2026 Environment & Natural Resources Bill Watch List
Updated 3/9/2026 ~ 2026 Indiana General Assembly
Bad Bills ~ Good Bills ~ Bills we're watching
Bad Bills
SEA277: Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Authors: Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R), Sen. Justin Busch (R)
Sponsors: Rep. Beau Baird (R), Rep. Doug Miller (R)
Status: Signed into law by Gov. Braun
Position: CAC opposes this bill
Votes:
- 1/12/26: The Senate Environmental Affairs Committee passed SB277 by a vote of 5-3.
- 1/22/26: The Senate Appropriations Committee amended SB277 by consent, failed an amendment by a vote of 3-7, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 9-4.
- 1/28/26: The Senate failed Amendment #1 (Qaddoura) by voice vote and passed Amendment #5 (Niemeyer) by voice vote.
- 1/29/26: The Senate passed SB277 by a vote of 29-19.
- 2/11/26: The House Environmental Affairs Committee amended SB277 by a vote of 7-5, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 6-5.
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2/23/26: The House passed 2 amendments by voice vote, and passed Amendment #5 (Bauer) by a vote of 50-44.
The House then failed 10 amendments:
- Amendment #2 (Bauer) failed by a vote of 29-62
- Amendment #3 (Bauer) failed by a vote of 48-49
- Amendment #6 (Novak) failed by a vote of 39-55
- Amendment #8 (Errington) failed by a vote of 34-60
- Amendment #9 (Errington) failed by a vote of 29-66
- Amendment #12 (Errington) failed by a Division of the House vote of 37-54
- Amendment #10 (Errington) failed by a vote of 34-56
- Amendment #14 (Jackson C) failed by a vote of 35-58
- Amendment #15 (Jackson C) failed by a vote of 29-67
- Amendment #17 (Jackson C) failed by a vote of 30-63
- 2/24/26: The House passed SB277 by a vote of 53-45.
- 2/25/26: The Senate concured with House amendments by a vote of 26-21.
- 3/05/26: Signed into law by Gov. Braun
Description:
Senate Bill 277 significantly weakens environmental protections in Indiana by making IDEM's essential responsibilities discretionary. The House Environmental Affairs Committee made the bill even worse by amending it to include a narrow definition of PFAS (forever chemicals) that ignores some of the most toxic chemicals found in our water and wildlife. SB277 consolidates the power of environmental oversight and decision-making in the hands of political appointees who could prioritize special interests over protecting our air, water, and public health.
Good Bills
SB67: Studies Relating To Natural Lands (dead)
Authors: Sen. Shelli Yoder (D), Sen. Susan Glick (R), Sen. Jean Leising (R), Sen. Mark Spencer (D), Sen. Rodney Pol (D), Sen. Brett Clark (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)
Sponsors: Rep. Mark Genda (R), Rep. Dave Hall (R), Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D)
Status: never received a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Votes:
- 1/05/26: The Senate Natural Resources Committee passed SB67 by a vote of 8-0.
- 1/22/26: The Senate passed Amendment #1 (Yoder) by voice vote.
- 1/27/26: The Senate passed SB67 by a vote of 29-17.
Description:
Requires the department of natural resources to study and issue a report on the following topics: (1) opportunities to leverage public land to improve public health outcomes; (2) options for a consistent visitor fee collection system at state fish and wildlife areas; and (3) a plan to mitigate and recover from natural disasters affecting public land.
HB1110: PFAS Chemicals (dead)
Authors: Rep. Becky Cash (R), Rep. Lorissa Sweet (R), Rep. Maureen Bauer (D)
Status: never received a hearing in the House Environmental Affairs Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description:
Requires the department of environmental management to adopt maximum contaminant levels for PFAS chemicals and effluent limitation standards for wastewater containing PFAS chemicals by July 1, 2027. Creates various compliance requirements for direct dischargers and indirect dischargers. Establishes various civil penalties. Establishes the PFAS chemical testing and remediation fund. Creates a PFAS chemical grant program.
HB1124: Testing Drinking Water For Lead In School Buildings (dead)
Authors: Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D), Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R)
Status: never received a hearing in the House Public Health Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Requires the person or entity having authority over a school building to: (1) test the drinking water in the school building by a specified time frame; and (2) follow certain guidelines in conducting the testing and remediation. Requires the Indiana department of health to impose a civil penalty on the superintendent of a school corporation or the equivalent for a charter school for failing to have the school building's drinking water tested within the specified time frame.
HB1239: PFAS Water Safety Standards (dead)
Authors: Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D), Rep. Carey Hamilton (D)
Status: never received a hearing in the House Environmental Affairs Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description:
Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to establish state maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in water provided by public water systems. Provides that maximum contaminant levels established by the state 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.
HB1379: Ground Water (dead)
Authors: Rep. Chris Campbell (D), Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R)
Status: never received a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description:
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, 2026, and ending June 30, 2028. Provides an exception to the moratorium.
SB17: Air Quality (dead)
Authors: Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)
Status: never received a hearing in the Senate Natural Resources Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Description:
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 the department of environmental management (department) to enter into a contract with the agency of a town, city, or county if the agency is willing to enter into the contract. Provides that a contract between the department and the agency of a town, city, or county must: (1) require the department to advise, consult, cooperate with, and provide technical assistance to the agency; (2) authorize the agency to undertake air pollution control activities on behalf of the department or initiate enforcement of ordinances of the town, city, or county; and (3) provide for the payment of fair monetary compensation for the air pollution control activities performed by the agency. Provides that: (1) the compensation paid to an agency under a contract must be at least sufficient to cover the agency's staffing and operating costs; and (2) the rate of compensation must be adjusted each year according to changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Watching
HB1204: Natural Resource Entrance Fees
HB1265: Natural Resource Entrance Fees
HB1297: Water Intensive Facilities
HB1348: Regulation of Grease Control Equipment
HB1355: Confined Feeding Operations
HB1356: Conservation of Agricultural Land
SB172: Administrative Rulemaking
