Environment (Water Quality)

Adds a purpose for which money in the clean water Indiana fund may be used. Renames the value added research fund to the agricultural market development fund and makes various changes to the purposes for which money in the agricultural market development fund may be used. Allows the agricultural market development fund to accept grants, donations, and money received from any other source. Requires the division of soil conservation to work in collaboration with state and federal agencies and research institutions in the installation and maintenance of mesonet sites. Allows money in the grain buyers and warehouse licensing agency license fee fund to be used to augment and supplement funding for the implementation of the Indiana grain buyers and warehouse licensing and bonding law subject to approval by the budget agency. Makes conforming changes.

Amends, repeals, or adds certain terms. Makes certain changes concerning the purpose, structure, and powers of the department of environmental management (department) or the environmental rules board. Prohibits the department from basing a decision solely 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. Makes certain changes to various boards or funds. Eliminates or amends rulemaking provisions. Makes certain changes to hearing and permitting processes. Changes or eliminates certain reporting requirements. Makes various changes to the water pollution statutes. Makes various changes to the solid waste and hazardous waste management statutes. Repeals or amends various sections regarding: (1) hazardous substances; (2) the voluntary remediation programs; (3) regional water districts; and (4) citizen lawsuits. Amends provisions concerning the establishment of certain fees and the use of fee schedules. Repeals the division of pollution prevention and the office of voluntary compliance. Makes conforming, stylistic, and technical changes.

HB 1222 exempts retention ponds from state dam regulations. This directly affects property developers, homeowners, and municipalities that maintain retention ponds for stormwater management. The bill removes requirements like safety inspections, permits, and maintenance standards currently applied to dams. It focuses solely on clarifying regulatory scope for these specific structures, not altering broader dam safety rules. The bill is currently under review by the Natural Resources Committee.

Requires the department of environmental management to adopt maximum contaminant levels for PFAS chemicals and effluent limitation standards for wastewater containing PFAS chemicals by July 1, 2027. Creates various compliance requirements for direct dischargers and indirect dischargers. Establishes various civil penalties. Establishes the PFAS chemical testing and remediation fund. Creates a PFAS chemical grant program.