Indiana department of environmental management.

Created a new Energy Development Fund and an Indiana Energy Efficiency Loan Fund to support specific projects and industries.

Mandated that every agency must assign a small business regulatory coordinator to each rulemaking action to help businesses understand and comply with new rules.

Updated the effective date for the new provisions to July 1, 2026.

Added a clause authorizing the appropriation of funds to support the bill's initiatives.

Requires agencies to assign a 'small business regulatory coordinator' to every rulemaking action to serve as a liaison for affected businesses.

Mandates that public notices for new rules include contact information for the coordinator and the small business ombudsman.

Requires agencies to provide specific guidance to small businesses regarding rule requirements, compliance methods, and potential penalties.

Establishes a requirement for agencies to compile and submit an annual report detailing small business comments, complaints, and questions received.

Updates the document header and footer to reflect the bill's final 'Enrolled' status and the 124th General Assembly session.

Prohibits the Department of Environmental Management from making decisions based solely on federal risk values that have not been officially promulgated.

Updated reprint dates from January 29, 2026, to February 24, 2026, and updated the digest timestamp.

Added a record of House action showing the bill was read, amended, and passed on February 23, 2026.

Changed the bill identifier from SB 277 to ES 277 (Engrossed Senate Bill) to reflect its current status.

Provisions establishing the Energy Development Fund and the Indiana Energy Efficiency Loan Fund were removed from the bill.

The Division of Pollution Prevention and the Office of Voluntary Compliance were repealed and eliminated from the state structure.

New requirements mandate that agencies assign a small business regulatory coordinator and include specific contact information for small business ombudsmen in all rulemaking notices.

The bill's focus shifted from creating new funding mechanisms to improving regulatory communication and assistance for small businesses.