Everyone needs water. So, everyone has a stake in the decisions made about water. Impacted at the local, state, and national levels, you can understand how government works and how and when to share your thoughts can make a difference for our waterways. The Indiana State Legislature, for instance, regularly considers laws – some that make our water cleaner; some that make our water more secure; and some that reduce protections to our waterways. This year’s short session of the Legislature (January 6 through March 13) leaves a small window of time to learn about and potentially influence important decisions being made at the Statehouse.
What Happened in 2019
In 2019, the Legislature considered several items which impact our waterways, including:
Funding Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM): House Bill 1514 provided funding stability for the agency which implements and enforces both federal and state environmental regulations to ensure public and environmental health.
Creating Stormwater Management Task Force: Senate Bill 4 brought together water and wastewater utilities to set priorities and cooperate on addressing stormwater runoff pollution of water systems.
Providing Water Infrastructure Fund: House Bill 1406 established a fund to maintain and improve water systems to reduce breakdowns, inefficiencies and address water quality impacts.
What’s Happening in 2020
Currently underway, the 2020 legislative session offers several issues to watch:
Preventing Water Pollution: House Bill 1257 requires immediate notification of toxic spills into state waters and consequences if not made. Senate Bill 248 provides for yearly on-site inspections of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), significant contributors of pollutants to Indiana’s waters.
Addressing Lead in Water Systems: Senate Bills 285 and 286 require increased testing of children for lead poisoning along with notification of results. Voluntary testing is in process in Indianapolis that started with charter schools in 2019 and continues to Pike Township and Indianapolis Public Schools this year.
Managing Invasive Species: Invasive species are plants and animals that evolved elsewhere and tend to take over crucial native species in local environments. Senate Bill 99 would establish a study committee to investigate ways to fund invasive species management and consider making the Indiana Invasive Initiative a state agency to address this issue.
How Residents Can Make a Difference
Indiana’s state legislators are elected by you, and they want to hear from you so they can represent you well when making difficult decisions. At any point, residents can contact their legislator by letter, phone, or email. Find out how to contact your legislator and watch live chamber sessions of both House and Senate if unable to attend in person. If able to attend, you can testify at committee hearings, during full House and Senate readings, and during conference between the two bodies. Outside of the legislative process, residents can attend “meet your legislator” events and get involved in direct projects in their own neighborhoods to positively impact the waterways.
Want to learn more? Join ROW on Wednesday, February 5th for In the Know with ROW: Become a Water Advocate. See details and RSVP in the Event Spotlight below or at: https://wateradvocacy.eventbrite.com.