State efficiency standards.

Introduced Version HOUSE BILL No. 1527 _____ DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL Citations Affected: IC 13-11-2; IC 13-27-9. Synopsis: State efficiency standards. Requires the department of environmental management (department) to adopt minimum efficiency standards for certain products (covered products). Requires manufacturers to: (1) test covered products; (2) certify to the department that covered products sold, offered for sale, leased, distributed, or rented in Indiana comply with the minimum efficiency standards; and (3) mark a covered product and the covered product's packaging at the time of sale or installation to identify that the covered product is in compliance with the minimum efficiency standards. Provides that the department shall: (1) establish a program to test covered products; and (2) investigate complaints received concerning covered products that violate minimum efficiency standards. Creates an enforcement process for these requirements. Effective: July 1, 2025. Errington January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Environmental Affairs. 2025 IN 1527—LS 7570/DI 150 Introduced First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025) PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type. Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution. Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. HOUSE BILL No. 1527 A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning environmental law. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: 1 SECTION 1. IC 13-11-2-16.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 2 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 3 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 16.1. (a) "Automatic irrigation 4 controller", for purposes of section 47.9 of this chapter, means a 5 device used to remotely control valves that operate a landscape 6 irrigation system. 7 (b) The term does not include irrigation control devices: 8 (1) designed for attachment to a hose bib or a hose end; or 9 (2) marketed for agricultural purposes. 10 SECTION 2. IC 13-11-2-16.9 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 11 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 12 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 16.9. (a) "Battery charger 13 system", for purposes of section 47.9 of this chapter, refers to a 14 battery charger coupled with its battery. 15 (b) The term includes the following: 16 (1) A rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery's 17 charger. 2025 IN 1527—LS 7570/DI 150 2 1 (2) A device that incorporates a rechargeable battery and a 2 rechargeable battery charger. 3 (3) An electronic device with a battery that is normally 4 charged from AC line voltage or DC input voltage through an 5 internal or external power supply and a dedicated battery 6 charger. 7 (4) A dedicated battery system primarily designed for 8 electrical or emergency backup. 9 (5) A device whose primary function is to charge batteries. 10 SECTION 3. IC 13-11-2-36.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 11 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 12 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 36.2. "Compensation", for 13 purposes of IC 13-27-9, has the meaning set forth in IC 2-2.2-1-4. 14 SECTION 4. IC 13-11-2-47.9 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 15 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 16 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 47.9. "Covered products", for 17 purposes of IC 13-27-9, refers to the following products: 18 (1) Automatic irrigation controllers. 19 (2) Computers and computer monitors. 20 (3) Faucets. 21 (4) Gas fireplaces. 22 (5) Portable electric spas. 23 (6) Residential ventilating fans. 24 (7) Showerheads. 25 (8) Spray sprinkler bodies. 26 (9) Battery charger systems. 27 (10) Urinals. 28 (11) Water closets. 29 (12) Water coolers. 30 (13) Any additional products designated by commissioner. 31 SECTION 5. IC 13-11-2-77.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 32 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 33 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 77.5. "Faucet", for purposes of 34 section 47.9 of this chapter, means a device used to control the flow 35 of water. 36 SECTION 6. IC 13-11-2-88.3 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 37 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 38 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 88.3. "Gas fireplace", for 39 purposes of section 47.9 of this chapter, means a vented fireplace 40 that is: 41 (1) fueled by natural gas or propane; 42 (2) marked for decorative use only; and 2025 IN 1527—LS 7570/DI 150 3 1 (3) not equipped with a thermostat or intended for use as a 2 heater. 3 SECTION 7. IC 13-11-2-126, AS AMENDED BY P.L.37-2012, 4 SECTION 6, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 5 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 126. (a) "Manufacturer", for purposes of 6 IC 13-20-16, means a person who is engaged in the business of making 7 lead acid batteries: 8 (1) in Indiana; or 9 (2) for sale in Indiana. 10 (b) "Manufacturer", for purposes of sections 179.9, 180.1, 195.7, 11 and 245.4 of this chapter and IC 13-20.5, means a person that: 12 (1) manufactures video display devices to be sold under the 13 person's own brand or a brand the person licenses as identified by 14 the person's own brand label or the brand label the person 15 licenses; 16 (2) sells video display devices manufactured by others under the 17 person's own brand or a brand the person licenses as identified by 18 the person's own brand label or the brand label the person 19 licenses; or 20 (3) assumes the responsibilities and obligations of a manufacturer 21 under IC 13-20.5. 22 (c) "Manufacturer", for purposes of IC 13-27-9, means a person 23 located inside or outside Indiana: 24 (1) that manufactures a covered product (as defined in section 25 47.9 of this chapter); or 26 (2) whose brand name is affixed to the covered product. 27 SECTION 8. IC 13-11-2-166.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 28 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 29 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 166.6. "Portable electric spa", for 30 purposes of section 47.9 of this chapter, means a factory built 31 electric spa or hot tub that includes any combination of: 32 (1) integral controls; 33 (2) water heating; or 34 (3) water circulating equipment. 35 SECTION 9. IC 13-11-2-188.