[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6625991,"mediaKeyId","2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a","parentId",2755008,"title","Committee adopts narrow DNR amendments, declines two amendments and sends agency bill on to tax and fiscal","audioSeconds",912,"startMs",2680000,"endMs",3592000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a&start=2680&end=3592","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a/thumbnail_2680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6625991/Indiana/Committee-adopts-narrow-DNR-amendments-declines-two-amendments-and-sends-agency-bill-on-to-tax-and-fiscal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625991-b3fffeea0cde57e86424b1d3faee1619/orig.mp4?Expires=1775450978&Signature=jTH3Sb8p1wzcz7dsLgI21GPNcOAJmEJh-U-tHRDaYDug4SsfNhaYUe3BGTbu0Jvy~XiBgwXSCU~vfEFvOOOr-wB1jOTbmf71bfMFAKpAiCwl25n2q1Y-LS1tPvYai-GSeq02s9IzxJ0B7MDZ3Pqoq5z8B32~mbsHNMYPX0KL3uspyXHWVCFAKh-6f8I-6bGzcTYeXsI-IG6yCAAYeJltH~7BI2dmD5Gx6tPg361fOsVIue64wci7ABNGNC3izFCVt2eclPx6v114HLqNAMgPGvyX7JL0I3EsTbszBUBl78J4oexOFiuo4wV5T9Uzmx~ooCHYOJjUwictl-YXHOLuyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Indiana General Assembly","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Natural Resources Committee advanced House Bill 16-16, the Department of Natural Resources agency bill, after adopting two amendments and withdrawing or declining to adopt several others; the bill was recommitted to the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy.

Committee staff described the adopted changes. Amendment 4 removes a requirement that county auditors provide electronic access to notice through the Department of Local Government Finance’s computer gateway, noting the platform is not fully operational; counties will use alternative notice methods. Amendment 9 adjusts timing and approval language for a residential historic rehabilitation tax credit, allowing some credits for expenditures approved before March 10, 2025, to be claimed in the first taxable year beginning December 31, 2024, and addressing a backlog the Department of Revenue identified.

Committee members discussed but did not adopt amendment 6, which would have given DNR emergency access to private property to address certain low-head dam emergencies; members expressed concerns about authority over private property and noted a related bill (Senate Enrolled Act 477) was already moving through the process. The committee also declined to adopt amendment 12, which would have created a class B misdemeanor for knowingly discharging a firearm within 300 feet of the shoreline of certain city parks adjacent to Lake Michigan; members argued the issue intersects existing discharge and criminal statutes and may be more appropriate to address in other forums.

After adopting amendments 4 and 9 by consent and removing other amendments from consideration, the committee voted to pass House Bill 16-16 as amended. The clerk recorded eight yeas and one excused; the measure will be recommitted to the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy for further review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Natural Resources Meetings - Mar. 24 - 10:00am","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Natural Resources Committee passed House Bill 16-16 as amended, adopting changes to notice requirements and historic rehabilitation tax credit timing, and recommitted the agency bill to the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature IN, Indiana","taxId",77679,"location","Indiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6625996,"Committee adopts liability and damage-limit amendments to prescribed burning bill and passes measure",208,2433000,2641000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a&start=2433&end=2641","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a/thumbnail_2433000.jpg","/articles/6625996/Indiana/Committee-adopts-liability-and-damage-limit-amendments-to-prescribed-burning-bill-and-passes-measure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625996-ba33ddabf614039255c36f447234b333/orig.mp4?Expires=1775450978&Signature=Wra5VWF0rEc7VbCynAZ47jJzn8yXrL6DBviEDoDIZHSojvpG5YfBrLwuepSV9UBnQRBPF00ozjApRBrG4NQ7xJhIGrOOuhcMbki0UVsud2C-n-Yn5v~0memuvVDB5JR5L8xQdp4FiiaG4EW02Zn0GZxmx0OFfGclD3nEhh6lDWmpPuUZP4fcRw9m1WoMuT0fAH6FB0THQpg0SzZE9VzLAT1ch-VuT41j2pAY9llvpFD4pd9apZPK8aKD5VywusLdTkVvOBsIX6sbFxeY5Os0-qKdsxa~q9H~3MIbO0dzsv-PwGpYHVsv0LmlwaRXkNxuCErEM-L02l09wIKDKYmpvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Natural Resources Committee passed House Bill 15-57 after adopting committee amendments that revise the liability standard for prescribed burns, limit damage awards to actual damages, and clarify liability protections for Department of Natural Resources personnel in emergency circumstances.

