SB 6 Indiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Extension of water or wastewater mains.

Summary
Provides that before a municipally owned utility (utility) may condemn land for the extension of a water main or a wastewater main that is located outside: (1) the corporate boundaries of the municipality; or (2) the existing service territory of the utility; the utility must provide, by mail, written notice to each landowner whose land is needed for the extension and to the county plan commission for the county in which the extension project is proposed. Sets forth the information that must be included in the required notices. Requires the: (1) utility to post on the utility's website; and (2) county in which the extension project is proposed to post on the county's website; certain information about the proposed extension project. Provides that a landowner or a county plan commission that receives a notice from a utility under the bill's provisions may, not later than 30 days after receiving the notice, request in writing a meeting with the utility regarding the proposed extension project. Provides that upon receiving such a request, the utility shall offer to meet with the landowner or county plan commission not later than 30 days after the utility's receipt of the request. Authorizes a utility to proceed with a proposed extension project if the utility has satisfied the bill's notice requirements. Beginning in 2027, requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) to include in its annual report the following information with respect to the most recently concluded state fiscal year: (1) Any reported delays in an extension project that a utility attributes to any of the bill's requirements. (2) Any complaints or disputes arising under the bill's provisions that are submitted to the IURC. (3) Any action taken by the IURC with respect to any reported delays, complaints, or disputes arising under the bill's provisions.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Dec 8, 2025 Signed Mar 4, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Senate Bill (S) Senate Bill (S) · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from an enrolled act to a regular Senate bill, changing its status from final law to a proposal. The substantive policy changes significantly broaden the scope from only municipally owned utilities to all public utilities. It also simplifies the notice process by removing the requirement to notify the county plan commission and replaces newspaper publication requirements with a single website posting. Finally, the mandatory meeting timeline was shortened from 60 days to 30 days after a request.
Scope change
The bill now applies to all public utilities instead of only municipally owned utilities, and it removed the exemption for temporary easements or condemnations needed for public health and safety.
SCOPE

Expanded applicability from only municipally owned utilities to all public utilities.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the exemption for temporary easements or condemnations required to protect public health or safety.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the mandatory notice requirement to the county plan commission.

Replaced the requirement to publish notices in a newspaper with a requirement to post notices on the utility's website.

Shortened the deadline for the utility to schedule a meeting with a landowner from 60 days to 30 days after a request.

DEFINITION

Removed the specific definition of 'municipally owned utility' and the exclusion of utilities owned by consolidated cities.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 13, 2026 · House Feb 23, 2026

How they voted

480
Passed
Total votes 48
Jan 13, 2026
D Democratic9
9 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican39
39 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
10
Committee
2
Amendments
1
Mar 4, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President of the Senate
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 268: yeas 45, nays 0
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 303: yeas 91, nays 2
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 24: yeas 49, nays 0
upper
Jan 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amendment #1 (Niemeyer) prevailed; voice vote
upper
Jan 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
upper
4 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors