House advances retainage cut, allows alkaline hydrolysis, and approves changes to septic, drainage and election rules

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana House of Representatives moved a slate of measures Monday that included changes to construction retainage, an expansion of legal disposition methods to include alkaline hydrolysis, revisions to on-site septic oversight, and steps to modernize local campaign finance reporting.

The chamber passed a mix of bills after debate on several items. Major roll-call outcomes included final passage of House Bill 10 33 (retainage), House Bill 10 44 (allowing alkaline hydrolysis), House Bill 10 52 (on-site sewage code changes), House Bill 14 60 (drainage and plat timelines), House Bill 14 71 (Giglio process for law enforcement disclosures), House Bill 15 15 (nonpublic school flexibilities), House Bill 16 33 (municipal election study), House Bill 16 43 (campaign finance modernization) and House Bill 16 70 (limits on fees for veteran claims representation). Several bills that drew floor debate passed with recorded roll-call tallies noted below.

Why it matters: several of these measures change how Hoosiers interact with state and local government — from how construction contracts hold back retainage, to new options for end-of-life disposition, to how local public-health compliance is enforced. Other bills aim to increase transparency in campaign reporting and to curb exploitative practices in veterans'benefit representation.

Key outcomes and highlights

- Retainage (House Bill 10 33): Representative Pressell presented the bill, which reduces the maximum contractor retainage from 10% to 6% on public works projects and changes the 50% completion thresholds tied to lower retainage levels. The House recorded 84 yes, 1 no on final passage; the bill passed.

- Alkaline hydrolysis added as option (House Bill 10 44): Representative Genda argued the bill would offer a fourth disposition method in Indiana, noting a local manufacturer near Danville and industry support. The measure passed on final vote 70 yes, 17 no after members debated religious and ethical objections raised by Representative Mayfield and others. Supporters said the process uses largely water-based chemistry (described in testimony as…