Kyle (committee staff) explained committee amendment number 3, which removes a gross‑negligence immunity for landowners, landowner agents or prescribed-burn managers and instead treats liability under a standard negligence framework; the amendment also limits recoverable damages for injuries or losses from a prescribed burn to actual damages. The amendment additionally provides liability protection for certain DNR officers from tort claims arising from prescribed burn response.

Committee amendment number 5 inserted the term “municipality” into relevant definitions, a change the chair said was requested by Save the Dunes and had no objection from DNR staff.

After discussion the committee adopted the amendments by consent and voted to pass the bill as amended. The clerk recorded passage with eight yeas, zero nays and one excused vote. Committee members said the changes reflected prior discussions and aimed to clarify the legal standard and financial exposure tied to prescribed burning practices.

The bill will proceed to the next committee assignment for further review.","The committee approved committee amendments to House Bill 15-57, clarifying liability standards for prescribed burns, limiting recoverable damages to actual damages, and providing certain liability protections for DNR officers; the bill passed the committee 8-0 and will move forward.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6626001,"Committee approves changes to Maumee River Basin Watershed commission membership and duties",676,1733000,2409000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a&start=1733&end=2409","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a/thumbnail_1733000.jpg","/articles/6626001/Indiana/Committee-approves-changes-to-Maumee-River-Basin-Watershed-commission-membership-and-duties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626001-6765109d3c8367aa3b9128161ec6fc4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775450978&Signature=aM4jEf0B8ZBKOgygyEMl19y2gzXPAUTo9AjB7tJ6GReJ~O51Vs02bHxhimEWSQl8d9F3sGqcLXLPzmQ3VTjzDEWp4ecrQL~~ljs~FztSoUOW6~LZ7Vn89QP9yVBj50Bp2dMSrwWim4uZ5f0PKdYplURwPN-oSV0KGZ9EaBDc~qFkJvt6utrcusw05E4ziH263UFsJEigWVsESR~3~KAf3Bpy3LEbpp4uTRIN0h4RwDJOZfaK6ItGNxeWdd-v8HO-nAxpV7~IFnmFxpkHW7DuumfPItn7Uvyoh7MVsP5bCw4MLmNwvTTvh5Dy2TrjLytlZmlZNAjqW-kyylq5GsEwjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Natural Resources Committee approved House Bill 11-26, a measure that modifies membership and duties of the Maumee River Basin Watershed Development Commission and recommitted the bill to the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy.

Representative Heiney introduced the bill and asked stakeholders to explain the changes. Rod Reichenberger, executive director of the Maumee River Basin Commission, said the changes are intended to “enhance” the existing commission’s flexibility to address locally identified priorities without infringing on other state or local statutes, such as the Indiana drainage code or existing soil and water conservation districts. Reichenberger said the bill restores soil and water conservation district representation to the commission and adds representation for a second-class city (Fort Wayne) in the basin.

Mike Fruci, Allen County surveyor and president of the Maumee River Basin Commission, and Tom Miller, president of the Allen County Farm Bureau, testified in support. Fruci described unanimous local decision-making and engineering-based approaches to flood mitigation and conservation. Miller emphasized the watershed’s scale — roughly 8,316 square miles with about 1.3 million acres in Indiana — and argued a watershed development commission would enable locally controlled, science-based conservation and flood-control measures that also protect agriculture and downstream water quality in Lake Erie.

Committee members moved to pass the bill and recommit it to the Senate tax and fiscal committee. The clerk recorded the passage with eight yeas and no nays; one senator was excused. Sponsors and witnesses said the bill aims to continue the basin commission’s work on flood mitigation, best management practices and water quality implementation without superseding existing authorities.

