The 2026 Indiana Statehouse Session Has Begun—Here’s What We’re Watching

The 2026 Indiana legislative session is officially underway, with state lawmakers returning to the Statehouse in Indianapolis to introduce and debate new bills that could affect communities across the state.

Save the Dunes, is closely monitoring key bills that affect our region’s health, environment, and local communities. Northwest Indiana is home to treasured places like our Indiana Dunes State Park — and the decisions made in the Statehouse this year will have real consequences for our environment and communities in Northwest Indiana.

This session, our bill watch list focuses on the issues that matter most to the region and the surrounding environment.

As the session progresses, we’ll keep you up-to-date on the bills that matter most — and what you can do to help protect and advocate for Northwest Indiana’s environment!

Interested in advocating for these bills? Click here to find your state legislators and reach out today!

Bill Watch Overview

House Bills

House Bill 1043 – Data Center Water Regulation (SUPPORT)
- This bill addresses how much water large data centers can use, an important issue for protecting local water supplies near public lands

House Bill 1062 – Wakeboarding and Wake Surfing (SUPPORT)
- This bill addresses public safety concerns related to wakeboarding and wakesurfing on Indiana waterways, including reducing risks to swimmers, paddlers, and other recreational users

House Bill 1110 – PFAS Chemicals (SUPPORT)
- This bill focuses on regulating harmful PFAS “forever chemicals” that threaten drinking water, wetlands, and the Great Lakes

House Bill 1190 – Line of Duty Disability from PFAS Exposure (SUPPORT)
- This bill recognizes the health risks of PFAS exposure by ensuring first responders can receive disability benefits when exposure occurs in the line of duty

House Bill 1204 – Natural Resource Entrance Fees (NEUTRAL)
- This bill proposes changes to entrance fees for state parks, which could potentially help fund important infrastructure projects and improvements that directly benefit counties with state parks

House Bill 1239 – PFAS Water Safety Standards (SUPPORT)
- This bill would strengthen water safety standards for PFAS, helping better protect our drinking water

House Bill 1245 – IURC Study of Data Centers (SUPPORT)
- This bill calls for a study of data centers’ impacts on utilities, including water and energy use, which is critical for understanding how future development could affect nearby communities and protected lands

Senate Bills

Senate Bill 17 – Air Quality (SUPPORT)
- This bill addresses air quality measures that could impact public health and the environment across Northwest Indiana

Senate Bill 67 – Studies Relating to Natural Lands (SUPPORT)
- This bill would authorize studies on the conservation and management of public lands, helping guide future protection of Indiana state parks

Senate Bill 79 – Data Center Development (SUPPORT)
- This bill sets policies for data center development, including considerations for water use, energy, and potential effects on nearby parks and sensitive ecosystems

Senate Bill 146 – Student Water Safety (SUPPORT)
- This bill focuses on improving water safety education and protections for students, helping keep kids safer at our Indiana Dunes beaches

Senate Bill 237 – PFAS Chemicals (OPPOSE)
- This bill limits the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM) ability to regulate PFAS or “forever chemicals”

Senate Bill 257 – Electricity Rate Increases Due to Data Centers (SUPPORT)
- This bill prohibits electricity rate increases on utility customers to cover the costs of powering data centers

Senate Bill 277 – Indiana Department of Environmental Management (OPPOSE)
- This bill severely narrows the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM) ability to protect our environment