2025 Consumer, Energy, & Utility Bill Watch List

Updated 3/24/2025 ~ 2025 Indiana General Assembly

Bad Bills ~ Good Bills ~ Neutral Bills ~ Bills we're watching

Bad Bills

Authors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R), Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler (R), Rep. Jim Pressel (R), Rep. Steve Bartels (R), Rep. Ryan Lauer (R), Rep. Robert Heaton (R), Rep. Chris May (R), Rep. Jim Lucas (R), Rep. Hunger Smith (R), Rep. Dale DeVon (R), Rep. Michael Karickhoff (R), Rep. Dave Heine (R), Rep. Ben Smaltz (R), Rep. Jake Teshka (R), Rep. Craig Snow (R), Rep. Jack Jordan (R), Rep. Jeff Thompson (R), Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R), Rep. Julie Olthoff (R), Rep. Alex Zimmerman (R), Rep. Craig Haggard (R), Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R), Rep. Doug Miller (R), Rep. Matt Commons (R), Rep. Chris Judy (R), Rep. Dave Hall (R), Rep. Matt Lehman (R), Rep. J.D. Prescott (R), Rep. Kendell Culp (R), Rep. Bruce Borders (R), Rep. Beau Baird (R), Rep. Time Wesco (R), Rep. Danny Lopez (R), Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R), Rep. Wendy McNamara (R), Rep. Chris Jeter (R), Rep. David Abbott (R)

Sponsors: Sen. Eric Koch (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC strongly opposes this bill

Votes:

1/21/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee amended HB1007 by a vote of 8-4.
1/28/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee passed a motion and amended HB1007 twice without any vote counts, and then passed it out of committee by a vote of 9-4.
2/05/25: The House Ways and Means Committee passed HB1007 out of committee by a vote of 16-7.
2/10/25: The House failed two good amendments offered by Rep. Matt Pierce - one by a vote of 26-69, and the other by a vote of 27-67. The House passed one good amendment offered by Rep. Matt Pierce by voice vote, but the bill remains anti-consumer overall.
2/13/25: The House passed HB1007 by a vote of 67-25. Republican Representatives Lauer, Heaton, May, Lucas, Smith H, DeVon, Karickhoff, Heine, Smaltz, Teshka, Snow, Jordan, Thompson, Steuerwald, Olthoff, Zimmerman, Haggard, Aylesworth, Miller D, Commons Judy, Hall, Lehman, Prescott, Culp, Borders, Baird, Wesco, Lopez, Carbaugh, McNamara, Jeter, and Abbott, all rushed to add their names to the bill after it passed the House.

Description: First and foremost, the bill will provide significant public subsidies from both Hoosier taxpayers and Hoosier ratepayers to encourage the deployment and manufacturing of the folly that is small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, in Indiana. The bill as introduced allowed a manufacturer of SMRs in Indiana to claim a 10% tax credit on the expenditures incurred. The bill was amended in committee to increase the tax credit to 20%. The minimum tax credit to be claimed by any taxpayer was estimated at about $140 million by legislative services agency at the introduced level of 10%. Using the same math, the increase to 20% would mean the minimum tax credit would be about $280 million. And worst of all, the bill provides the utility with arguably the most egregious tracker that CAC has ever seen. HB1007 provides the monopoly utilities with a massive tracker that forces customers to assume the financial risk and foot the bill for the SMR development costs before the utility has even sought approval from the IURC to construct an SMR, and even if the utility never seeks approval to construct an SMR and cancels the project.

Second, the bill will reduce regulatory oversight of the monopoly utilities when they file for approval of new generation resources to serve Big Tech and their data centers by requiring a fast-track approval process before the IURC which will hamper robust evaluation by the IURC and stakeholders and minimize time for public scrutiny. The bill also provides the utility with a tracker to charge customers for these resources before they are serving customers, which will raise electric bills and exacerbate the affordability crisis. However, the provisions regarding serving data centers do promise some meaningful protections for consumers by placing a fair amount of the financial risk for those new resources onto the deep-pocketed data centers.

