Natural Resources committee advances SB 224 after removing fiscal items and adding land-trust liability protections

The Natural Resources Committee passed Senate Bill 224 as amended on a unanimous voice and roll-call vote, advancing the Department of Natural Resources agency bill after removing provisions that created fiscal impacts and adopting two consent amendments, the committee said.

Chris Smith of the Department of Natural Resources told the panel the updated draft removes multiple sections with fiscal implications so the measure could move more quickly and focuses mainly on definitional and regulatory cleanups across Title 14 of the state code. "There were several items of the items in the bill that were identified of having a fiscal impact. And, in the effort of getting this thing moved through, they were removed," Smith said. He described changes that align overlapping definitions in the code and retire an obsolete program reference to a "hometown Indiana Grama" program that has not been funded or used since the late 1990s.

Smith also said the amended bill raises the dollar thresholds that trigger required accident reports. "It increases the threshold for damage for a report of a boat accident from the current $750 to $2,000," he said, and likewise cited a higher threshold for off‑road vehicle accidents (he cited $2,500). The committee record includes a later, unclear utterance about another figure; the committee relied on Smith’s earlier, specific figures when discussing rule changes.

Two consent amendments were adopted. Amendment 4 removes additional language that would create a fiscal impact and was taken by consent. Amendment 6 extends liability protections to nonprofit land trusts. "We're essentially adding land trust to that," John Katzenberger said of the Recreational Use Act framework; he said trial lawyers had reviewed the language and were comfortable with it. Katzenberger presented the amendment and answered members’ questions before the committee agreed to adopt it by consent.

Amy Craig, who identified herself as representing cities and towns, said a proposed municipal regulation provision for UTVs and ATVs did not remain in the final amended bill and that her group is neutral on the version before the committee. "We are neutral on the bill," she said.

On a subsequent roll call the committee recorded nine yays and no nays; the clerk announced the bill "passes as amended, with the 9 yays." The chair thanked DNR staff and witnesses, and adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 224 (as amended) — approved by committee; recorded result: 9 yays, 0 nays, 0 abstentions.

Next steps: The committee moved SB 224 forward as amended; sponsors and staff said some removed fiscal items could reappear later in the process when fiscal concerns are addressed.