SB 211 amends the Clean Water Indiana program, a state conservation funding program administered through Indiana’s natural and cultural resources code. The bill keeps the program focused on reducing nonpoint source water pollution and managing invasive plant species, while clarifying and expanding the types of conservation and technical assistance activities that may be supported with program funds.
Under the bill, Clean Water Indiana money may be used for district technical assistance, voluntary environmental stewardship programs, federal matching funds, cost-share programs for conservation practices, nutrient management efforts, watershed coordinator and district manager grants, and additional state technical and capacity-building assistance. The bill also expressly includes support for GIS or similar technology and invasive plant species management, and it continues to authorize assistance for land occupiers, soil and water conservation districts, and conservation groups.
Impact
The bill amends IC 14-32-8-5 and IC 14-32-8-7, effective July 1, 2025, to update the statutory purposes and allowable uses of the Clean Water Indiana fund. Its practical effect is to broaden and clarify the range of conservation, watershed, and technical assistance projects that can receive state support, while reinforcing the program’s role in reducing nutrient, pesticide, and sediment runoff and in helping local districts and landowners comply voluntarily with environmental goals and regulations.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment appears strongly favorable. The Senate passed the bill unanimously on third reading, and the House later approved it overwhelmingly on third reading, indicating broad bipartisan support for the program’s conservation and water-quality objectives. The only recorded opposition in the voting history was a failed House amendment, suggesting limited disagreement with the underlying bill itself.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to have been the House amendment offered by Rep. Bauer, which failed 30-66. Because no committee transcripts are available, the specific substance of the amendment is not clear from the record provided, but the vote suggests there was some disagreement over whether and how the bill should be modified. Aside from that amendment, the bill’s core provisions do not show significant controversy, and the final passage votes indicate consensus around maintaining and expanding Clean Water Indiana funding tools.