The 2010 legislative session likely ends tomorrow. With the session particularly brisk this year, environmental success is measured by movement down the goal line, not total goals!
Here's a quick rundown: A bill to promote green buildings (HB 1063) passed out of the Indiana Senate Environment Committee for the first time, and a bill to require INDOT to report on its progress in
implementing bike & transit-friendly streets policy (HB 1182) passed out of the House for the first time.
One of great disappointments this session was the failure of bills to curtail the impact of industrial hog and dairy operations on our natural heritage, with bills either denied hearings (SB 24), or dying in votes before the full legislative body (HB 1161).
A disappointment also in the realm of forestry protection, where a bill to permanently protect the Backcountry of Morgan-Monroe State Forest (HB 1056) was denied a hearing.
The legislative session may still end on a positive note. Net metering bills, which would spur schools, homes and businesses to install wind turbines and solar panels for their own electricity needs, moved decisively out of both the House (HB 1094) and Senate (SB 313). The ultimate fate of net metering awaits at least one more day of intense negotiation. Stay tuned!
While many counties are charged with the task of developing watershed management plans to restore their water quality, a recent decision indicates that counties may not have the authority they need to protect their waterways.
