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SB 188INDIANASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Indiana bill prohibits beach parking fees unless municipalities provide lifeguards and rescue equipment

Original title: Parking at Lake Michigan beaches.

Last action · January 12, 2026: WithdrawnSponsor: Mike Bohacek

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Indiana Senate Bill 188 prohibits municipalities from charging parking fees at municipally owned parking lots at Lake Michigan park beaches unless lifeguards are on duty during swimming hours and public rescue equipment is installed on piers or public access sites, effective July 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Beachgoers and local vehicle owners face potential parking fee restrictions or changes in beach safety staffing requirements at municipal Lake Michigan shorelines.

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.

Directly affected

Municipalities with Lake Michigan park beaches

Municipalities must provide lifeguards and rescue equipment at park beaches in order to collect parking fees, and face restrictions on using future parking fee revenues for new debt.

Directly affected

Drivers parking at municipal Lake Michigan park beaches

Drivers may see parking fees eliminated at certain municipal beach parking lots that do not meet the lifeguard and safety equipment requirements.

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

Can a municipality still charge for parking at a Lake Michigan beach?

Yes, but only if the municipality maintains a qualified lifeguard on duty during swimming hours and installs required public rescue equipment on piers or public access sites, unless an exemption applies for pre-existing debt.

Are existing debt obligations affected by the parking fee restrictions?

Municipalities are exempt from the lifeguard requirement while notes, bonds, leases, or other obligations issued or incurred before July 1, 2026, remain outstanding and are paid from parking fee revenues.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Withdrawn.

Procedural history

3 actions

Jan 12, 2026Senate
Withdrawn
Jan 6, 2026SenateIntroduced
First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources
Jan 6, 2026Senate
Authored by Senator Bohacek

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.

Connected Entities

Mike Bohacek, General Assembly

PersonMike Bohacek“Senator who introduced Senate Bill 188”Map →

OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Indiana state legislative body”Map →

Sources

Open source document

iga.in.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
Controversy25
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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