Lastly, the bill will make it more difficult for the utilities to retire coal-fired power plants, which could very well slow the clean energy transition in Indiana and continue to force Hoosier ratepayers to pay for unaffordable and dirty energy from climate-wrecking coal plants.

SB423: Small modular nuclear reactor pilot program

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Andy Zay (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Spencer Deery (R), Sen. Susan Glick (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R), Sen. James Buck (R), Sen. Jeff Raatz (R), Sen. Justin Busch (R), Sen. Gary Byrne (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC strongly opposes this bill

Votes:

1/23/25: The Senate Utilities Committee passed SB423 out of committee by a vote of 10-1.
1/30/25: Sen. Hunley's amendment was voted down by voice vote.
2/03/25: The Senate passed SB423 by a vote of 41-7.

Description: The bill establishes the small modular nuclear reactor partnership pilot program, authorizing a utility to partner with multiple entities to petition the IURC for approval of a pilot program to invest in SMRs. The eligible partners are educational institutions, military installation (Crane), military base reuse area (Newport), a customer willing to host an SMR on their property or use the electricity from the SMR, a capital partner, and an SMR manufacturer. Additionally and like SB424 and HB1007, the bill provides the utility a massive tracker that forces customers to assume all of the financial risk and foot the bill for the SMR development costs before the utility has even sought approval from the IURC to construct an SMR, and even if the utility never seeks approval to construct an SMR and cancels the project.

SB424: Small modular nuclear reactor development costs

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Brian Buchanan (R), Sen. Jean Leising (R), Sen. Andy Zay (R), Sen. Gary Byrne (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R), Sen. James Buck (R), Sen. Jeff Raatz (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Randy Maxwell (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R), Rep. Steve Bartels (R), Rep. Matt Lehman (R), Rep. Ryan Lauer (R)

Status: returned to the Senate with amendments

Position: CAC strongly opposes this bill

Votes:

1/23/25: The Senate Utilities Committee passed SB424 out of committee by a vote of 8-3.
2/03/25: The Senate passed SB424 by a vote of 34-14.
3/11/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee amended SB424 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 10-3.
3/20/25: The House passed SB424 by a vote of 59-30.
3/24/25: Motion to concur filed.

Description: Like SB423 and HB1007, the bill provides the utility a massive tracker that forces customers to assume all of the financial risk and foot the bill for the SMR development costs before the utility has even sought approval from the IURC to construct an SMR, and even if the utility never seeks approval to construct an SMR and cancels the project.

HCR3: Urging regional transmission organizations, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States Department of Energy, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, and the United States

Authors: Rep. Ed Soliday (R)

Sponsors: Sen. Eric Koch (R)

Status: returned to the House

Position: CAC opposes this resolution

Votes:

1/14/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee passed HCR3 out of committee by a vote of 9-2.
1/27/25: The House adopted HCR3 by a vote of 71-23.
2/13/25: The Senate Utilities Committee passed HCR3 out of committee by a vote of 10-0.
2/17/25: The Senate adopted HCR3 by voice vote.

Description: HCR3 effectively supports proposals by the two RTOs serving Indiana, MISO and PJM, which would allow the incumbent, monopoly utilities to skip the line in the interconnection queue to bring new "baseload" (aka, gas plants) online to serve Big Tech's data centers and other "large load" industrial customers. CAC agrees that the interconnection queue is a big problem and causing delays in bringing needed new generation resources online to ensure the reliability of the grid. However, CAC believes that the resolution should be non-discriminatory and urge FERC and the other named entities to fix the problem and not encourage preferential treatment for only the monopoly utilities and their plan to greatly expand the buildout of gas plants.

SB425: Energy production zones

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Ed Soliday (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes:

2/13/25: The Senate Utilities Committee amended SB425 twice - once by consent, and the second time by a vote of 7-3. They then passed the bill out of committee by a vote of 7-3.
2/20/25: The Senate passed SB425 by a vote of 37-12.