The measure will proceed to tax and fiscal review, where members indicated further technical and fiscal considerations will be examined.","House Bill 11-26 passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee and was recommitted to the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy; the bill would revise membership and emphasize best management practices for the Maumee River Basin Watershed Development Commission.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6626004,"Committee backs $1 county surcharge on state park entrance fees to fund public safety and infrastructure",1143,575000,1718000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a&start=575&end=1718","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755008-73b5ec6b0c702dbd8d9c605be0267e2a/thumbnail_575000.jpg","/articles/6626004/Indiana/Committee-backs-1-county-surcharge-on-state-park-entrance-fees-to-fund-public-safety-and-infrastructure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626004-5118c261b910e1a15400a8705e8bc98e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775450978&Signature=SJ3Sefzkd1W-kiOcyttvRmIC9nKj5vUpGkn8bnNJivMPNzzd0Z1T50dXUZZnvbzyvdGkVAbPWDVCc6U4Uw7cv5QqYHYNPsm867BBCCzB3C0nlmafRiNaWjJ1HpnhcWwJuxhV4MLifoenysmBh5KJCMb6gIUwERbKzw9RwlYQykdl0aUQl5sW9P8ZpJ8jDboioBqmwdvevbAa2CDHMjs04y2tbE-LBZl9cty59XXIUN8-D0CCdWkcIyPLpYDgclEQbBXBommIExKzU7UMthbjzoxTiFAAkdM22iAClucI1YGGpV3SDB5Chqw3pyVJ0Cpehjz2XFqDq7FNgcDmfYgfHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Natural Resources Committee passed House Bill 12-45, a measure that would allow counties with state parks or state recreation areas to impose a $1 surcharge on vehicle entrance fees to fund public safety and infrastructure, and recommitted the bill to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Supporters told the committee that counties hosting state-owned lands lose property tax revenue while still providing emergency services and infrastructure for visitors. Representative Hall, who presented the bill, said the surcharge would be collected by the Indiana Department of Revenue as part of state park entrance fees and the Department of Natural Resources would transfer the funds to county treasurers. Representative Hall said the surcharge would not apply to annual pass holders and that county councils — not commissioners — would adopt an ordinance to make a county eligible to receive the funds.

Brown County officials described local impacts. Scott Rudd, a member of the Brown County Council, said the county’s state park and Yellowwood State Forest together amount to roughly 40,000 acres that pay no property taxes while generating more than a million visitors a year; the council voted unanimously to support the bill. Brown County Sheriff Bridal Stogettenell described repeated rescues and medical responses in the park, noting the county has two ambulances, six volunteer fire departments and no in‑county hospital. He said holiday weekends spike demand for emergency services and lengthen response times for residents when resources are committed to park incidents.

Committee members asked operational questions. Senator Yoder asked how revenues would be split when a park spans multiple counties; Representative Hall said each county must adopt the ordinance to be eligible and, where multiple counties adopt it, the Department of Natural Resources would prorate the surcharge among them. Senator Cordero asked about exemptions for veterans and disabled veterans; Representative Hall said multiple exemption categories had been discussed but were not included in the House version because proponents worried exemptions could multiply and materially reduce revenue to the DNR and to parks. Brown County’s estimate of annual revenue from the surcharge was described in testimony as about $81,000, a number some members said would not fully cover staffing needs.

The committee heard support from the Indiana Wildlife Federation, which said the carve-out for annual pass holders incentivizes frequent users to buy passes and that local officials have described water and public safety strains during peak season.

On a roll call the committee moved to pass and recommit the bill; the clerk recorded seven yeas, one nay, and one excused. The committee’s recorded yeas included Senators Yoder, Kidora, Alexander, Clark, Leising, Toms and Chair Glick; Senator Byrne recorded the sole no vote and one senator was excused. The bill was recommitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The measure leaves several implementation details to county ordinance and state administration; the DNR and Department of Revenue roles for collection and transfer were described in testimony but committee members signaled they may seek further details at appropriations.","The Senate Natural Resources Committee passed House Bill 12-45, allowing counties that host state parks or recreation areas to add a $1 surcharge to vehicle entrance fees, with collections handled by the state and transfers to county treasurers; the bill was recommitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts narrow DNR amendments, declines two amendments and sends agency bill on to tax and fiscal

Committee adopts liability and damage-limit amendments to prescribed burning bill and passes measure

Committee approves changes to Maumee River Basin Watershed commission membership and duties

Committee backs $1 county surcharge on state park entrance fees to fund public safety and infrastructure