SB 321 creates a new chapter in the Indiana Code establishing “designated wild areas” within 13 specified tracts of state forest land. The bill identifies those areas by forest, compartment, tract, and acreage, and declares that they are to be preserved for present and future generations because of their relatively natural, largely undisturbed forest character. The listed areas are spread across several state forests, including Owen-Putnam, Harrison-Crawford, Clark, Morgan-Monroe/Yellowwood, Jackson-Washington, Yellowwood, and Ferdinand State Forests.
The bill directs the Department of Natural Resources to prepare and maintain maps and legal descriptions of each designated wild area, post perimeter signage, and manage the areas to preserve their natural values and relatively undisturbed character. It also allows the DNR to continue existing management by the divisions that previously managed the land, unless the commission transfers those duties, and preserves existing easements or access routes to private property or cemeteries. The bill requires the commission to adopt rules governing management and use consistent with the new chapter.
SB 321 would amend Indiana Code provisions on natural and cultural resources by adding definitions and creating a new statutory framework for designated wild areas. It would impose new land-use restrictions on the listed state forest tracts, prohibiting logging, mineral extraction, energy development, motorized vehicles and equipment, road building, utility easements, herbicides, commercial enterprises, and most permanent structures, while allowing limited exceptions for emergency response, invasive species control, and certain maintenance activities. It also preserves some recreational uses, such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding on designated trails, camping at designated sites, and gathering certain plants and mushrooms, subject to DNR management and possible permitting. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025.
The bill text reflects a conservation-oriented approach and a clear legislative intent to protect large, relatively undisturbed forest areas for solitude, recreation, and ecological preservation. Based on the bill’s structure and findings, the overall sentiment appears supportive of wilderness-style protection and continued public access for low-impact recreation. No committee transcript or vote data was provided, so there is no recorded opposition or support beyond the bill’s stated policy goals.
The main policy tension in SB 321 is between preservation and continued use. The bill restricts logging, development, motorized access, and other extractive or intensive uses, which could concern users or interests tied to timber management, energy development, utilities, or broader motorized recreation. At the same time, it preserves hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, camping, and some trail-based biking and horseback riding, which suggests an effort to balance conservation with traditional public uses. The bill also leaves room for DNR discretion through permits, access limits, and rulemaking, which could be a point of concern for stakeholders seeking either stronger protections or more flexible land management.