The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Indiana Senate Bill 57 establishes a new division of historic sites within the department of natural resources
Last action · January 6, 2026: Senator Spencer added as coauthorSponsors: Jean Leising and 3 others
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
Senate Bill 57 transfers the management, properties, and assets of state historic sites from the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites Corporation to a newly created division of historic sites within the Department of Natural Resources, effective July 1, 2026. The legislation establishes a 13-member board of trustees for the new division, creates the state historic sites development fund and the historic site acquisition fund, and makes interfering with state historic property a .
The measure shifts administrative authority and property oversight for all state-owned historic sites to a new division inside the Department of Natural Resources, altering how historical properties, artifacts, and supporting nonprofit gift shops are governed and funded starting July 1, 2026.
- Historically, management of Indiana's state museums and historic sites was consolidated under the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites Corporation established in 2011. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Indiana state museum and historic sites corporation
The corporation loses management authority, property, assets, and associated funding for all state historic sites to the newly created division.
Department of natural resources
The department houses the newly established division of historic sites and assumes administrative oversight over historic properties.
Historic site employees
Employees working at state historic sites transfer from the state museum corporation to become employees of the division.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who manages the historic sites if this bill passes?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the Senate.
Procedural history
6 actions- Jan 6, 2026SenateSenator Spencer added as coauthor
- Jan 6, 2026SenateSenator Doriot added as third author
- Jan 6, 2026SenateSenator Glick added as second author
- Jan 5, 2026SenateFloorCommittee report: do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations
- Dec 8, 2025SenateIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources
- Dec 8, 2025SenateAuthored by Senator Leising
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Decentralization of State Cultural Properties
The bill represents a major structural shift by separating historic sites management from the Indiana State Museum and placing it directly under the Department of Natural Resources.
Connected Entities
Sources
iga.in.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools