Update February 2020
SB 199 would allow a court to award attorney’s fees to the opposing party in a civil action filed by a governmental body if the court finds that the government’s case was frivolous or groundless. This would apply to all state agencies as well as local government bodies, and could have the effect of deterring IDEM or DNR – our state environmental and natural resource agencies – from fully enforcing environmental laws.
The bill passed the Indiana Senate and the House Judiciary Committee, but was recommitted to House Ways and Means Committee and never heard.