural communities and reduce fuel efficiency. Ethanol production is also energy-intensive and therefore is not a cost-effective alternative to other fuels. Plug-in hybrid vehicles and EV’s offer a much cleaner alternative to subsidizing the production of biofuels.
Update
SB 254 passed the Senate on 2/10 and gained Rep. Kendell Culp (R-16) as a House sponsor. On 2/11, the bill was referred to the House.
Oppose
SB 425: Energy Production Zones
HEC opposes SB 425 - Energy Production Zones, in its current amended form. Authored by Sen. Eric Koch (R-44), this bill allows new coal, gas powered and nuclear energy production facilities to be approved by the IURC without local governing approval, if the projects are located on land previously used for mining or power generation above 80 megawatts. SB 425 has essentially become a vehicle for easier SMR, coal, and natural gas siting but excludes clean and affordable renewable energy. This is problematic because solar and wind paired with energy storage are both cheaper and faster to build than their fossil fuel counterparts.
Indiana needs new energy resources to support a growing economy and companies considering locating or growing in Indiana are demanding clean energy. This bill will significantly delay new energy development because new fossil fuel generation will take at least five years to bring online and nuclear will take ten to fifteen years or more. Solar and wind developers are ready to build now and can do so quickly. However, they are beginning to wonder if Indiana is closed to renewable energy. This bill tells them that we are. Tell your legislators to support wind, solar, and battery siting today!
Update
SB 425 passed its third reading on 2/20, and gained Rep. Edmond Soliday (R-4) as a House sponsor.
Oppose
HB 1007, SB 424, & SB 423: Small Modular (nuclear) Reactors
HB 1007, authored by Representative Edmond Soliday (R -Dist. 4), SB 424 authored by Senator Eric Koch (R - Dist. 44), Senator Brian Buchanan (R -Dist. 7) and Senator Jean Leasing (R -Dist. 42), and SB 423 authored by Senator Eric Koch (R -Dist. 44) Senator Stacey Donato (R -Dist. 18), and Senator Spence Deery (R- Dist. 23) are similar bills concerning Small Modular (nuclear) Reactors (SMRs). SMRs are not only expensive, but they’re risky investments. Each of these bills allows utilities to pass along expenses, with an additional guaranteed rate of return, for speculative costs like planning, design, and permitting of SMRs. These expenses, which can cost $200-$300 million, will be charged to ratepayers even if a planned SMR is never built! Costs associated with project delays, budget overruns, and cancelled projects will also fall on ratepayers if this legislation passes.
Recent history offers corroborating evidence that SMRs - and nuclear power in general - are risky. One example is Georgia, Southern Co., which recently completed the first new nuclear plant built in the US in decades. The project finished 7 years behind schedule and cost more than $30 billion – more than double the cost projections. In Idaho, an ambitious effort by NuScale to deploy SMRs was cancelled after the project’s price tag ballooned from $5 billion to $9 billion.
Planned SMRs offer one of the most expensive forms of new energy and no SMRs are currently operational in the US. We should prioritize cheaper, faster, and better forms of energy generation and load management. For more information, check out our blog post! Additionally, write to your legislators to tell them to oppose HB 1007, SB 424, and SB 423 today.
Update
The Senate bills passed the Utilities Committee on 1/23 and were considered by the full Senate on third reading on 2/3. HB1007 was amended and passed the House Utilities Committee on 1/28. It will be considered by the full House, likely in the next week.
Oppose
HB 1037: Stormwater Management
HB 1037, authored by Rep. Doug Miller (R-48), is a bill authored by and for the benefit of homebuilders. It will allow builders to sidestep local erosion control rules with the result that more pollutant-laden sediment will run off from bare ground construction sites. The bill specifically provides that local units of government may not have any rules or ordinances that are more stringent than the general construction permits under the state rule, which itself can be no more stringent than the federal (EPA) rule. The bill passed the House Natural Resources committee on Jan. 29 and will be considered by the full House on second reading Feb. 3. HEC, as well as all organizations that care about clean water, opposes this bill and David Van Gilder testified against it in committee. Write to your legislators to oppose HB 1037 today.
Update
HB 1037 went before the House and passed on 2/4. On the same day, Sen. Blake Doriot (R-12) became a Senate sponsor, and on 2/5, HB 1037 was referred to the Senate.
Support
SB 4: Water Utilities
HEC supports SB 4, authored by Sen. Eric Koch (R-44), Sen. Chris Garten (R-45), and Sen. Susan Glick (R-13) as a first step toward a comprehensive approach to protecting Indiana’s water resources. Water is vital to our economy, agriculture, and daily life. While Indiana is water-rich, uncertainty exists about supply, particularly with the growth of data centers and advanced manufacturing. Climate change and the loss of natural infrastructure, such as wetlands, also contribute to concerns over groundwater and supply. Two-thirds of Indiana’s drinking water comes from groundwater, and farmers depend on it for irrigation.
