


Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a law Friday that reviews air quality standards and vehicle emission testing.
Senate Enrolled Act 103, authored by Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, and Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to evaluate the air quality within nonattainment areas, which includes Northwest Indiana. The bill also identifies air pollution reduction or regulatory relief strategies to align with federal Clean Air Act standards.
Braun signed the bill at the Lake County Government Center, flanked by Lake County officials.
The law aims for the “eventual phase out of the inspection and maintenance program for light-duty vehicles.” The law also aims to withdraw Lake County and Porter County from the Metropolitan Chicago Interstate Air Quality Control Region.
Under the law, which was sponsored by many Northwest legislators, IDEM has to submit a comprehensive report to the governor and state lawmakers by June 30, 2026, according to a statement from State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster.
Braun signed the bill with Niemeyer, Dernulc, Andrade, Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago; Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary, State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, standing around him.
Before signing, Braun said when he was in the legislature in 2015, he recalled legislators talking about how to address vehicle emissions. He was able to sign the bill because the legislature was able to “pick up the gauntlet,” Braun said.
Some people may bring up environmental concerns with the law, Braun said.
“Mother Nature, the environment, and conservation have been dear, deep issues for me,” Braun said. “If it’s not making sense, you do something that makes it easier.”
In 2021, the Lake County Council sued the state to eliminate emissions testing in Lake County, stating it’s unfair that only Northwest Indiana counties require emissions testing. Dernulc referenced the lawsuit and how the county lost, so he said he looked forward to IDEM completing the study.
Niemeyer said legislators have spent years fighting to change emission testing procedures. The emissions program “was necessary at one time, but not necessary now.”Lake County has had to follow the emissions testing because of its proximity to Chicago, Randolph said, and state legislators have been fighting the measure for years.
“I’m very pleased to see this happen,” Randolph said. “I’m very pleased, governor, that you’re here, and I’m happy that you took the time to come here to sign this bill.”
Andrade said in a statement that the law will allow state officials to review how Indiana regulates emissions and whether some policies can be improved.
“We know clean air is critical to our health and safety, especially in industrial regions like Northwest Indiana. But we also know some of our testing requirements may be outdated or overly burdensome. This study will help us find that balance,” Andrade said in the statement.
The law allows for “responsible deregulation,” Andrade said, by updating systems that might not benefit residents while prioritizing public and environmental health.
“This isn’t about rolling back protections. It’s about using real data to guide future decisions,” Andrade said in the statement. “Northwest Indiana deserves clean air and smart policy. With this law, we’re working toward both.”
akukulka@post-trib.com