Description: Provides that a project owner is not required to apply for or receive a permit, or any other land use or zoning approval, from a local governmental agency for the construction of an electric generation facility if: (1) the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission): (A) grants the project owner a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the construction; or (B) declines jurisdiction over the construction; (2) the electric generation facility will be located on a premise of land on which there is located: (A) an existing electric generation facility with a generating capacity of at least 80 megawatts, regardless of whether the electric generation facility is operational; or (B) a former surface or underground mine; and (3) the project owner complies with specified notice and hearing requirements.

SB178: Natural gas as a clean energy resource

Authors: Sen. Jim Buck (R), Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Gary Byrne (R), Sen. Jean Leising (R), Sen. Scott Baldwin (R), Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D), Sen. James Tomes (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Doug Miller (R), Rep. J.D. Prescott (R), Rep. Alex Burton (D), Rep. David Abbott (R)

Status: in the House

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes:

2/6/25: The Senate Utilities Committee amended SB178 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 8-2.
2/13/25: The Senate amended SB178 by voice vote.
2/17/25: The Senate passed SB178 by a vote of 43-4.
3/11/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee passed SB178 by a vote of 10-3.

Description: The bill would declare that it is the continuing policy of the state to recognize natural gas as "clean energy" or "green energy" for purposes of any state or federal program that provides funding or other incentives for: (1) clean energy initiatives or projects; (2) green energy initiatives or projects; or (3) any similarly designated initiatives or projects; in Indiana.

SB426: Water utility infrastructure

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. Jean Leising (R), Sen. J.D. Ford (D), Sen. Stacey Donato (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R), Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler (R)

Status: heading to Gov. Braun's desk

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes:

2/6/25: The Senate Utilities Committee amended SB426 twice by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 9-0.
2/10/25: The Senate amended SB426 by voice vote.
2/11/25: The Senate passed SB426 by a vote of 46-3.
3/11/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee passed SB426 by a vote of 9-3.
3/20/25: The House passed SB426 by a vote of 76-15.

Description: The bill makes changes to the statues which govern the acquisition of small water and wastewater utilities. The bill will lead to rates higher than they otherwise would be as it rewards the acquiring utility, usually Indiana-American Water, with additional profit.

HB1174: Charges for supervised loans

Authors: Rep. Jake Teshka (R), Rep. Chris Judy (R), Rep. Robert Heaton (R)

Sponsors: Sen. Scott Baldwin (R)

Status: in the Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes:

2/04/25: The House Financial Institutions Committee amended HB1174 by a vote of 7-5.
2/11/25: The House Financial Institutions Committee amended HB1174 again by voice vote, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 7-5.
2/17/25: The House passed HB1174 by a vote of 51-46.

Description: HB1174 is an unfortunate expansion of predatory payday lending, which is harmful to Hoosiers and does nothing to lift folks out of poverty.

SB2: Medicaid matters

Authors: Sen. Ryan Mishler (R), Sen. Chris Garten (R), Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R), Sen. Mike Gaskill (R), Sen. Jeff Raatz (R), Sen. Linda Rogers (R), Sen. Tyler Johnson (R), Sen. Michael Young (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Brad Barrett (R), Rep. Jeffrey Thompson (R), Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R)

Status: in the House Ways and Means Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes:

2/13/25: The Senate Appropriations Committee amended SB2 by a vote of 9-4, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 9-4.
2/17/25: The Senate passed Sen. Mishler's amendment by voice vote, failed 5 amendments by voice vote, and failed 2 of Sen. Qaddoura's amendments - one by a vote of 9-39 and the other also by a vote of 9-39.
2/18/25: The Senate passed SB2 by a vote of 40-9.
3/20/25: The House Public Health Committee amended SB2 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 8-4.