While we support the new permitting process for water transfers, we question the exemption for groundwater. The bill excludes transfers unless they significantly affect surface water, but groundwater depletion may not immediately impact surface water. We also appreciate the bill’s requirement for environmental impact assessments and ongoing reviews, which recognizes the importance of natural infrastructure services. Additionally, encouraging water conservation through required conservation programs is a positive step. However, the bill overlooks the critical issue of water quality. Impaired waters can require expensive purification before being used in industries like chip manufacturing, and the bill fails to address this. As John Ketzenberger of TNC noted, 80% of people believe Indiana needs a comprehensive water policy, and 81% prioritize water protection in state elections.
HEC sees this bill as an important first step, but additional actions are needed to safeguard Indiana’s water resources.
Update
SB 4 had its first reading on 3/3 and was referred to the House Committee on Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications.
Support
SB 121: Destructive Minnow Fishing
SB 121 authored by Sen. Spencer Deery, Sen. Michael Crider, and Sen. Scott Baldwin prohibits minnow fishing methods (including dip nets, cast nets, minnow traps, and minnow seines) that disrupt waterway ecosystem balance by catching indiscriminately large numbers of minnows. These methods can lead to entanglement and injury of fish, trapping smaller, non-target fish, killing or harming juveniles, and causing large numbers of fish stress, which can lead to harm for water ecosystems. HEC recommends the bill be amended so that its effect is statewide, with no special management of Sugar Creek.
Update
SB 121 had its first reading on 3/3 and was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Support
SB 193: Annual Inspection of CFOs
SB 193, authored by Senator Rick Niemeyer (R-6), requires owners of CFOs (Confined feeding Operation) to submit an annual report to the Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management (IDEM). IDEM will follow up with an inspection of the CFO to verify the report, ensuring that air and water pollution laws and environmental management laws are followed. This system would create greater accountability for CFO operations in Indiana.
Update
SB 193 had its first reading on 3/3 and was referred to the House Committee on Environmental Affairs.
Support
SB 211: Clean Water Indiana Program
SB 211 authored by Sen. Susan Glick (R -Dist. 13), Senator Jean Leising (R -Dist. 42), and Senator Brett Clark (R -Dist. 24) authorizes funding from the Clean Water Indiana fund to manage invasive plant species. This bill would provide financial assistance to protect native species and control invasives to subdivisions of state government that handle soil and water conservation, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and entities and people who occupy land that they’re trying to conserve. Managing invasive species and protecting native plants can safeguard and improve water quality and biodiversity, reinforcing the state’s commitment to protecting natural resources and fostering healthier ecosystems for future generations.
Latest Update
SB 211 had its first reading on 3/3 and was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Support
SB 310: Energy Audit
Energy audits are the first step in understanding opportunities to benefit from energy efficiency. SB 310, authored by Sen. Andy Zay (R-17) and Sen. Eric Bassler (R-39) allows the Indiana Department of Administration to request for proposals and rewards for energy audits on the Indiana State Capitol building and the Indiana Government Center. Indiana government buildings often consume large amounts of energy. Implementing energy-efficient technology, such as LED lighting and high-efficiency HVAC systems, stands to result in cost-savings, a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, enhanced comfort, and even economic development, if the audit inspires more Indiana businesses and communities to invest in energy-efficient technologies. While SB 310 isn’t the first attempt to audit Indiana’s government buildings for energy consumption, HEC is not aware of a successful effort. Now is the time for Indiana to set a positive example for its citizens and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Update
SB 310 had its first reading on 3/3 and was referred to the House Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform.
Support
SB 307: Environmental Waste Inventory and Grant Program
Brownfields are lands that were once developed but are currently abandoned or underused, and contain hazardous contaminants that pose risks to soil, air, and water. Examples include abandoned factories or gas stations. SB 307 authored by Senator Andy Zay (R-17) would allow the Indiana Brownfields Fund to pay for the creation of an inventory of brownfields in Indiana, which would be shared with the Interim Study Committee on Environmental Affairs in 2026 and every other year thereafter. Creating an inventory of brownfields in our state is the first step towards cleaning them, mitigating environmental and public health risks to communities across Indiana.
Update
SB 307 had its first reading on 3/3 and was referred to the House Committee on Environmental Affairs.
Support
SB 422: Advanced Transmission Technologies
Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) offer the most cost effective, time efficient and environmentally friendly ways to get more productivity from our existing electric grid infrastructure. While building new grid infrastructure is still needed, some estimates suggest we can get up to 40% more transmission capabilities within our current infrastructure through enhanced data that comes from dynamic line rating, heat resistant cables that can bear heavier weights and carry more electrons under stressful circumstances, and more. For renewables to contribute at their full capacity, our electric grid needs to be enhanced and expanded. SB 422, authored by Sen. Eric Koch (R-44), recognizes the importance of GETs in meeting our energy needs and opens the door to more access to affordable clean energy.
Updates
SB 422 had its first reading on 3/3 and was referred to the House Committee on Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications.