ICV Legislative Update – Week of February 9, 2026

Senate Bill 277 has gone from bad to worse.

This week, lawmakers added in an amendment that would make it harder for state experts to research, test for and prevent dangerous “forever chemicals” that are known to cause cancer and other harmful health conditions.

It passed out of the House Environmental Affairs Committee by just one vote.

You can read our testimony, which discussed the issue of toxic PFAS that would be excluded from research, testing, outreach, and more under the new amendment.

“The definition of PFAS included in this excludes many of the most toxic PFAS chemicals, including those that are included in the Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Levels.”

We’ve asked many times: If you haven’t already contacted your lawmaker to oppose this legislation, please do so this weekend.

The bill is moving fast with lots of pressure from special interests and polluters, and we can’t stress the importance of making sure elected officials hear from their constituents about the health risks it poses.

ICV IN THE NEWS

📰 INDIANAPOLIS STAR: Indiana’s environmental agency could change with this proposed law

Delaney Barber Kwon, with Indiana Conservation Voters, said such changes are a top concern.

“[O]ur environment and health is largely nonpartisan,” Barber Kwon said. “I think these shifts and changes only increase potential partisanship of a board that should be nonpartisan.”

📰 INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE: Environmental dereg bill narrowly moves from committee

Environmental groups and residents, however, feared some provisions could endanger the state’s natural resources and human health.

“We appreciate the intent to clean up and update all the outdated code … but there are quite a few places that we feel will go beyond that, which are concerning to us,” said Desi Rybolt, a conservation campaign manager for Indiana Conservation Voters.

BILL UPDATES

There are less than two weeks left in this legislative session, with lawmakers expected to adjourn no later than Feb. 27. Any bill that has not been heard by Thursday, Feb. 19, will be considered dead.

However, for the bills that have passed one chamber, the contents may still appear later during conference committees in the last week of session, which we will watch for you. The bills below are still moving at this point. If you have questions on these bills, please reply to this email and let us know.

PRIORITY

🛑 OPPOSE: SB 277 Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Amends and makes changes to IDEM including permitting and rulemaking such as more “burdensome” requirements. It drastically reduces the responsibilities of IDEM, the commissioner, and the rule board. It gives the commissioner the option, rather than the obligation, to respond to the public and be held accountable for issues like water pollution. On Wednesday, the bill was amended in committee to limit and hamstring our state from testing and evaluating thousands of PFAS chemicals. SB 277 passed out of committee with a 6-5 vote, with bipartisan opposition. Please contact your Representatives and urge them to oppose SB 277.

ENERGY

✅ SUPPORT: HB 1002 Electric Utility Affordability. The bill establishes a low income energy assistance program and prohibits shutoffs during high heat index days. The bill also includes language to change how utilities file for electric rate increases, sets three performance incentives for utilities to focus on affordability and resiliency, and requires utility transparency on consumer data. We are continuing to watch this bill and any changes as it moves through the process. HB 1002 passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday and is on the second reading calendar on Monday for amendments. There could be a full Senate vote next week.

✅ SUPPORT: SB 240 Surplus Interconnection Service. Requires utilities to consider surplus interconnection service in their plans. Sometimes there is extra space for more energy projects on our grid, surplus interconnection service opens opportunities for small projects to get online faster using existing connections. This could help clean energy get online faster. This bill passed out of the House unanimously on Tuesday and was sent to the Senate with amendments. Now, the bill author may agree with the changes or disagree next week.

🛑 OPPOSE: HB 1150 Local Regulations. You may remember this bill from last year (HB 1389 CCR) when it was defeated on the Senate floor, however, it is back. Newly added language in this legislation would eliminate the Thriving Buildings program in the City of Indianapolis and any other local governments trying to address building efficiency. The Thriving Buildings program requires building owners and operators of buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to track and report their utility data to identify ways to reduce energy and water usage, a widely supported local program that takes the burden off tenants and renters. There are even proactive exemptions in place for certain buildings that cannot access this data. This bill passed out of the Senate on Thursday 37-10. Now, the bill author may agree with the changes or disagree next week.  

