2024 Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, and Good Government Bill Watch List
Updated 3/20/24
Back to 2024 Indiana General Assembly
Bad Bills
Authors: Rep. Timothy Wesco (R), Rep. Chuck Goodrich (R), Rep. Mike Speedy (R)
Sponsors: Sen. Mike Gaskill (R), Sen. Eric Koch (R)
Status: signed into law by Gov. Holcomb
Position: CAC opposes this bill
Votes:
- 1/17/24: The House Elections and Apportionment Committee amended HB1264 twice by consent. They also failed two amendments - one by a vote of 4-8, and one by a vote of 4-7. They passed HB1264 out of committee by a vote of 8-4.
- 1/25/24: The House passed an amendment from Rep. Wesco (R) by voice vote, then failed an amendment from Rep. Hamilton (D) by a vote of 30-67.
- 1/29/24: The House passed HB1264 by a vote of 67-29.
- 2/19/24: The Senate Elections Committee passed HB1264 by a vote of 5-3.
- 2/26/24: Sen. Hunley's amendment failed by a vote of 14-34. One of Sen. J.D. Ford's amendments failed by a vote of 10-39, and the other failed by a vote of 11-38.
- 2/29/24: The Senate passed HB1264 by a vote of 34-13.
- 3/11/24: Gov. Holcomb signed HB1264 into law.
Description: HB1264 is a bill that claims to be about "election security" that actually risks preventing lawful residents from being able to cast a ballot. HB1264 would allow the state to use third party credit bureau data to verify voter addresses, which has real potential to result in lawful voters losing their voter registration status over time. It also adds additional proof of residency requirements for first-time Indiana voters, which would make it more difficult for people to vote - particularly college students, people who recently moved to Indiana, and folks in assisted living facilities.
Authors: Rep. Alan Morrison (R), Rep. Doug Miller (R), Rep. Timothy Wesco (R), Rep. J.D. Prescott (R)
Sponsors: Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R), Sen. Chris Garten (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R)
Status: signed into law by Gov. Holcomb
Position: CAC opposes this bill
Votes:
- 1/17/24: The House Environmental Affairs Committee amended HB1383 by consent, then passed it by a vote of 8-4.
- 1/23/24: The House passed HB1383 by a vote of 64-30.
- 1/31/24: The Senate Environmental Affairs Committee passed HB1383 by a vote of 7-2.
- 2/6/24: The Senate passed HB1383 by a vote of 32-17.
- 2/12/24: Signed into law by Gov. Holcomb
Description: HB1383 continues the deregulation of Indiana wetlands led by the Indiana Builders Association and other special interests. HB1383 would continue to eviscerate Indiana's wetlands by changing the definition of Class III wetlands, which are the most protected kind.
SB52: Prohibition on use of dedicated lanes (dead)
Authors: Sen. Aaron Freeman (R), Sen. Michael Young (R), Sen. Mark Messmer (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. James Tomes (R), Sen. Susan Glick (R), Sen. Jean Leising (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Mike Gaskill (R), Sen. Brian Buchanan (R), Sen. Tyler Johnson (R), Sen. Greg Goode (R), Sen. Randy Maxwell (R), Sen. Dan Dernulc (R), Sen. Mike Bohacek (R), Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R), Sen. Jeff Raatz (R), Sen. Andy Zay (R), Sen. Justin Busch (R), Sen. Gary Byrne (R), Sen. James Buck (R)
Sponsors: Rep. Julie McGuire (R), Rep. Robert Behning (R), Rep. Mike Speedy (R)
Status: died in the House
Position: CAC opposes this bill
Votes:
- 1/18/24: The Senate Appropriations Committee amended SB52 by a vote of 7-5, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 7-5.
- 1/25/24: The Senate passed an amendment from Sen. Freeman (R) by voice vote, failed an amendment from Sen. Hunley (D) by voice vote, and failed two amendments from Sen. Qaddoura (D) - one by a vote of 9-38, and the other also by a vote of 9-38.
- 1/29/24: The Senate passed SB52 by a vote of 35-14.
- 2/27/24: The House Roads and Transportations Committee amended SB52 twice by consent, then passed it by a vote of 9-4.
Description: SB52 will upend IndyGo’s Blue Line, designed to connect Cumberland on the east side of Indianapolis to the airport on the west side. If passed into law, SB52 will compromise federal funds and improvements for sidewalks, street paving, and ADA accessible ramps. Making matters worse, the Indiana General Assembly is attempting to usurp local control and override the will of Indianapolis voters with SB52. In 2016, the Indianapolis community supported rapid transit via a ballot referendum. Effective and reliable public transit - and specifically rapid transit - helps to lift Hoosier families out of poverty by expanding employment opportunities and the ability to access basic necessities. Fewer cars on the road also improves our air quality.
