Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill into law Monday that will increase the amount of state wetlands allowed to be destroyed without mitigation. It’s the first bill he has signed this legislative session. 

House Bill 1383 changes the state definition of which wetlands are recognized by the state as being of the highest quality, called Class III wetlands. Class III wetlands require state permits in order to be developed and also require developers to replace the wetlands lost elsewhere or pay the state to do it for them.  

Only about 10% of the state’s original wetlands remain, including less than 25,000 acres of Class III wetlands. 

Under the new law, fewer wetlands would qualify as Class III, but it’s unclear how many as the state does not keep a wetlands inventory.

The bill was supported by the Indiana Builders Association, Indiana Manufacturers Association and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, who for years have pursued more lax wetland regulations in the state which they say would enable economic development.

Bill critics, including environmentalists, argued that the bill was being rushed through the Indiana General Assembly and would lead to a greater number of wetlands that would be destroyed without replacing their functions, which include water purification and flood control.

Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saenz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @heyEnriqueSaenz.