🛑 OPPOSE: SB 258 Nuclear Facility Permits. Eliminates public hearings on the environmental impact of nuclear facilities in Indiana and any additional IDEM rules authority on the environmental concerns of nuclear facilities. While federal commissions have full authority on nuclear energy and radioactive waste safety, states have the ability to require additional criteria for non-nuclear reasons. This bill passed out of the House on Monday 64-28 without changes. It now moves to leadership for signatures and the Governor’s desk.

WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES

✅ SUPPORT: HB 1062 Wake Boarding and Wake Surfing. Establishes responsible restrictions on wake boarding and wake surfing on public freshwater lakes. This could help protect the shorelines, wildlife, and plant life of our public lakes. HB 1062 passed out of committee and is eligible for third reading on Monday.

✅ SUPPORT: SB 6 Extension of Water Services. Requires a public water utility to provide additional public outreach opportunity before condemning land to extend a water or wastewater main. SB 6 will be heard in the House Utilities Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 10:30 am in Room 156-A.

✅ SUPPORT: HB 1204 Natural resource entrance fees. Allows counties to add up to a $1 surcharge to certain state park and recreation areas, which can be used for enhancing public safety and implementing water quality improvements. HB 1204 passed out of committee and was recommitted to Senate Appropriations.

✅ SUPPORT: SB 67 Studies relating to natural lands. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a study on the effects of public natural lands on public health, fee collection, and disaster mitigation plans. SB 67 has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee.

😐 NEUTRAL: SB 224 Department of Natural Resources. Amends and makes changes to the Department of Natural Resources. There was originally some concerning language in this that has since been amended out. SB 224 passed out of committee and will be up for second reading Monday.

DEMOCRACY

🛑 OPPOSE: SB 12 Prohibition of Ranked Choice Voting. Bans future lawmakers and local governments from adopting “ranked choice voting.” This is a style of election that allows voters to rank all of the potential candidates by order of preference, and many democracy advocates believe that it does a better job of producing winners that have broad popular support. While it would be a major change to Indiana elections, there has never been a serious attempt to pass this alternative voting system here. Still, SB 12 would pre-emptively bar future lawmakers from considering the option, even if such a change had popular support. SB 12 passed out of committee and will be eligible for second reading in the House on Monday.

BILLS WE ARE WATCHING

👀 HB 1333: Land Use and Development. This bill creates a pathway for 1% of the sales tax savings data center development receives from the state to go to locals. This bill allows local units to ask your name and address at public hearings and give priority to county or city residents. Lastly, there is broad language that allows any development (permitted use) of any type to occur on agricultural land considered of lesser soil quality which was not amended before passage out of the House. You may have seen the news on HB 1333. Sen. Koch, the bill’s Senate sponsor, released a statement last Friday: “The permitted use language in House Bill 1333 will not be moving forward.” This bill has not been scheduled for a hearing yet, and the committee deadline is Thursday afternoon.

We continue to watch bills and will keep you updated and informed throughout the session ahead.

GOOD NEWS SATURDAY

U.S. Senator Todd Young has joined forces with Senator John Fetterman to introduce the bipartisan Ohio River Restoration Program Act.

The Ohio River Basin is vital to Indiana’s economy and ecosystem, providing drinking water for millions and supporting diverse wildlife. This new legislation aims to establish a dedicated federal restoration program—similar to those for the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay—to protect and restore the high-priority areas of the watershed.

By prioritizing water quality and habitat restoration, this bill will ensure a healthier, more resilient Indiana for generations to come. A huge thank you to Senator Young for championing this effort to protect our natural resources! Read the release.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 17: 2026 Audubon Great Lakes Advocacy Day at the Indiana Statehouse

February 21: Voter Registration Training for Houses of Worship (Carmel)

February 24: Tippecanoe Solar Siting Campaign Update

February 26: Northern Indiana Interfaith Roundtable

March 7: From Burden to Belonging – A Community Conversation on Cost, Energy, and Care (Jeffersonville)

March 11: Solar Siting Happy Hour (Lafayette)

March 21: From Burden to Belonging – A Community Conversation on Cost, Energy, and Care (Evansville)

March 24: Tippecanoe County Testimony Prep Workshop

Know of an upcoming event you think we should include in our weekly emails? Reply to this message with the details!