Back to Indiana

SB237 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning environmental law.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning environmental law.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Scott Baldwin
Last action
2026-01-08
Official status
Introduced Senate Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Indiana Bill About Environmental Rules for PFAS Chemicals

This bill changes Indiana's environmental laws by defining certain terms related to PFAS chemicals and setting rules about how these chemicals should be managed.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines what 'decision', 'PFAS chemicals', and 'state prioritized PFAS chemicals' mean in the law.
  • Does not allow the department of environmental management to base decisions mainly on federal risk values that have not been officially approved by rulemaking.
  • Tells the department to avoid using federal risk values for air, water, soil, or sediment if these levels are at or below normal background concentrations.
  • Requires the department to focus on state prioritized PFAS chemicals when dealing with environmental issues.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Environmental Management in Indiana
  • People and companies that deal with PFAS chemicals

Terms To Know

PFAS chemicals
A group of man-made chemicals used in many products, which can be harmful to the environment.
state prioritized PFAS chemicals
Specific types of PFAS chemicals that Indiana decides are most important to focus on for environmental protection.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the department will prioritize certain PFAS chemicals.
  • It is unclear what specific actions or changes will occur after this bill passes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-08 Senate

    Authored by Senator Baldwin

  2. 2026-01-08 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Environmental Affairs

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning environmental law.
PFAS chemicals.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning environmental law.

PFAS chemicals.

Defines "decision", "PFAS chemicals", and "state prioritized PFAS chemicals". Prohibits the department of environmental management (department) from basing a decision primarily on federal risk values that have not been promulgated through federal rulemaking. Instructs the department to avoid the use of federal risk values that are at or below background concentrations in air, water, soil, or sediment. Provides that the department shall focus on state prioritized PFAS chemicals when PFAS chemicals are relevant to carrying out the department's duties.