Description: SB2 caps enrollment in the Healthy Indiana Plan, and would cause nearly 200,000 Hoosiers to lose their health insurance through HIP. It also adds work requirements to the eligibility for HIP. SB2 will cause serious harm to vulnerable Hoosiers - especially kids, seniors, and people with disabilities - who are already struggling to get by. There is a wide body of research that links Medicaid expansion programs like HIP to lower uninsured rates, better health care outcomes and economic benefits for states, hospitals and other providers. SB2 will cause many of the working poor who don’t have the option of employer-based insurance to exist in a coverage gap: they don’t earn enough to afford private insurance, and yet they earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid. Kicking hundreds of thousands of people off of HIP will have far-reaching consequences for families, hospitals and in the long run it will likely cost the State of Indiana more than keeping the program eligibility the way it is.

HB1563: Alternative and nuclear energy generation (dead)

Authors: Rep. Hunter Smith (R), Rep. Dale DeVon (R)

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

Position: CAC strongly opposes this bill

Description: HB1563 would require the utilities to notify the IURC of their intent to retire a generation facility, or power plant, and require that the IURC study the feasibility of using the power plant site and related infrastructure for the construction of (1) an SMR at any site currently hosting a power plant, or (2) a traditional nuclear power plant at the existing site hosting the DC Cook nuclear power plant in Michigan that is owned by Indiana-Michigan power.

HB1628: Property development matters (dead)

Authors: Rep. Craig Snow (R)

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

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Description: HB1628 is the ultimate pre-emption bill, eviscerating local control, or "home rule". The bill declares that the State of Indiana is the "sole regulator" when it comes (1) the siting and construction of any electric generation facility with a capacity of at least 50 megawatts that generates electricity to be directly or indirectly used for the furnishing of public utility service, and (2) the siting, construction, and deployment of all facilities, equipment, and infrastructure used in the transmission, distribution, or storage of electricity, gases or fluids, or water. While CAC does support the idea of statewide standards for the siting of renewable energy resources, we reject eliminating home rule as it relates to siting and construction of resources that pose significant risks to our environment and public health, like nuclear reactors, CO2 storage dumps, and hazardous pipelines carrying dangerous gases like supercritical CO2 and hydrogen.

SB517: Purchase of coal fired generation facilities (dead)

Authors: Sen. Brian Buchanan (R), Sen. Greg Goode (R), Sen. Jean Leising (R)

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

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Description: SB517 could block utilities from retiring dirty and uneconomic coal-fired plants and replacing those coal fire-fired power plants with cheaper and cleaner resources by forcing the utility to offer to sell the coal-fired power plant to a third party. The bill could lead to extending the life of dirty and uneconomic coal-fired power plants and slow the already slow clean energy transition in Indiana.

Good Bills

SB310: Energy audit of state government campus

Authors: Sen. Andy Zay (R), Sen. Eric Bassler (R), Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)

Sponsors: Rep. Craig Haggard (R), Rep. Doug Miller (R)

Status: in the House Ways and Means Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes:

1/27/25: The Senate Environmental Affairs Committee passed SB310 out of committee by a vote of 10-0.
2/03/25: The Senate passed SB310 by a vote of 49-0.
3/24/25: The House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee amended SB310 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 12-0.

Description: The bill would provide that the Indiana department of administration may issue a request for proposals and award a contract for the conduct of an energy audit on the: (1) Indiana state capitol building; and (2) Indiana government center north and south buildings; not later than December 31, 2025.

SB421: IURC matters

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R), Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R), Rep. Jim Pressel (R)

Status: heading to Gov. Braun's desk

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes:

1/30/25: The Senate Utilities Committee amended SB421 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 10-0.
2/06/25: The Senate Appropriations Committee amended SB421 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 14-0.
2/11/25: The Senate passed SB421 by a vote of 49-0.
3/04/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee passed SB421 by a vote of 12-0.
3/17/25: The House passed SB421 by a vote of 95-0.

Description: SB421 increases the fining authority of the IURC pipeline division and will allow Indiana to match the federal penalties for pipeline violations, thus allowing the state to match the federal government’s enforcement fees. This procedural detail was causing Indiana to lose out on fining revenue.

