2025 Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, and Good Government Bill Watch List

Updated 3/24/2025 ~ 2025 Indiana General Assembly

Bad Bills ~ Good Bills ~ Bills we're watching

Bad Bills

HB1037: Storm water management

Authors: Rep. Doug Miller (R)

Sponsors: Sen. Blake Doriot (R)

Status: in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes:

1/29/25: The House Environmental Affairs Committee passed HB1037 by a vote of 9-4.
2/04/25: The House passed HB1037 by a vote of 66-23.

Description: HB1037 is one of those "no more stringent than" bills that prohibits a local unit of government (county, town, municipality) from adopting a law, rule, ordinance, or regulation that is more stringent than or exceeds in any manner the requirements of the IDEM's construction stormwater general permit (CSGP). Provides that if a law, rule, ordinance, or regulation is more stringent than or exceeds the CSGP, then: (1) the law, rule, ordinance, or regulation is void; and (2) the unit must continue to discharge its duties under IDEM's CSGP program. CAC generally opposes "no more stringent than" requirements when it comes to matters of environmental quality or public health as that edict ignores the unique circumstances (geology, topography, traffic, existing pollution, etc...) of the local affected community that may require additional considerations when permitting.

SB10: Voter registration

Authors: Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Chris Garten (R), Sen. Mike Gaskill (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Tyler Johnson (R), Sen. Linda Rogers (R), Sen. Scott Baldwin (R), Sen. Aaron Freeman (R), Sen. James Tomes (R), Sen. Gary Byrne (R), Sen. Mike Bohacek (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Kendell Culp (R), Rep. Timothy Wesco (R), Rep. Doug Miller (R)

Status: in the House Elections and Apportionment Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes:

1/27/25: The Senate Elections Committee amended SB10 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 6-3.
1/30/25: Sen. J.D. Ford introduced two amendments - one was failed by voice vote, the other was voted down by a vote of 11-37.
2/04/25: The Senate passed SB10 by a vote of 39-11.

Description: SB10 prohibits university students from utilizing their university identification to vote - yet another bill introduced to put up barriers to voting.

SB284: Early voting (dead)

Authors: Sen. Gary Byrne (R), Sen. Mike Gaskill (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R), Sen. James Tomes (R), Sen. Mike Bohacek (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R)

Status: dead - never called down for a vote in the Senate

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes:

2/03/25: The Senate Elections Committee amended SB284 by a vote of 6-3, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 6-3.

Description: SB284 reduces by half the amount of time that Hoosiers may early vote - yet another bill introduced to put up barriers to voting.

Good Bills

SB193: Annual inspection of CFOs

Authors: Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R), Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D), Sen. Dan Dernulc (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R)

Status: in the House Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes:

2/03/25: The Senate Environmental Affairs Committee amended SB193 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 9-1.
2/11/25: The Senate amended SB193 by voice vote
2/13/25: The Senate passed SB193 by a vote of 44-2.

Description: SB193 requires the operator of a confined feeding operation (CFO) to annually submit to IDEM a report concerning the operation of the CFO and any satellite manure storage structure associated with the CFO. Requires IDEM, after receiving a report concerning a CFO, to conduct an onsite inspection of the CFO to verify the information contained in the report. Requires the environmental rules board to adopt rules that: (1) adopt a form to be used by operators of CFOs in submitting annual reports; (2) specify the information concerning a CFO that must be contained in an annual report; and (3) provide for the performance by IDEM of annual inspections of CFOs.

HB1268: DNR study of ground water resources (dead)

Authors: Rep. Matt Commons (R), Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R), Rep. Mark Genda (R), Rep. Chris Campbell (D)

Status: dead - Rep. Soliday (R) refused to hear it in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1268 requires the DNR to study certain information pertaining to ground water and water withdrawals. Provides that DNR shall, not later than October 1, 2025, provide the legislative council a report of its findings.

HB1286: PFAS chemicals (dead)

Authors: Rep. Becky Cash (R), Rep. Julie McGuire (R)

Status: dead - Rep. Baird (R) refused to hear it in the House Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1286 requires IDEM to publish a registry of persons that discharge PFAS chemicals into waters of the state.

HB1366: PFAS water safety standards (dead)

Authors: Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D)

Status: dead - Rep. Baird (R) refused to hear it in the House Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1366 requires the Indiana State Department of Health (DOH) to establish state maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in water provided by public water systems. Provides that maximum contaminant levels established by the DOH: (1) must be protective of public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations; and (2) may not be less stringent than any maximum contaminant level or health advisory promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

HB1379: Property tax deduction for water conservation (dead)

Authors: Rep. Pat Boy (D)

Status: dead - Rep. Thompson (R) refused to hear it in the House Ways and Means Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1379 provides a property tax deduction for the use of permeable pavement in new construction projects.

HB1407: Testing of drinking water (dead)

Authors: Rep. Matt Hostettler (R)

Status: dead - Rep. Barrett (R) refused to hear it in the House Public Health Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1407 requires a local health department to provide a free water quality test kit, upon request and subject to certain limits, to an individual residing within the local health department's jurisdiction. Provides that the water quality test kits must have the capacity to detect arsenic, fluoride, lead, mercury, and nitrate.

HB1411: Water quality grants for school buildings (dead)

Authors: Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D), Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R), Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D)

Status: dead - Rep. Manning (R) refused to hear it in the House Public Policy Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1411 requires the person or entity having authority over a school building to test the drinking water in the school building by a specified time frame. Provides that a person having authority over a school building who knowingly or intentionally fails to have the school building tested in the specified time frame commits the crime of neglect of a student, a Level 6 felony.

