HB1204 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning natural and cultural resources.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Dave Hall
Last action: 2026-02-16
Official status: House Bill (S)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Indiana Natural Resource Entrance Fees Act

This act allows counties meeting specific criteria to add a $1 surcharge on entrance fees for state parks and recreation areas, excluding annual pass holders.

What This Bill Does

Allows certain Indiana counties to charge an extra $1 fee when people enter some state parks and recreation areas.
Requires the Department of Natural Resources to collect this additional fee.
Specifies that the Department must report and pay the collected surcharge to each county treasurer.
States that annual pass holders are not required to pay this extra fee.

Who It Names or Affects

People visiting state parks and recreation areas in Indiana
Counties meeting specific criteria set by the bill

Terms To Know

Department of Natural Resources: The government agency responsible for managing natural resources, including state parks.
Surcharge: An extra fee added to the regular entrance fees charged by the Department of Natural Resources.

Limits and Unknowns

It is not clear which specific counties will meet the criteria to impose this surcharge.
The bill does not specify what purposes the collected surcharge can be used for, only that it must be used for certain designated purposes.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1204.04.ENGH.AMS02

Committee Engrossed House Bill (S) • Senator Susan Glick

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new definition to the Indiana Code concerning natural and cultural resources.

Adds a new definition to the Indiana Code regarding natural and cultural resources.

The official text does not provide details about what specific term or concept is being defined, making it unclear exactly which part of the code will be amended.

HB1204.03.COMH.AMH001

Filed House Bill (H) • Representative Dave Hall

Passed

Plain English: This amendment does not provide specific changes to the bill and lacks detailed information.

The official text of the amendment does not specify any concrete changes or details, making it impossible to explain its effects.

Bill History

2026-02-16 Senate
Senator Schmitt added as cosponsor
2026-02-10 Senate
Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations
2026-02-09 Senate
Senator Maxwell added as cosponsor
2026-02-05 Senate
First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources
2026-02-05 Senate
Senator Charbonneau added as cosponsor
2026-02-05 Senate
Senator Donato added as cosponsor
2026-02-05 Senate
Senator Holdman added as cosponsor
2026-02-03 House
Referred to the Senate
2026-02-02 House
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 174: yeas 71, nays 7
2026-02-02 House
Senate sponsors: Senators Koch, Glick, Leising
2026-02-02 House
Cosponsors: Senators Deery, Yoder
2026-01-29 House
Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2026-01-29 House
Amendment #1 (Hall) prevailed; voice vote
2026-01-27 House
Committee report: do pass, adopted
2026-01-14 House
Committee report: do pass, adopted
2026-01-14 House
Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
2026-01-05 House
Authored by Representative Hall
2026-01-05 House
Coauthored by Representatives Bartels, Patterson, Pierce M
2026-01-05 House
First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning natural and cultural resources.
Natural resource entrance fees.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning natural and cultural resources.

Natural resource entrance fees.

Allows counties that meet certain criteria to adopt an ordinance to impose a surcharge of not more than $1 in addition to the fees charged by the department of natural resources (department) for entry into certain state parks and recreation areas. Provides that the surcharge may not be imposed on an annual state park pass holder. Requires the department to collect and to report and pay the surcharge to each county treasurer. Provides that the surcharge collected is to be used for certain purposes.