# Indiana HB 1041: Line maintenance in public rights-of-way.

Indiana HB 1041, Line maintenance in public rights-of-way., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) House bill sponsored by Michelle Davis (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-01-20 (Representative Pressel added as coauthor) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1041-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Indiana HB 1041
- State: Indiana
- Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)
- Title: Line maintenance in public rights-of-way.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-02
- Last action: 2026-01-20, Representative Pressel added as coauthor
- Sponsor: Michelle Davis (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: utilities
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Sets forth minimum standards and requirements for the installation and maintenance of communications service or utility service facilities (facilities) in a public right-of-way. Defines a "permittee" as: (1) a person to whom an initial permit or authorization for the installation of a facility in a public right-of-way is granted by a unit; or (2) a service provider responsible for maintaining a facility that has been installed in a public right-of-way. Defines a "line pollution violation" as a violation attributable to a permittee and involving: (1) noncompliance with any standard or requirement set forth in the bill; or (2) the presence of any damaged, abandoned, loose, or improperly secured facilities within a public right-of-way. Provides that a permittee responsible for a line pollution violation is liable to the unit owning the public right-of-way for a fine in an amount determined by the unit, but not to exceed: (1) $500 per violation for each day the violation remains uncured; or (2) a total fine of $2,500. Requires a permittee to ensure that any person responsible for installing, replacing, relocating, or repairing any underground facility that is owned or operated by the permittee and located within a public right-of-way complies with the requirements set forth in: (1) Indiana's statute concerning underground utility facilities; and (2) any applicable local ordinance or regulation; with respect to any work involving drilling, trenching, boring, hand digging, or plowing.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michelle Davis (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Alaina Shonkwiler (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jim Pressel (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Robb Greene (Republican), House

## Actions (5)

- 2026-01-20: Representative Pressel added as coauthor (House)
- 2026-01-20: Representative Bartels removed as coauthor (House)
- 2025-12-02: First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications (House)
- 2025-12-02: Authored by Representative Davis (House)
- 2025-12-02: Coauthored by Representatives Greene, Bartels, Shonkwiler (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1041/versions/HB1041.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 1277: Health and human services matters. (signed)
- HB 1266: Department of education and education matters. (signed)
- HB 1210: Department of local government finance. (signed)
- HB 1249: Various criminal law matters. (signed)
- HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles. (signed)
- HB 1115: Homeowners association governance. (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1041/versions/HB1041.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related
- [HB 1277: Health and human services matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1277-2026)
- [HB 1266: Department of education and education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1266-2026)
- [HB 1210: Department of local government finance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1210-2026)
- [HB 1249: Various criminal law matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1249-2026)
- [HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1200-2026)
- [HB 1115: Homeowners association governance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1115-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1041-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).