SB422: Advanced transmission technologies

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R), Sen. Gary Byrne (R), Sen. Jean Leising (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R), Rep. Matt Pierce (D), Rep. Jim Pressel (R)

Status: heading to Gov. Braun's desk

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes:

1/30/25: The Senate Utilities Committee amended SB422 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 8-0.
2/04/25: The Senate passed SB422 by a vote of 49-0.
3/04/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee passed SB422 by a vote of 12-0.
3/17/25: The House passed SB422 by a vote of 96-0.

Description: The bill would (1) require the utilities to consider advanced transmission technologies in their IRPs, and (2) require the IURC to conduct a study to evaluate the deployment of advanced transmission technologies, and (3) defines "advanced transmission technologies" as software or hardware technologies that increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability, or safety of an existing or new electric transmission system, and (4) adds advanced transmission technologies to eligible investments in the TDSIC statute.

SB33: Consumer genetic testing providers (companion to HB1521 below)

Authors: Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. Brian Buchanan (R), Sen. Tyler Johnson (R), Sen. J.D. Ford (D), Sen. Mark Spencer (D), Sen. Eric Koch (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Kyle Pierce (R), Rep. Justin Moed (D), Rep. Kyle Miller (D), Rep. Becky Cash (R)

Status: in the House Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes:

2/06/25: The Senate Commerce and Technology Committee passed SB33 out of committee by a vote of 8-2.
2/11/25: The Senate passed SB33 by a vote of 47-2.

HB1521: Consumer genetic testing providers and human remains (companion to SB33 above)

Authors: Rep. Kyle Pierce (R), Rep. Robert Morris (R), Rep. Matt Commons (R)

Sponsors: Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. Tyler Johnson (R)

Status: in the Senate Commerce and Technology Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes:

2/05/25: The House Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development Committee amended HB1521 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 9-0.
2/11/25: The House passed HB1521 by a vote of 91-0.

Description: SB33 and HB1521 enhance data privacy related to genetic testing and material. They require a provider of consumer genetic testing services to disclose specified information to an individual who submits biological material to the provider for genetic testing. They prohibit a provider from taking specified actions with regard to the biological material or data resulting from genetic testing performed on the biological material unless the provider has the individual's consent to the action. They prohibit a provider from providing data, other than deidentified data, to insurers and employers. They impose requirements on a provider with respect to controlling access to an individual's biological material and data, complying with the individual's revocation of consent, and marketing or advertising sent to the individual. They prohibits providers from charging a fee to provide biological material or data to a law enforcement agency that is more than the provider's actual cost of providing the material or data.

HB1459: Water and wastewater utility asset management

Authors: Rep. Jim Pressel (R), Rep. Edmond Soliday (R)

Sponsors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Mike Bohacek (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R)

Status: in the Senate

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes:

2/11/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee amended HB1459 three times by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 13-0.
2/13/25: The House failed 3 good amendments: Rep. Pryor's amendment #5 by a vote of 26-63, Rep. Hamilton's amendment #1 by a vote of 27-65, and Rep. Pryor's amendment #2 by a vote of 27-67. The House then adopted Rep. Burton's amendment #4 by voice vote.
2/17/25: The House passed HB1459 by a vote of 95-0.
3/20/25: The Senate Utilities Committee amended HB1459 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 9-0.

Description: HB1459 requires all unregulated water and wastewater utilities, of which there are approximately 900, to file a report with the IURC outlining their asset management plans to ensure that the utility delivers adequate and safe service to the public.

SB97: Utility disconnections and customer data reports (dead)

Authors: Sen. La Keisha Jackson (D), Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)

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

Position: CAC strongly supports this bill

Description: The bill would (1) create a summer disconnect moratorium for LIHEAP qualified households, and (2) prohibit disconnections of Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, a legal holiday, and any day, or after noon on the day preceding any day, during which customer service representatives of the utility are not available to respond to customer inquiries during regular business hours, and (3) prohibit a utility from charging interest on delinquent balances and charging a deposit or reconnection fee when restoring service after a disconnection, and (4) require the utilities to report to the IURC consumer information for both general residential customers and LIHEAP qualified households related to arrears, disconnections, and other important data points to assess the affordability of utility services.