HB1399: PFAS Chemicals (dead)
Authors: Rep. Shane Lindauer (R), Rep. Alan Morrison (R), Rep. Cory Criswell (R), Rep. Craig Haggard (R)
Sponsors: Sen. Mark Messmer (R)
Status: died in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee
Position: CAC opposes this bill
Votes:
- 1/17/24: The House Environmental Affairs Committee amended HB1399 by consent, then passed it by a vote of 7-5.
- 1/22/24: The House failed an amendment from Rep. Maureen Bauer (D) by a vote of 28-66.
- 1/23/24: The House passed HB1399 by a vote of 64-30.
Description: HB1399 inadequately attempts to create an Indiana definition of "PFAS chemicals," or forever chemicals, and requires the environmental rules board to use the definition in certain rules concerning industrial processes and research and development. The proposed definition is far too narrow and would exclude many chemicals currently defined as PFAS and known to be potential carcinogens or otherwise harmful to public health.
Good Bills
SB246: Assessment of Wetlands Classified as Wildlands
Authors: Sen. Susan Glick (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D), Sen. Rodney Pol (D), Sen. Shelli Yoder (D), Sen. Eric Bassler (R), Sen. Scott Baldwin (R)
Sponsors: Rep. Beau Baird (R), Rep. David Abbott (R), Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D), Rep. Carey Hamilton (D)
Status: signed into law by Gov. Holcomb
Position: CAC supports this bill
Votes:
- 1/18/24: The Senate Natural Resources Committee passed SB246 by a vote of 8-0.
- 1/30/24: The Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee passed SB246 by a vote of 12-1.
- 2/5/24: The Senate passed SB246 by a vote of 48-0.
- 2/14/24: The House Natural Resources Committee passed SB246 by a vote of 11-0.
- 2/21/24: The House Ways and Means Committee passed SB246 by a vote of 12-7.
- 2/27/24: The House passed SB246 by a vote of 93-2.
- 3/11/24: Gov. Holcomb signed SB246 into law.
Description: SB246 would provide that a parcel of land that: (1) is at least 1/2 of an acre in size; and (2) contains wetlands, as delineated by a person certified in wetland delineation; may be classified as wildlands for purposes of property tax assessment. The bill is supported by the Indiana Wetland Allies.
HB1060: Environmental Scrutiny Before Property Transfer (dead)
Authors: Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R), Rep. David Hall (R)
Status: died in the House Environmental Affairs Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description: HB1060 requires the inspection of a septic system before the sale of property with an onsite septic system. Requires disclosure to the purchaser of the property if the septic system is failing.
HB1085: PFAS Water Safety Standards (dead)
Authors: Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D)
Status: died in the House Environmental Affairs Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description: HB1085 requires the Indiana department of health to establish state maximum contaminant levels for PFAS, or forever chemicals, in water provided by public water systems. Provides that maximum contaminant levels established by the department: (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.
HB1172: Committee on Climate Resilience and Economic Growth (dead)
Authors: Rep. Carey Hamilton (D), Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D)
Status: died in the House Environmental Affairs Committee
Position: CAC strongly supports this bill
Description: HB1172 will establish a committee to study the impact of climate change in Indiana and annually report findings to the general assembly and the governor from December 1, 2024, to December 1, 2027.
HB1229: Lead Testing (dead)
Authors: Rep. Pat Boy (D)
Status: died in the House Public Health Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description: HB1229 would allow a local health officer to order an environmental inspection of a building in which a child who has an elevated blood lead level has resided for at least six months. Requires a local health department to: (1) identify grants and resources to assist property owners and occupants with lead abatement; and (2) publish the information on the local health department's website.
HB1252: Radon Testing in School Buildings (dead)
Authors: Rep. Mike Andrade (D), Rep. Maureen Bauer (D), Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D)
Status: died in the House Education Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description: HB1252 would require the individual or entity having authority over a public school building to test for radon in the lowest level of the school building before January 1, 2027, and report the test results to the Indiana department of health. Additionally, the bill would require the state department to record the test results in a data base and use the data base in its efforts to reduce the health risks of radon.
SB162: Air Quality (dead)
Authors: Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)
Status: died in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description: SB162 would allow 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 and would require 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.
SB177: Agrivoltaics Task Force (dead)
Authors: Sen. Shelli Yoder (D), Sen. Blake Doriot (R)
Status: died in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description: Agrivoltaics is the dual-use of land for both the purpose of agriculture and solar energy. Agrivoltaics include uses like animal grazing or crop production under the solar panels. SB177 will create a task force to study the issue and make a report to the Governor and legislature by November 1, 2024.
Watching
HB1242: Excess Liability Trust Fund
HB1276: Notice of a Public Hearing or Meeting
HB1352: Inspection of Residential Onsite Sewage Systems
HB1394: DNR Best Available Flood Hazard Data
HB1401: Various Natural Resources Matters
HB1403: Determining Existence and Class of Wetlands
HB1404: use of Coal Combustion Residuals
