SB 67

                                              *SB0067.2*
                                                                    Reprinted
                                                             January 23, 2026
            SENATE BILL No. 67
                 _____
 DIGEST OF SB 67 (Updated January 22, 2026 2:54 pm - DI 148)
Citations Affected: IC 14-18.
Synopsis: Studies relating to natural lands. Requires the department
of natural resources to study and issue a report on the following topics:
(1) opportunities to leverage public land to improve public health
outcomes; (2) options for a consistent visitor fee collection system at
state fish and wildlife areas; and (3) a plan to mitigate and recover from
natural disasters affecting public land.
Effective: July 1, 2026.
  Yoder, Glick, Leising, Spencer,
      Pol Jr., Clark, Doriot,
       Randolph Lonnie M
December 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
January 5, 2026, reported favorably — Do Pass.
January 8, 2026, read second time, ordered engrossed. Engrossed.
January 22, 2026, returned to second reading. Re-read second time, amended, ordered
engrossed.
SB 67—LS 6322/DI 150
                                                                                    Reprinted
                                                                             January 23, 2026
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
   Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
  Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
 between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
                    SENATE BILL No. 67
    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
 natural and cultural resources.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1    SECTION 1. IC 14-18-13 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2026]:
4    Chapter 13. Indiana Public Land Study
5    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "public land" refers to Indiana's:
6      (1) state parks;
7      (2) state forests;
8      (3) fish and wildlife areas; and
9      (4) nature preserves.
10    Sec. 2. The department shall conduct and prepare a study of the
11 following topics:
12      (1) Opportunities to leverage Indiana's public lands to
13      improve public health outcomes without creating new
14      unfunded mandates.
15      (2) Options for implementing a consistent and efficient visitor
16      fee collection system at state fish and wildlife areas, including:
17(A) potential fee structures, exemptions, and discounts;
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                                   2
1(B) mechanisms for electronic and onsite fee collection that
2minimize administrative burden;
3(C) the feasibility of ensuring that collected fees are
4dedicated to:
5(i) operation;
6(ii) maintenance;
7(iii) access;
8(iv) habitat; and
9(v) safety improvements at fish and wildlife areas; and
10(D) consideration of affordability and continued access for
11Indiana:
12(i) residents;
13(ii) hunters;
14(iii) anglers; and
15(iv) other users.
16      (3) Development of a framework for mitigating the impacts of
17      natural disasters on public lands by:
18(A) identifying key risks from:
19(i) flooding;
20(ii) severe storms;
21(iii) wildfire risk;
22(iv) invasive species outbreaks; and
23(v) other hazards;
24(B) creating:
25(i) emergency plans for public lands;
26(ii) resiliently designed properties; and
27(iii) plans that prioritize protecting critical habitats and
28infrastructure;
29(C) coordinating with:
30(i) local governments;
31(ii) emergency management agencies; and
32(iii) federal partners; and
33(D) prioritizing recovery efforts using:
34(i) existing resources;
35(ii) federal assistance;
36(iii) insurance; and
37(iv) additional sources other than the state general fund.
38    Sec. 3. (a) In carrying out the study under section 3 of this
39 chapter, the department shall, to the greatest extent practicable,
40 use existing:
41      (1) data;
42      (2) analyses;
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                                   3
1(3) partnerships; and
2(4) staff capacity.
3     (b) The department may consult with:
4(1) the Indiana department of health;
5(2) the Indiana University School of Public Health;
6(3) Purdue University;
7(4) other institutions of higher education;
8(5) health systems; or
9(6) other relevant stakeholders that do not have a direct
10financial interest in the outcome of the department's findings
11or recommendations;
12 to identify available data, research, and best practices.
13     Sec. 4. (a) The department shall issue a report of its findings and
14 recommendations under section 3 of this chapter to the:
15(1) governor;
16(2) interim study committee on agriculture and natural
17resources; and
18(3) legislative council;
19 in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 not later than November
20 1, 2027.
21     (b) The report required under subsection (a) may be
22 incorporated into or transmitted concurrently with any other
23 statutorily required report of the department to minimize
24 administrative burden.
25     Sec. 5. (a) The department shall carry out this chapter using
26 existing appropriations, federal funds, grants, and partnerships,
27 without requiring additional state general fund appropriations.
28     (b) This chapter does not:
29(1) create a private right of action; or
30(2) authorize new fees or taxes.
31 Recommendations regarding visitor fees at state fish and wildlife
32 areas shall be submitted to the general assembly for consideration
33 before implementation.
34     Sec. 6. This chapter expires July 1, 2028.
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                               4
                   COMMITTEE REPORT
   Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources, to
which was referred Senate Bill No. 67, has had the same under
consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with
the recommendation that said bill DO PASS.
   (Reference is to SB 67 as introduced.)
                                              GLICK, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0
                           _____
                     SENATE MOTION
   Mr. President: I move that Engrossed Senate Bill 67, which is
eligible for third reading, be returned to second reading for purposes of
amendment.
                                                            YODER
                           _____
                     SENATE MOTION
Mr. President: I move that Senate Bill 67 be amended to read as
follows:
Page 1, delete lines 5 through 9.
Page 1, line 10, delete "Sec. 2." and insert "Sec. 1.".
Page 1, line 15, delete "Sec. 3." and insert "Sec. 2.".
Page 1, delete line 17.
Page 2, delete lines 1 through 2.
Page 2, line 3, delete "(2)" and insert "(1)".
Page 2, line 6, delete "(3)" and insert "(2)".
Page 2, line 24, delete "(4)" and insert "(3)".
Page 3, line 4, delete "Sec. 4." and insert "Sec. 3.".
Page 3, line 17, delete "stakeholders;" and insert "stakeholders that
do not have a direct financial interest in the outcome of the
department's findings or recommendations;".
Page 3, line 19, delete "Sec. 5." and insert "Sec. 4.".
Page 3, line 31, delete "Sec. 6." and insert "Sec. 5.".
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                              5
  Page 3, line 40, delete "Sec. 7." and insert "Sec. 6.".
  (Reference is to SB 67 as printed January 6, 2026.)
                                                        YODER
SB 67—LS 6322/DI 150