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Read. Follow. Verify.Indiana Requires Water Utility Plans and Local Notice for Large Industrial Projects Consuming Over 500,000 Gallons Daily
Last action · January 6, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and TelecommunicationsSponsor: Alex Burton
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What This Bill Proposed
Provides that if a proposed economic development project includes proposed construction or establishment of a facility that will consume an average of at least 500,000 gallons of water per day in ordinary operation (water intensive facility), the Indiana finance authority (IFA) may not approve a bid for the project, the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) may not grant a job creation incentive for the project, and a local unit may not provide financing for the project unless the IFA, IEDC, or local unit: (1) provides notice of the proposed water intensive facility to the water utility that provides water utility service to the proposed location of the water intensive facility; (2) receives from the water utility a plan for provision of water utility service to the water intensive facility; (3) determines that the water utility's plan adequately ensures that: (A) the water utility can reliably meet both the ordinary and peak water demand of the water intensive facility; and (B) incremental costs of supplying water to the water intensive facility will be allocated to and paid by the water intensive facility; and (4) provides the water utility's plan to the local plan commission.
Local water utilities and municipal governments must review large industrial water demands before projects receive public backing, shifting financial and infrastructure planning responsibilities onto high-consumption commercial developers.
- House Bill 1297 was introduced during the Second Regular Session of the 124th Indiana General Assembly by Representative Alex Burton. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Water utilities
Water utilities must evaluate proposed high-consumption projects and submit formal service and cost-allocation plans within 30 days of receiving notice.
Commercial and industrial developers
Developers proposing facilities that use over 500,000 gallons daily must supply detailed water consumption metrics and ensure coverage of incremental utility costs to qualify for state bids, incentives, or local financing.
Local plan commissions
Plan commissions receive copies of the water utility service plans for proposed projects within their jurisdiction.
Key Facts
- A "water intensive facility" is defined as any facility consuming an average of at least 500,000 gallons of water per day in ordinary operation.
- The Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) may not approve an economic development project bid for a water intensive facility unless the serving water utility submits a plan ensuring it can meet demand and that the facility pays its incremental costs.
- The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) may not grant job creation incentives for a water intensive facility without an approved water utility service and cost-allocation plan.
- Local government units are prohibited from providing financing for a water intensive facility unless they receive and approve a water utility service plan.
Show all 8 facts
- Water utilities have thirty (30) days from receiving notice to submit their service and cost-allocation plans to the relevant state authority or local unit.
- State authorities and local units must provide the water utility's service plan to the local plan commission having jurisdiction over the project location.
- The IFA must incorporate the water utility's service plan into its evaluation criteria when determining the highest and best bids for economic development projects.
- For projects where estimated new jobs exceed one hundred, the IFA must submit its project report to the local school corporation superintendent, who has five days to comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies a project as a "water intensive facility" under this bill?
How long does a water utility have to respond after receiving notice of a proposed project?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 6, 2026HouseIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications
- Jan 6, 2026HouseAuthored by Representative Burton
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Cross-Agency Coordination on Water Infrastructure
The bill explicitly links economic development approvals across multiple distinct state and local bodies (IFA, IEDC, and local units) to unified water utility service adequacy standards.
Connected Entities
Sources
iga.in.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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