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Committee amends and advances bill to update statewide on-site sewage rules
Summary
The committee amended House Bill 1052 to require the Indiana Department of Health to complete updates to the state's septic code (Rule 4-10) on a schedule and to limit Technical Review Panel (TRP) meetings; the amended bill drew support from IDOH and the Indiana Builders Association and passed the committee unanimously.
The Environmental Rules Committee amended and moved forward House Bill 1052, which requires updates to Indiana’s on-site sewage (septic) rules and adjusts how local ordinances are reviewed by the Technical Review Panel (TRP).
Representative Pressell presented the amendment, which the committee described as largely technical and the product of collaboration with the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH). The amendment directs IDOH to update residential on-site sewage rules by July 1, 2026, and commercial rules by July 1, 2027. It also limits TRP meetings to once per quarter (four times per year) and removes IDOH as a voting member of the TRP to avoid creating an even-numbered voting panel. The measure prevents TRP approval of local ordinances until Rule 4-10 has been completed and establishes a process for returning ordinances with recommendations if additional information is needed.
Rachel Sportwood, legislative and external affairs director for IDOH, said the department worked closely with Representative Pressell on the amendment and that IDOH was “supportive of the amendment” and neutral on the overall bill as amended. Carly Hopper of the Indiana Builders Association testified in favor of the amendment, saying the changes “will ensure that there’s a fair and consistent process” for residential on-site sewage system installations and repairs.
Representative Pressell said the changes seek to create a uniform septic code across the state and to avoid overwhelming the TRP with piecemeal local ordinances while IDOH completes the rule update. He described removing IDOH as a voting member as a measure to prevent tie votes; he said tie votes would be treated as denials that return the ordinance to the local unit with guidance on needed changes.
Committee members took several clarifying questions before voting. The committee recorded a roll-call vote and the chair announced the bill passed committee seven-zero.
The amendment removed a previously proposed Section 5 that would have created a process to recover certain funds for enforcement against local health departments; Representative Pressell said that provision had been removed during drafting. The committee did not direct additional amendments at the hearing; the bill was reported out of committee in amended form for further consideration by the full chamber.
Action summary: HB 1052, as amended, passed the Environmental Rules Committee by roll call; the bill requires IDOH timetables for rule updates, narrows TRP meeting frequency, removes IDOH voting membership on TRP, and blocks TRP ordinance approvals until Rule 4-10 is finalized.
