Burton’s utility accountability amendment added to HB1459

Today, Feb. 13, State Rep. Alex Burton’s (D-Evansville) amendment to House Bill 1459 passed unanimously in the House. The bill outlines new rules for water and wastewater utilities in Indiana that aren’t currently regulated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC).

Burton's amendment adds a requirement for utilities that aren't regulated by the IURC. These utilities must report any consent decrees (agreements they’ve made with the government) or federal mandates to the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA). They must do this according to the reporting schedule mentioned in the bill.

Burton released the following quote on the amendment’s passage:

“Historically, Evansville has solved its infrastructure problems independently and has not asked the state for much assistance. This is a small step that I hope will one day lead to the state providing resources to communities like Evansville to address federal mandates and consent decrees.”