The Indiana General Assembly recently passed House Enrolled Act 1459, a law mandating water and wastewater utility asset management requirements across the state.
The legislation was effective July 1, 2025, and requires all Indiana water and wastewater utilities to develop and maintain an Asset Management Plan (AMP), and submit it to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) every four years. The reports must be submitted quadrennially regardless of whether the utility has applied for or received financial assistance from the Indiana Finance Authority.
The new law applies to all water and wastewater utilities in Indiana including water and wastewater utilities not under the IURC’s jurisdiction for approval of rates and charges.
The Buried Asset Management Institute – International (BAMI-I), a non-profit that promotes best-buried asset management practices and has closely followed similar legislation, called Indiana’s bill a ‘landmark’ law designed to ensure the safety and sustainability of water infrastructure.
Mandatory reporting will begin in 2026. The law also establishes a tiered enforcement framework for non-compliance, from deficiency notices to potential receivership. Support for small utilities – systems with fewer than 1,000 customers — will have streamlined reporting and more flexible requirements.
Mandatory training is also required. As of 2027, governing bodies must complete training on asset management best practices and financial management.
Click here to view the full text of HEA 1459.
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