The Senate passed House Bill 1082, the so-called "No More Stringent Than" bill, after significant changes. The bill now only requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to report proposed changes for legislative review.
Republican Ed Charbonneau (Valparaiso) led the bill's overhaul. "We've ended up with, I think, a very good compromise, which reaffirms the role of the General Assembly as the environmental policy maker for the state," Charbonneau said Tuesday on the Senate floor.
The compromise also states IDEM cannot implement stricter rules until after the legislature can review them.
Tim Maloney, Senior Policy Director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, praised Charbonneau's amendments. But he says the bill is unnecessary. "What's left creates additional burden on the agency, but the practical effect is it doesn't change the General Assembly's ability to modify or overturn any rules that a state agency adopts."
The bill does allow IDEM to create tougher rules without legislative review in emergency situations.