New Year, New Impact: How to Become an Environmental Champion in 2026
For many Hoosiers, the start of a new year brings a fresh determination to care for our communities. We want clean air for our families to breathe, safe water in our taps and energy bills that don’t break the bank.
The 2026 legislative session, which gets underway this week, will be a “short session.” Lawmakers will only be in Indianapolis until the end of February, which means things will be moving fast.
Indiana Conservation Voters will be at the Statehouse every day, every step of the way, but lawmakers need to hear directly from those who are affected by these issues in order to understand the impact their policies have on hard-working Hoosiers.
With a short legislative timeline, it’s even more important to elevate your voice on day one. To help you hit the ground running, Indiana Conservation Voters recently hosted a special webinar: “Becoming an Environmental Champion.”
Watch the Webinar
Why This Legislative Session Matters
With a condensed timeline, bills move through committees and floor votes at lightning speed. This year, we expect critical discussions around:
- Energy Affordability: Pushing for policies that lower monthly utility costs for Hoosier families.
- Improving Access to Clean Energy: Making it possible for more Hoosiers to implement affordable, reliable clean energy solutions.
- Clean Water and Air: Safeguarding our natural resources against pollution and protecting residents from “forever chemicals.”
- Data Centers: Addressing the proliferation of data centers and what that means for our energy costs and water supply.
What’s in the Toolkit?
If you’ve ever felt like the Statehouse and legislative process are a mystery, this webinar is for you. We’ve broken down the complex legislative process into actionable steps. By watching, you’ll learn:
- How a bill actually becomes law in Indiana and where you can get involved.
- How to use the Indiana General Assembly website to find and follow bills in real-time.
- How to locate your specific legislators and, more importantly, how to talk to them.
- Tips for crafting messages that resonate and how to testify in person at the Statehouse.
The 2026 session will be over before we know it. Informed, confident advocates can ensure our legislators prioritize people over polluters. Whether you have five minutes a week to send an email or a full day to visit the Statehouse in person, you have the power to be a champion for Indiana’s environment.
Ready to take the next step? Watch the video to get trained, and sign up for our action alerts to receive weekly updates on which bills need your voice most.If you’re able to join us in person, we’ll be at Renewable Energy Day 2026 on Jan. 20, and we’re hosting Water Stewardship Day on Feb. 9. We hope to see you there!
