ICV Legislative Update – Week of January 26, 2026
We said it last week, and we’ll say it again: Senate Bill 277 might just be the most dangerous environmental bill moving through the General Assembly.
It takes away oversight from experts at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and puts it in the hands of political appointees who might or might not decide to hold polluters accountable for making our air and water unsafe.
This bill is on its way to the Indiana House with bipartisan opposition. It’s important that lawmakers hear from you that you want this legislation stopped in its tracks so Indiana families can literally breathe easy knowing we’re protected from those who’d cut corners if they were allowed to do so.
WATER STEWARDSHIP DAY
Please join Indiana Conservation Voters and our partners on Monday, Feb. 9, for a day of water advocacy and action at the Statehouse.
During Water Stewardship Day, you’ll:
- Meet with lawmakers to share why water protection matters to you and your community
- Hear from scientists, conservation experts and local leaders who are working on real solutions
- Participate in hands-on activities to learn how policy and personal stewardship go hand in hand
A complimentary lunch will be provided, and everyone who cares about the future of clean water in our state is welcome! RSVP today!
BILL UPDATES
We’re still tracking a lot of legislation, which will continue until the mid-point of the session, when bills that don’t cross over to the other chamber are no longer viable. If you have questions on these bills, please reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind.
PRIORITY
🛑 OPPOSE: SB 277 Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Amends and makes changes to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management including permitting and rulemaking such as more “burdensome” requirements. It drastically reduces the responsibilities of IDEM, the commissioner, and 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. Unfortunately, amendments to SB 277 this week did not address our concerns. SB 277 passed out of the Senate 29-19 on Thursday with bipartisan opposition. This bill moves to the House. 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 was amended on second reading to change the shutoff protections to heat index days. This bill passed out of the House on Wednesday 89-4; it now moves to the Senate with Senator Koch as the sponsor.
✅ 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 will be heard in House Utilities on Tuesday, 2/3, at 10:30 a.m. ET in Room 156-A.
🛑 OPPOSE: HB 1150 Local Regulations. You may remember this bill from last year (HB 1389 CCR) when it was defeated on the Senate floor. It’s 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 will be heard in Senate Homeland Security and Transportation on Tuesday, 2/3, at 9:00 a.m. ET in Room 233.
🛑 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 will be heard in House Utilities on Tuesday, 2/3, at 10:30 a.m. ET in Room 156-A.
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. HB1062 passed out of the House on 1/22 and has been referred to the Senate with sponsor Sen. Glick.
✅ 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 passed out of the Senate on 1/13 and has been referred to the Senate with sponsors Rep. Slager, Olthoff, and Aylesworth.
✅ 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 2nd reading and will be up for 3rd reading Monday, 2/2.
✅ 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 passed out of the Senate and has been referred to the House with sponsors Representatives Genda, Hall, and Jackson.
😐 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 the Senate and has been referred to the House with sponsor Representative Lindauer.
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 is eligible for a hearing in House Elections as early as next week.
BILLS WE ARE WATCHING
At times, there may be bills we’re still learning about or that might be important later on in the session, but we haven’t determined yet whether to support, oppose or remain neutral on them. We’ll list that legislation here each week so you’re in the loop on what we’re watching:
👀 HB 1333: Land Use and Development.This bill was amended on Tuesday to remove certain industrial projects from participating in energy production zones. It reinstated the data center sales tax exemptions, but it now creates a pathway for 1% of the savings to go to locals. Lastly, there is broad language that allows any development of any type to occur on agricultural land considered of lesser soil quality which was not amended on Thursday. HB 1333 is on the third reading calendar for Monday, which is the last day it can pass out of the House before we enter the second half of session.
GOOD NEWS SATURDAY
Indiana Conservation Voters took part in this year’s Democracy Day at the Indiana Statehouse alongside other groups that are standing up for Hoosiers’ right to vote in free, fair elections. Here’s an excerpt from our executive director Megan Robertson’s speech:
At ICV, we have “voters” in our name for a reason.
We know that a fair, accessible, transparent democratic process is the foundation for every environmental win we ever hope to achieve.
When the system is manipulated or public input is limited, the playing field tilts toward special interests and polluters.
But when Hoosiers have full and fair access to the voting booth, they can elect leaders who prioritize our health, our economy and our environment.
We are proud to be part of this coalition because we believe a healthy democracy and a healthy environment are inseparable.
You cannot protect one without defending the other.
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 3: Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Conservation Day at the Statehouse
February 6: Indiana Sustainability and Resilience Conference (ISRC)
February 8: Sierra Club Legislative Type-In at Indy Type Shop
February 9: 2026 Water Stewardship Day
Know of an upcoming event you think we should include in our weekly emails? Reply to this message with the details!