SB226: Utility customer assistance programs (dead)

Authors: Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. J.D. Ford (D), Sen. Mark Spencer (D), Sen. La Keisha Jackson (D)

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

Position: CAC strongly supports this bill

Description: The bill would authorize the IURC to approve low-income assistance program proposed by electric and gas utilities. Current state law only authorizes the IURC to approve low-income assistance programs for water and wastewater utilities.

SB434: Utility transparency and reporting (dead)

Authors: Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. Mark Spencer (D), Sen. J.D. Ford (D)

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

Position: CAC strongly supports this bill

Description: The bill prohibits an electric or gas utility from charging customers for any direct or indirect costs associated with specified expenses and activities related to lobbying, legislative action, political activities, charitable giving, litigation, investor relations, and other specified activities and expenses. Beginning in 2025, requires a utility to file with the IURC an annual report that includes specified information concerning costs to: (1) the utility; or (2) an affiliate of the utility; that are related to these expenses or activities. Requires the IURC to make available on the IURC's website a direct link to the annual reports provided by all utilities under these provisions. Provides that on any customer bill issued by a utility after December 31, 2025, the utility must include a break down of the charges and fees that make up the total amount owed, including a description of the service or cost associated with each charge or fee. Sets forth certain charges and fees that must be delineated as specific line items on each customer bill.

SB541: Community solar facilities (dead - companion to HB1581)

Authors: Sen. Mark Spencer (D), Sen. J.D. Ford (D)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: Mirrors HB1581 (below)

HB1581: Community solar facilities (dead - companion to SB541)

Authors: Rep. Carey Hamilton (D), Rep. Sue Errington (D)

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

Position: CAC strongly supports this bill

Description: Authorizes independent community solar in Indiana. Right now, community solar is virtually nonexistent for a majority of Hoosiers because current laws only allow electric utilities to own and operate community solar facilities. Large investor-owned utilities are failing to deploy community solar, which helps Hoosiers save money on their bills and become more energy independent. SB541 and HB1581 allow Hoosiers to subscribe to independent-owned and operated community solar facilities to receive credits on their monthly bills.

SB504: Carbon dioxide (dead)

Authors: Sen. Spencer Deery (R), Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: SB504 specifies that an application for a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline certificate of authority must include: (1) a risk assessment; and (2) a carbon dioxide injection estimate. Provides that when determining compensation in certain eminent domain proceedings, the perceived risk of certain hazardous conditions must be taken into account. Establishes a carbon sequestration pilot project fee program, and specifies certain conditions in relation to the fee money. Provides that a transfer of ownership in regard to a carbon sequestration pilot project does not relieve a prior operator from liability for any negligence or willful misconduct that occurred before the transfer. Requires the department of natural resources to inspect a carbon sequestration pilot project. Alters the threshold of consent one must obtain in order to use eminent domain or integration in relation to carbon sequestration.

HB1104: Carbon Sequestration (dead)

Authors: Rep. Matt Commons (R), Rep. Craig Haggard (R)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: The proposal would, (1) increase the percentage of landowners who would need to consent to the underground storage of CO2 from 70% of affected landowners to 85%, (2) limit the length of a CO2 pipeline for a CCS project to no more than 30 miles, (3) require the approval of the County Executive in all of the counties where an operator plans to store C02 underground, and (4) increase the annual fee paid to the DNR from a CO2 storage operator from 8 cents per ton of CO2 injected to 14 cents per ton.

HB1301: Utility votes at RTO meetings (dead)

Authors: Rep. Sue Errington (D)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: The bill is an attempt to bring desperately needed transparency to how the investor-owned utilities cast votes at their respective RTO, or regional transmission organization. The two RTOs that serve Indiana are MISO, or the Midcontinent Independent System Operator headquartered in Carmel; and PJM, or the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection headquartered in Valley Forge, PA.

HB1371: Solar energy system tax credit (dead)

Authors: Rep. Pat Boy (D)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: The bill would provide a state tax credit for installation of a solar system of twenty-five percent (25%) of the qualified expenditures made during the taxable year; or (2) fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). The bill also would require the IURC to create community solar programs in Indiana.

