Bills. Bills. Bills. - Legislative session update from our director, Amanda Shepherd

February 15, 2023

The Indiana 2023 legislative session is in full swing and the Hoosier Chapter is engaging on multiple bills that will impact the environment and the lives of Hoosiers in the state. Keep reading to learn more about these bills and how YOU can take action.

This session is all about the budget. Spending priorities for the next two years will be decided. The chapter supports Governor Holcomb’s allocations for conservation funding in his proposed budget, which includes:

$25 million over two years for land conservation
$50 million over two years for trail projects
Increase of $2.2 million a year for the Division of Forestry and its programs to assist private woodland owners
Increase of $7.2 million a year for fish and wildlife management, including the State Wildlife Action Plan focused on the 150 native Indiana fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need
$3 million for a new visitors center at Prophetstown State Park
Salary increases for DNR staff, including conservation officers

Click the button below to find your State Representative and Senator and encourage them to support Governor Holcomb's budget, as well as to support HB 1304, which will increase funds for DNR's Lake and River Enhancement grants through increased renewal fees.

Find Your Legislators

The chapter also supports SB 335, which will establish the first ever climate solutions task force in the state to review issues related to sustainable and clean energy solutions. This bill has been championed by Confront the Climate Crisis, a youth-led campaign dedicated to achieving climate action solutions in our state.

Youth gathered at the Statehouse to rally for climate action.

Contact Senator Niemeyer and urge him to hold a vote on SB 335 in the Committee on Environmental Affairs where he is Chair

There are several other bills that the chapter actively supports:

HB 1453, the House version of SB 335 to establish a climate solutions task force
HB 1190 will increase regulations and set standards for the disposal of coal ash, a hazardous contaminant that threatens the health of our air, soil, and groundwater
HB 1218 requires the inspection of failing septic tanks before a property sale transfer, preventing damaged septic tanks from leaking sewage into our groundwater
HB 1138 requires the testing of drinking water in preschool and childcare facilities, protecting our most vulnerable Hoosiers from dangerous contaminants
HB 1219 tracks the amount of PFAS, dangerous “forever chemicals,” that are exposed to firefighters
HB 1193 creates a program to administer grants to towns, cities, and counties to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, allowing for data to be collected that can then guide emission reductions
SB 91 requires inspections of CAFOs, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, that lead to large amounts of sewage and other pollutants, improving oversight and regulation

Unfortunately, there are also bills that will threaten efforts to protect the environment in the state and which the chapter actively opposes:

SB 242 removes a requirement for counties to use the best available data from the state DNR when approving permits for new construction projects on floodplains, interfering with efforts to reduce flood risk - passed out of Senate and to the House.
SB 472 would identify “advanced recycling facilities” as manufacturing facilities, a distinction that would help the industry avoid certain solid waste facility regulations - passed out of Senate and to the House.
HB 1623 would increase the burden on the Indiana Department of Environmental Management by requiring them to jump through more hoops in order to pass & maintain rules to protect the environment. Additionally, an amendment has been proposed to this bill that would not allow the state to have protections more stringent than those at the federal level regarding the disposal of dangerous coal ash.

Find Your Representative and ask them to oppose SB 242, SB 472, & HB 1623

You can stay up to date on these bills by following the chapter’s legislative tracker on our website. If you have questions about talking points when reaching out to your legislators, please contact ashlyn.devine@sierraclub.org.

Please take a moment to use your voice on these bills and let your legislators know that passionate individuals like YOU care about protecting the environment in Indiana.

Sincerely,

Amanda Shepherd
Chapter Director

Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter

Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter

Bills. Bills. Bills. - Legislative session update from our director, Amanda Shepherd

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