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SB 277 · Indiana · 2026 · Billy

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SB 277

Indiana · 2026 session · senate

SB 277Indiana department of environmental management.

Status: Signed into law
Latest action: 2026-03-05 — Public Law 135
Primary sponsor: Rick Niemeyer (Republican)

AGENCIES; Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COUNCILS; Generally
CIVIL LAW AND PROCEDURE; Liabilities, Damages, and Penalties
CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE; Generally
ENVIRONMENT; Hazardous Waste
ENVIRONMENT; Recycling
ENVIRONMENT; Solid Waste and Trash
ENVIRONMENT; Water Pollution
STATE GOVERNMENT; Administrative Code

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View changes+161 / −339 words · Large

Latest change summary

+161 / −339 words · LargeConfidence: high

This bill substantially reduces the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's (IDEM) regulatory authority and enforcement capabilities across multiple environmental programs. The changes eliminate key definitional criteria for regulating PFAS and other persistent contaminants, remove mandatory investigation and advisory requirements for contaminated groundwater and private wells, strip the commissioner of authority to bring lawsuits on behalf of affected persons, and delete emergency action powers for immediate pollution threats. The bill also removes the board's authority to set standards for contaminant discharges, eliminates hazardous waste listing requirements, and converts several mandatory duties ('shall') to discretionary authority ('may'). Collectively, these changes shift Indiana's environmental regulatory framework from proactive enforcement and protective standards toward a more permissive approach with reduced agency powers.

Eliminates commissioner's authority to bring lawsuits on behalf of persons whose health or livelihood is endangered by pollution, removing a key enforcement mechanism
Removes mandatory duty to investigate groundwater contamination affecting private wells and eliminates requirement to issue advisories to owners of contaminated wells
Deletes emergency authority to immediately restrain persons causing pollution and to take other necessary protective action
Eliminates all definitional criteria for regulating PFAS chemicals, including removal of PFOA and PFOS from regulated substances lists and deletion of persistence and bioaccumulation standards
Removes board authority to prescribe standards for contaminant discharge and facility operation, and eliminates requirement to maintain hazardous waste listings

AI-assisted summary grounded in bill text — verify against official sources before relying on it for counsel work.

Sponsors

Rick Niemeyer (Republican) · authorprimary
Justin Busch (Republican) · authorprimary
Beau Baird (Republican) · sponsorprimary
Doug Miller (Republican) · cosponsor

Effective dates

What law changes on each date. Different sections can land on different dates.

January 1, 2013In effect1 section
July 1, 2026In effect
- amendsIC 13-11-2-109
- amendsIC 13-11-2-114
- amendsIC 13-11-2-114.2
- amendsIC 13-11-2-138
- amendsIC 13-11-2-16.6
- amendsIC 13-11-2-165
- amendsIC 13-11-2-177.5
- amendsIC 13-11-2-201
- +291 more

What takes effect when — from the latest version's statute changes.

Versions

Introduced Senate Bill (S)Jan 8, 2026
Senate Bill (S)Jan 22, 2026
Engrossed Senate Bill (H)Feb 23, 2026
Senate Bill (H)Feb 16, 2026
Engrossed Senate Bill (S)Feb 23, 2026
Enrolled Senate Bill (S)Feb 27, 2026

Legislative history

Mar 5, 2026
Public Law 135
Mar 5, 2026
Signed by the Governor
Feb 27, 2026
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
Feb 27, 2026
Signed by the Speaker
Feb 27, 2026
Signed by the President of the Senate
Feb 25, 2026
Motion to concur filed
Feb 25, 2026
Returned to the Senate with amendments
Feb 25, 2026
Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 296: yeas 26, nays 21
Feb 24, 2026
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 356: yeas 53, nays 45
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #6 (Novak) failed; Roll Call 323: yeas 39, nays 55
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #8 (Errington) failed; Roll Call 325: yeas 34, nays 60
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #22 (Cash) prevailed; voice vote
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #12 (Errington) failed; Division of the House: yeas 37, nays 54
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #15 (Jackson C) failed; Roll Call 331: yeas 29, nays 67
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #9 (Errington) failed; Roll Call 332: yeas 29, nays 66
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #17 (Jackson C) failed; Roll Call 327: yeas 30, nays 63
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #2 (Bauer) failed; Roll Call 329: yeas 29, nays 62
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #14 (Jackson C) failed; Roll Call 324: yeas 35, nays 58
Feb 23, 2026
Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
Feb 23, 2026
Amendment #10 (Errington) failed; Roll Call 330: yeas 34, nays 56

Official sources

Version 0PDF
Version 1PDF PDF
Version 2PDF
Version 3PDF
Version 4PDF
Version 5PDF

Fiscal Note: SB0277.07.ENRH.FN001PDF

About this page

Is this the official Indiana bill page?: No — this is Billy’s public legislative record for SB 277. Official source links are listed above when publishers provide them.
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