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Read. Follow. Verify.Indiana Senate Bill 67 Requires Department of Natural Resources Study on Public Lands
Last action · January 29, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Natural ResourcesSponsors: Shelli Yoder and 10 others
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What This Bill Proposed
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is required to study and report on public land management, visitor fee collection at fish and wildlife areas, and natural disaster recovery frameworks by November 1, 2027.
Residents who visit state parks, forests, and wildlife areas could see future proposals for visitor fee systems and emergency preparedness plans, though the measure prohibits creating new taxes, fees, or private lawsuits on its own.
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 residents
Residents who use state parks, forests, and wildlife areas may be impacted by future visitor fee systems or disaster mitigation plans resulting from the study.
hunters and anglers
Users of state fish and wildlife areas are explicitly included in considerations of affordability and continued access regarding visitor fee collection systems.
department of natural resources
The department is tasked with conducting the studies, consulting with educational and health institutions, and issuing a report by November 1, 2027.
Key Facts
- The department of natural resources must study opportunities to leverage public land to improve public health outcomes without creating unfunded mandates.
- The department must examine options for a consistent visitor fee collection system at state fish and wildlife areas, considering fee structures, exemptions, and electronic collection methods.
- The department must develop a framework for mitigating natural disaster impacts on public lands, including risks from flooding, severe storms, wildfires, and invasive species.
- The department must submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the interim study committee on agriculture and natural resources, and the legislative council by November 1, 2027.
Show all 7 facts
- The chapter explicitly does not create a private right of action or authorize new fees or taxes, and any visitor fee recommendations must be submitted to the general assembly for consideration.
- The department must rely on existing appropriations, federal funds, grants, and partnerships without requesting additional state general fund appropriations.
- The chapter expires on July 1, 2028.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the Senate · in House committee.
Procedural history
16 actions- Jan 29, 2026HouseIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources
- Jan 28, 2026SenateReferred to the House
- Jan 27, 2026SenateCosponsors: Representatives Hall, Jackson C
- Jan 27, 2026SenateHouse sponsor: Representative Genda
- Jan 27, 2026SenateFloorThird reading: passed; Roll Call 90: yeas 29, nays 17
- Jan 22, 2026SenateAmendment #1 (Yoder) prevailed; voice vote
Show 10 earlier actions
- Jan 22, 2026SenateReread second time: amended, ordered engrossed
- Jan 15, 2026SenateFloorPlaced back on second reading
- Jan 8, 2026SenateSenator Randolph added as coauthor
- Jan 8, 2026SenateSenators Spencer, Pol, Clark, Doriot added as coauthors
- Jan 8, 2026SenateSenator Leising added as third author
- Jan 8, 2026SenateFloorSecond reading: ordered engrossed
- Jan 5, 2026SenateSenator Glick added as second author
- Jan 5, 2026SenateFloorCommittee report: do pass, adopted
- Dec 8, 2025SenateIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources
- Dec 8, 2025SenateAuthored by Senator Yoder
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
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Prohibition of New State Funds
The bill explicitly restricts the department from drawing on the state general fund, mandating reliance on existing resources and federal grants.
Connected Entities
Sources
iga.in.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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