HB1446: Sales tax exemption for utility service (dead)

Authors: Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: The bill would provide a sales tax exemption to consumers for utility services including electric, gas, water, wastewater, and steam.

HB1537: Net metering for electricity generation (dead)

Authors: Rep. Vernon Smith (D)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1537 will effectively repeal SEA309, the bill that killed and permanently prohibited Indiana investor owned utilities from offering net metering. The repeal of net metering has significantly slowed the growth of rooftop solar. This bill would lead to more Hoosier consumers realizing energy freedom and enable consumers to participate in the clean energy transition by receiving fair compensation for excess energy exported to the grid.

HB1673: Tracking of municipal utility costs (dead)

Authors: Rep. Alex Burton (D)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1673 requires the IURC to include in the commission's annual report and publish on the commission's website: (1) the average amount paid by residents of each Indiana municipality for: (A) energy utility service; (B) water and wastewater utility service; and (C) gas distribution service; in the preceding year, disaggregated by municipality; and (2) the statistical change in each of these average amounts since the first year for which the commission reported the average amount.

HB1674: Tracking of statewide utility costs (dead)

Authors: Rep. Alex Burton (D)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: HB1674 requires the IURC to include in the commission's annual report and publish on the commission's website: (1) the average amount paid by an Indiana resident for: (A) energy utility service; (B) water and wastewater utility service; and (C) gas distribution service; in the preceding year; and (2) the statistical change in each of these average amounts since the first year for which the commission reported the average amount.

SB102: Carbon sequestration (dead)

Authors: Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R), Sen. Spencer Deery (R)

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: The bill would require any operator of a CCS project who intends to transport CO2 from one county to another to receive approval of the county executive or the county planning commission in the county where the CO2 is being transported to.

SB135: Data center development (dead)

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

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

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: The bill would require: (1) a person that operates a data center in Indiana to submit to the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission) a quarterly report of the amount of electricity used by the data center in the immediately preceding quarter; and (2) the commission to publish a summary of the reported information on the commission's website. Provides that a county, municipality, or township shall, before issuing a permit to a person for construction of a data center: (1) require the person to disclose the projected power and water usage of the facility; and (2) perform a site assessment to determine the possible effects of the data center. Requires the commission to establish a working group to: (1) determine an estimate of the future electricity demands of the data center industry in Indiana; and (2) report to the general assembly regarding the working group's findings and recommendations not later than October 31, 2025.

SB427: Nonjurisdictional water utilities (dead)

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R)

Status: dead - Sen. Eric Koch (R) refused to hear his own bill in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: Includes water utilities within the scope of the statute that subjects wastewater utilities that: (1) are not under the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for the approval of rates and charges; and (2) have been issued one or more enforcement orders by the department of environmental management; to a series of oversight actions by the IURC for each additional enforcement order, including rate review, rate regulation, and the initiation of a receivership proceeding.

SB529: Eligibility for SNAP benefits (dead)

Authors: Sen. Greg Walker (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R)

Status: dead - Sen. Mishler (R) refused to give it a vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes:

1/27/25: The Family and Children Services Committee passed SB529 out of committee by a vote of 7-2.

Description: SB529 would remove the asset limit for Hoosiers who receive Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program funds (also known as food stamps). Indiana is the last Midwest state with an asset limit, which prevents Hoosiers from saving money to pay utility bills, fix a car, or save for a home or rent.

Neutral Bills

SB457: Carbon dioxide sequestration

Authors: Sen. Susan Glick (R), Sen. Eric Koch (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R)

Status: heading to Gov. Braun's desk

Position: CAC is neutral on this bill

Votes:

1/27/25: The Senate Natural Resources Committee amended SB457 twice by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 8-1.
2/06/25: The Senate Appropriations Committee amended SB457 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 11-2.
2/10/25: The Senate amended SB457 by voice vote
2/11/25: The Senate passed SB457 by a vote of 27-21.
3/11/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee passed SB457 by a vote of 11-2.
3/20/25: The House passed SB457 by a vote of 55-37.

