Although the snow was piled high outside the Indiana Statehouse, Conservation Day on February 3, 2026, hosted by Indiana Conservation Alliance (INCA) was visited by many supporting members and guests, including the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter.
There was even an owl and a hawk brought by the Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Center of Hardy Lake, delighting attendees!
Conservation Day happens every year at the Indiana Statehouse with the goal of bringing together members of INCA, such as the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter, Indiana Conservation Voters, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the Hoosier Environmental Council, among others, to allow networking and encourage meetings with elected officials.
This year INCA members are building support for Senate Bill 67 to have the Department of Natural Resources study opportunities for leveraging public lands to improve public health outcomes, consistent options for collecting visitor fees at state fish and wildlife areas, and a plan to mitigate and recover from natural disasters affecting public lands.
INCA recognized as a “friend of conservation” both Senator Jean Leising of Oldenburg and Senator Yoder, for their work on the 2025 interim study committee that evaluated the economic benefits of Indiana’s public parks, forests, wildlife areas and trails.
Lora Kemp (Hoosier Chapter Vice Chair) and Marilyn Bauchat of the Uplands Network of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter made a special presentation and award of gratitude to District 40’s Senator Shelli Yoder and District 61’s State Representative Matt Pierce for their commitment to supporting legislation to protect the natural environment of Indiana.
Lora also reminded attendees of the legacy built by Andy Mahler, who passed away in 2025. Andy was an ardent protector of Indiana’s National and State Forests, and established the Indiana Forest Alliance, Protect our Woods, and Heartwood advocacy groups, which continue his legacy today.
Representative Bob Heaton stopped by with an update to Sierra Club folks know HB1414 did not make it out of Ways and Means Committee, which is a win for conservation of Indiana’s State Forests. Lora Kemp thanked him for his efforts.
The Sierra Club’s Julie Lowe, Dave Wildemann, and Jennifer Ehara met with Senator Greg Walker of District 41 to thank him for sponsoring SB 196.
Environmental Legislation Tracker
February 2 marked the day that bills moved between chambers at the Statehouse. Here is an update on a few of the environmental bills that the Sierra Club is tracking:
SB 67 Studies relating to natural lands: SUPPORT
- This bill passed the Senate and is awaiting a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee.
SB196 Community Energy Facilities: SUPPORT
(Sponsored by Senator Walker district 41)
- This bill unfortunately did not make it to session. It would have allowed third party energy companies, such as solar or wind, to contract with existing utilities, allowing easier entry into the energy market.
SB 277 Amend Indiana’s environmental code to weaken IDEM’s oversight: OPPOSE
- This bill passed the Senate. It would allow the state to loosen many environmental regulations. Ask your legislator to vote no on SB 277!
HB 1333 Allows development of land deemed “low quality” without community recourse or input: OPPOSE
You can keep up with the full list of bills we’re following on our legislative webpage.
Curious about volunteering with the Sierra Club? Check out our website for volunteer opportunities!
Jennifer Ehara
Winding Waters Group Executive Committee
and Hoosier Chapter Sierra Club Communications Team