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 36 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 37 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 188.5. "Residential ventilating 38 fan", for purposes of section 47.9 of this chapter, means a 39 mechanical ventilation device used in a residential setting to: 40 (1) provide fresh air; 41 (2) remove indoor air contaminants; or 42 (3) regulate humidity. 2025 IN 1527—LS 7570/DI 150 4 1 SECTION 10. IC 13-11-2-202.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 2 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 3 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 202.5. "Showerhead", for 4 purposes of section 47.9 of this chapter, means a component or set 5 of components: 6 (1) distributed in commerce for attachment to a single water 7 supply fitting; and 8 (2) used for spraying water onto a bather. 9 SECTION 11. IC 13-11-2-242.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 10 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 11 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 242.4. "Urinal", for purposes of 12 section 47.9 of this chapter, means a plumbing fixture that receives 13 only liquid body waste and conveys the waste through a trap into 14 a drainage system. 15 SECTION 12. IC 13-11-2-258.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 16 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 17 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 258.5. "Water closet", for 18 purposes of section 47.9 of this chapter, means a plumbing fixture 19 having a water containing receptor that receives: 20 (1) liquid; and 21 (2) solid body waste; 22 through an exposed integral trap into a drainage system. 23 SECTION 13. IC 13-11-2-258.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 24 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 25 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 258.7. "Water cooler", for 26 purposes of section 47.9 of this chapter, means a freestanding 27 device that consumes energy to cool and heat potable water. 28 SECTION 14. IC 13-27-9 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 29 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 30 JULY 1, 2025]: 31 Chapter 9. Minimum Efficiency Standards 32 Sec. 1. (a) The department shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 33 establishing minimum efficiency standards for all covered 34 products. 35 (b) The minimum efficiency standards adopted by the 36 department shall do the following: 37 (1) Reduce energy consumption in Indiana. 38 (2) Reduce: 39 (A) energy; and 40 (B) water; 41 waste within Indiana. 42 (3) Encourage the development and use of more energy 2025 IN 1527—LS 7570/DI 150 5 1 efficient technologies. 2 (4) Conserve Indiana's fresh water supply. 3 (5) Reduce Indiana consumers' utility bills. 4 Sec. 2. The following products are exempt from the 5 requirements of this chapter: 6 (1) New products manufactured in Indiana and sold outside 7 Indiana. 8 (2) New products manufactured outside Indiana and sold at 9 wholesale inside Indiana for final retail sale and installation 10 outside Indiana. 11 (3) Products installed in a mobile home (as defined in 12 IC 9-13-2-103.2) at the time of construction. 13 (4) Products designed expressly for installation and use in 14 recreational vehicles (as defined in IC 16-41-27.5-3). 15 Sec. 3. Beginning July 1, 2026, a new covered product may not 16 be: 17 (1) sold; 18 (2) offered for sale; 19 (3) leased; 20 (4) rented; or 21 (5) distributed; 22 in Indiana unless the efficiency of the new covered product meets 23 or exceeds the minimal efficiency standards adopted by the 24 department under this chapter. 25 Sec. 4. Beginning July 1, 2026, a new covered product may not 26 be installed in Indiana for compensation unless the efficiency of the 27 new covered product: 28 (1) meets; or 29 (2) exceeds; 30 the minimum efficiency standards adopted by the department 31 under this chapter. 32 Sec. 5. Beginning July 1, 2026, the manufacturer of a covered 33 product shall do the following: 34 (1) Test covered products: 35 (A) sold; 36 (B) offered for sale; 37 (C) leased; 38 (D) rented; or 39 (E) distributed; 40 in Indiana to ensure the covered products comply with the 41 minimum efficiency standards adopted under this chapter. 42 (2) Certify to the department that all covered products: 2025 IN 1527—LS 7570/DI 150 6 1 (A) sold; 2 (B) offered for sale; 3 (C) leased; 4 (D) rented; or 5 (E) distributed; 6 in Indiana comply with the minimum efficiency standards 7 adopted under this chapter. 8 (3) Mark a covered product and the covered product's 9 packaging at the time of sale or installation to identify that the 10 covered product is in compliance with the minimum efficiency 11 standards adopted under this chapter. 12 Sec. 6. The department shall do the following: 13 (1) Establish a program to test covered products to ensure a 14 covered product complies with the minimum efficiency 15 standards adopted under this chapter. 16 (2) Investigate complaints received concerning covered 17 products that may violate minimum efficiency standards 18 adopted under this chapter. 19 Sec. 7. (a) If the department determines that a covered product 20 does not comply with the minimum efficiency standards adopted 21 under this chapter, the department shall issue a warning to the: 22 (1) manufacturer of the covered product; and 23 (2) retailer who: 24 (A) sold; 25 (B) offered for sale; 26 (C) leased; 27 (D) rented; or 28 (E) distributed; 29 the covered product. 30 (b) A manufacturer or retailer that violates this chapter or a 31 rule adopted under this chapter after the issuance of a warning is 32 subject to: 33 (1) a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000) 34 per violation; and 35 (2) additional penalties or corrective actions prescribed by the 36 department. 37 (c) Each covered product: 38 (1) sold; 39 (2) offered for sale; 40 (3) leased; 41 (4) rented; or 42 (5) distributed; 2025 IN 1527—LS 7570/DI 150 7 1 in violation of this chapter or a violation of a rule adopted under 2 this chapter constitutes a separate violation. 3 (d) If the department finds repeated violations have occurred, 4 the department may refer the manufacturer or retailer that has 5 violated this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter to the 6 attorney general. The attorney general may seek an injunction in 7 a circuit or superior court with jurisdiction in the county where the 8 violation occurred to: 9 (1) enjoin the continuance of the violation; and 10 (2) recover a civil penalty. 11 Sec. 8. Not later than July 1, 2026, the department shall adopt 12 any necessary rules under IC 4-22-2 to ensure the proper 13 implementation, administration, and enforcement of this chapter. 2025 IN 1527—LS 7570/DI 150