Indiana SB 224 — Department of natural resources.

Indiana, 2026. SB 224: Department of natural resources.

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

March 5, 2026 — Public Law 123

Summary

Defines various terms. Amends and removes various definitions. Makes various changes to natural resources commission procedures. Makes various changes to the department of natural resources (department) powers and duties. Removes the hometown Indiana grant program. Amends various boating and wakeboard regulations. Raises the financial threshold for certain actions in a boating accident from $750 to $2,000. Raises the financial threshold for certain actions in an off-road vehicle accident from $750 to $2,500. Establishes various restrictions on landowner liability to recreational users. Provides that various restrictions on landowner liability do not apply to a parcel of land assessed as residential land. Removes the penalty for a person who acts as a hunting guide without a guide license. Allows the division of water to perform certain functions on behalf of the natural resources commission. Requires the natural resources commission to coordinate with the department for purposes of a reporting requirement regarding conservancy districts. Establishes a consolidated chapter for river basin commission administration. Repeals existing, separate chapters for the Maumee River basin commission, the St. Joseph River basin commission, and the Upper Wabash River basin commission. Creates a new chapter for a river basin commission's conversion into a watershed development commission. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Sponsors

• Susan Glick — primary sponsor
• James Tomes — primary sponsor
• Shane Lindauer — primary sponsor
• David Abbott

Bill text

Enrolled Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Engrossed Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Senate Bill (H) Read version ↗ Read version ↗

Introduced Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. March 5, 2026Public Law 123
2. February 27, 2026Rules Suspended. Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 313: yeas 45, nays 4
3. February 27, 2026Motion to concur filed
4. February 27, 2026Dissent rescinded
5. March 5, 2026Signed by the Governor
6. February 27, 2026Signed by the Speaker
7. February 27, 2026Signed by the President of the Senate
8. February 27, 2026Signed by the President Pro Tempore
9. February 26, 2026House conferees appointed: Lindauer, Burton
10. February 26, 2026House advisors appointed: Abbott, Hostettler, Jackson C, Novak
11. February 25, 2026Senate conferees appointed: Glick, Spencer
12. February 25, 2026Senate advisors appointed: Tomes, Yoder
13. February 25, 2026Returned to the Senate with amendments
14. February 25, 2026Senate dissented from House amendments
15. February 25, 2026Motion to dissent filed
16. February 24, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 348: yeas 85, nays 11
17. February 23, 2026Amendment #2 (Lindauer) prevailed; voice vote
18. February 23, 2026Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
19. February 12, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
20. February 9, 2026Representative Abbott added as cosponsor
21. February 2, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources
22. January 29, 2026Referred to the House
23. January 29, 2026Senator Tomes added as second author
24. January 29, 2026House sponsor: Representative Lindauer
25. January 29, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 139: yeas 48, nays 0
26. January 28, 2026Second reading: ordered engrossed
27. January 27, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
28. January 8, 2026Authored by Senator Glick
29. January 8, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources

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