About

Policy Happenings

With so many bills proposed every legislative session, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—especially when it comes to protecting Indiana’s water supply. We work to gather the key water-related legislation from the Statehouse every year as well as provide updates after the session. Read on to find out how you can make your voice heard to safeguard Indiana’s water future.

State and local policies can dramatically impact the protection or degradation of water resources. Learn more about some of the primary issues from experts through:

Bills

The 2026 legislative session has ended. Six water related bills passed, they are discussed below. All six have been signed by the governor and will become state law.

  • SB 224 Department of Natural Resources

    Bill: SB 224 Department of Natural Resources

    Author: Sen. Sue Glick

    Referred To: Senate Committee on Natural Resources

    Among several other things, SB 224 would confer upon the Division of Water in the Indiana Department of Natural Resources the authority and responsibility to conduct hearings, on behalf of the Natural Resources Commission, on the proposed creation of a Watershed Development Commission. (Note: House Bill 1003 directs the Legislative Services Agency to prepare legislation for introduction in 2027 that would eliminate the Natural Resources Commission.)

    Stance: Support

  • HB 1348 Regulation of Grease Control Equipment

    Bill: HB 1348 Regulation of Grease Control Equipment

    Author: Rep. Jim Pressel

    Referred To: House Committee on Environmental Affairs

    This Bill has PASSED!

    HB 1348 requires commercial facilities and food establishments that discharge fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) to wastewater systems to install and maintain grease intercepting equipment capable of preventing FOGs from entering the flow of wastewater into a sewer system or a nonresidential onsite sewage system. The bill authorizes wastewater utilities to impose higher rates or surcharges on commercial facilities or food establishments that repeatedly fail to intercept and prevent their FOGs from discharging to the utility’s wastewater system. HB 1348 also requires any unit of local government that issues permits for residential or nonresidential sewage systems to allow the septage from those systems to be disposed of at a wastewater treatment facility within that local unit or in a neighboring unit, and requires wastewater treatment facilities to accept septage from a bordering unit.

    Stance: Support

  • SB 241 Utility Service Enhancement Improvement Costs

    Bill: SB 241 Utility Service Enhancement Improvement Costs

    Author: Sen. Eric Koch

    Referred To: Senate Committee on Utilities

    This Bill has PASSED.

    SB 241 allows adjustments to account for utilities’ chemical and power costs when those costs have increased or decreased by 3% or more over the past two years. Utilities are allowed but not required to seek such adjustments. This applies only to water or wastewater utilities that are eligible to recover costs for “service enhancement improvements.”

    Stance: Neutral

  • SB 277 Indiana Department of Environmental Management

    Bill: SB 277 Indiana Department of Environmental Management

    Author: Sen. Rick Niemeyer

    Referred To: Senate Committee on Environmental Affairs

    This Bill has PASSED.

    Primarily makes technical corrections and updates references to Indiana Code and Indiana Administrative Code sections. Repeals the IDEM Groundwater Quality Clearinghouse.

    Stance: Oppose

  • SB 6 Extension of Water Services

    Bill: SB 6 Extension of Water Services

    Author: Sen. Rick Niemeyer

    Referred To: Senate Committee on Local Government

    This Bill has PASSED.

    SB 6 requires public utilities to conduct an outreach campaign before condemning land for extending a water or wastewater main.

    Stance: Neutral

  • HB 1062 Wake Boarding & Wake Surfing

    Bill: HB 1062 Wake Boarding & Wake Surfing

    Author: Rep. Dave Abbott

    Referred To: House Committee on Natural Resources

    This Bill has PASSED!

    HB 1062 defines wake boarding and wake surfing and specifies when those activities are allowed on public freshwater lakes.

    Stance: Support