HB1421: Septic grant program (dead)

Authors: Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R)

Status: dead - Rep. Baird (R) refused to hear it in the House Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1421 provides that money in the water infrastructure grant fund (fund) may be used to provide grants, loans, or other financial assistance to participants of the fund for the planning, designing, or acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of, a residential onsite sewage system or an onsite residential sewage discharging disposal system. Establishes various criteria for a participant to apply for a grant, loan, or other financial assistance. Requires the Indiana finance authority to establish a project prioritization system for the purposes of awarding grants, loans, or other financial assistance from the fund for the purpose of planning, designing, or acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of, a residential onsite sewage systems or an onsite residential sewage discharging disposal system.

HB1553: PFAS biosolids testing (dead)

Authors: Rep. Maureen Bauer (D)

Status: dead - Rep. Baird (R) refused to hear it in the House Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1553 prohibits a person from applying biosolids, industrial waste products, or pollutant-bearing waters that contain a concentration of more than 100 parts per billion of one or more PFAS chemicals to land. Provides that a person that applies biosolids, industrial waste products, or pollutant-bearing water to land shall submit samples to IDEM for testing. Requires a person that applies biosolids, industrial waste products, or pollutant-bearing water to land to provide notice of the concentration of PFAS chemicals to all impacted landowners. Requires IDEM to test biosolids, industrial waste products, and pollutant-bearing water for PFAS chemicals. Requires IDEM to share data with different state agencies.

HB1661: Healthy forests and hardwoods expansion (dead)

Authors: Rep. Beau Baird (R)

Status: dead - Rep. Lindauer (R) refused to hear it in the House Natural Resources Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1661 requires DNR to create the landowner forest management program. Requires the Indiana state department of agriculture to: (1) conduct an inventory of all forest land lost in Indiana from 2010 to 2024; and (2) conduct an economic impact study based on the findings of the lost forest land report. Makes an appropriation.

SB18: Air quality (dead)

Authors: Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)

Status: dead - Sen. Niemeyer (R) refused to hear it in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: SB18 authorizes a town, city, or county to establish or designate an agency to act for the town, city, or county as a local air pollution control agency (agency). Requires the commissioner of IDEM to enter into a contract with the agency of a town, city, or county if the agency is willing to enter into the contract.

SB134: Water management authority (dead)

Authors: Sen. J.D. Ford (D)

Status: dead - Sen. Koch (R) refused to hear it in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: SB134 Establishes the water management authority as an agency of state government. It (1) requires the governor to appoint an administrator of the authority, (2) provides for the adoption and implementation of a statewide water management plan, (3) provides that, upon adoption of the statewide water management plan, the administrator assumes powers and duties related to: (a) water rights and emergency regulation of surface and ground water; (b) potable water rights; (c) water resources management; (d) the Great Lakes compact; (e) reservoirs; (f) preservation and legal action concerning lakes; (g) flood control; (h) construction of channels; and (i) conservancy districts, and (4) establishes one regional water management council for each of nine hydrological regions in Indiana.

SB256: Ground water (dead)

Authors: Sen. Spencer Deery (R)

Status: dead - Sen. Koch (R) refused to hear it in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: SB256 establishes the ground water and aquifer preservation task force to recommend water regulations to the legislative council. Creates a two year moratorium on the establishment of certain major ground water withdrawal facilities during the period beginning May 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. Provides an exception to the moratorium under certain circumstances.

SB277: Indiana grown produce for students program (dead)

Authors: Sen. Shelli Yoder (D)

Status: dead - Sen. Leising (R) refused to hear it in the Senate Agriculture Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: SB277 establishes the Indiana grown produce for students program to improve the nutrition and eating habits for children through the school setting while investing in the state's agricultural and related food business economy. Establishes the Indiana grown produce for students fund to provide grants to eligible schools for the reimbursement of certain expenses. Provides that an eligible school may receive a total grant amount based on the number of meals served by the eligible school during the previous school year.

SB321: Designated wild areas (dead)

Authors: Sen. Shelli Yoder (D), Sen. Eric Bassler (R)

Status: dead - Sen. Glick (R) refused to hear it in the Senate Natural Resources Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: SB321 provides that 13 specified areas within certain state forests are "designated wild areas." Specifies certain activities that are prohibited or allowed within a designated wild area. Establishes responsibilities for the department of natural resources and divisions that manage designated wild areas.

SB330: School air quality study (dead)

Authors: Sen. Mark Spencer (D)

Status: dead - Sen. Charbonneau (R) refused to hear it in the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: SB330 requires the Indiana department of health to conduct an air quality study of every school located in Indiana.

SB474: Food desert grant program (dead)

Authors: Sen. La Keisha Jackson (D)

Status: dead - Sen. Leising (R) refused to hear it in the Senate Agriculture Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: SB474 establishes the food desert grant program within the Indiana department of health (ISDH) to assist new and existing retail businesses or nonprofit corporations in offering fresh and unprocessed foods within a "food desert" (an underserved geographic area where, as determined by the ISDH, affordable fresh, unprocessed, and healthy foods are difficult to obtain). Provides that a grant awarded under the program may be used to establish a new retail grocery store or to renovate, expand, or upgrade an existing retail business that will increase the availability and quality of fresh produce and other unprocessed and healthy foods.

SB538: PFAS chemicals (dead)

Authors: Sen. Andy Zay (R)

Status: dead - Sen. Niemeyer (R) refused to hear it in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: Defines "PFAS chemicals" and requires the environmental rules board to use the definition in certain rules concerning industrial processes and research and development.

Watching

HB1052: Onsite sewage systems

H1126: Watershed development commissions

H1190: Water quality

HB1234: Conservation of agricultural land

HB1247: Prohibited food ingredients

HB1302: Restriction on single use food service items

HB1335: Weather control

HB1362: Annexation

HB1447: State forest areas restricted from logging

HB1583: Climate change studies

HB1637: School and public safety matters