Description: The bill makes numerous changes to HEA1209, the big CCS bill pushed through by BP in 2022, including (1) exempting a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline company from obtaining a permit if the company's carbon dioxide transmission pipeline project meets certain criteria, (2) changes to the fee revenue collected from a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline company and a CO2 storage operator, (3) provides that an involuntary integration order (or condemnation) issued by the department of natural resources is effective 15 days after the petitioner is issued a UIC Class VI permit from the EPA, (4) directs DNR to establish a permit process for CCS test wells. (5) describes circumstances in which the department may enter property to inspect and maintain a well or storage facility, (6) establishes civil penalties for violations of the statutes regulating carbon sequestration.

SB4: Water matters

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. J.D. Ford (D), Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. Ron Alting (R), Sen. Chris Garten (R), Sen. Susan Glick (R), Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R), Sen. Greg Goode (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Vaneta Becker (R), Sen. Mike Bohacek (R), Sen. Dan Dernulc (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Mike Gaskill (R), Sen. Linda Rogers (R), Sen. Travis Holdman (R), Sen. James Tomes (R), Sen. Cyndi Carrasco (R), Sen. Eric Bassler (R), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R), Sen. Brian Buchanan (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC is neutral on this bill

Votes:

1/30/25: The Senate Utilities Committee amended SB4 twice by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 7-1.
2/03/25: The Senate amended SB4 by voice vote.
2/04/25: The Senate passed SB4 by a vote of 48-0.

Description: The bill would (1) require approval by the IURC for any water utility that wants to build a pipeline to deliver 30 million gallons of water at least 30 miles from the source of the water, and (2) require approval by any water utility or large water consumer to transfer water from one basin to another. SB4 also contains a tracker which puts ratepayers on the hook for these massive pipelines.

HB1579: Carbon sequestration (dead)

Authors: Rep. Ed Soliday (R)

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

Position: CAC is neutral on this bill

Votes:

1/28/25: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee passed HB1579 out of committee by a vote of 11-2.
2/05/25: The House Ways and Means Committee passed HB1579 out of committee by a vote of 15-8.

Description: HB1579 makes numerous changes to HEA1209, the big CCS bill pushed through by BP in 2022. The bill is similar to SB457 (below), with some differences. Among many things, importantly, HB1579 (1) specifies that a company that seeks to construct, operate, and maintain a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline in Indiana must apply to DNR for a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline certificate of authority, (2) exempts a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline company from obtaining a permit if the company's carbon dioxide transmission pipeline project meets certain criteria, (3) makes changes to the fee revenue collected from a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline company and a CO2 storage operator, (4) amends the definition of "UIC Class VI permit" issued by the EPA (5) provides that DNR may issue an involuntary order (condemnation) requiring two or more pore space owners to integrate their interests to develop an underground carbon dioxide storage facility if DNR finds that a storage operator has filed a complete application for a UIC Class VI permit. Current law requires DNR to find that a storage operator has actually been issued a UIC Class VI permit. (6) makes numerous changes to the carbon dioxide storage facility fund (7) provides that an involuntary integration order (or condemnation) issued by the department of natural resources is effective 15 days after the petitioner is issued a UIC Class VI permit from the EPA, (8) directs DNR to establish a permit process for CCS test wells. (9) describes circumstances in which the department may enter property to inspect and maintain a well or storage facility, (10) makes changes to when the state may assume ownership and accept transfer of a CO2 storage facility (11) establishes civil penalties and empowers DNR to order cessation of operations for violations of the statutes regulating carbon sequestration.

Watching

HB1002: Various education matters

HB1127: Biofuel tax credits

HB1242: Prohibition on lien for medical debt

HB1296: Artificial intelligence inventory and policies

HB1316: Sewer and storm water fees incurred by tenants

HB1322: Blockchain technology; state investment in Bitcoin

HB1328: Landlord-tenant matters

HB1380: Supplemental fee for electric vehicles

HB1389: Local regulation of fuel sources

HB1420: Sustainably sited generation projects

HB1460: Drainage systems