*SB0121.1*
January 15, 2025
SENATE BILL No. 121
_____
DIGEST OF SB 121 (Updated January 13, 2025 3:38 pm - DI 140)
Citations Affected: IC 14-8; IC 14-22.
Synopsis: Restrictions on using nets or traps for minnows. Prohibits
the use of specific devices to take minnows from a waterway unless
certain conditions are met. Provides an exemption for bait dealers and
individuals with a scientific purposes license.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Deery, Crider, Baldwin
January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
January 14, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
SB 121—LS 6054/DI 148 January 15, 2025
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 121
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 14-8-2-167, AS AMENDED BY P.L.289-2013,
2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 167. "Minnow", for purposes of IC 14-22,
4 includes the species of fish that the department determines by rule has
5 the meaning set forth in 312 IAC 9-6-1 (as in effect on July 1,
6 2025).
7 SECTION 2. IC 14-8-2-269.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
8 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
9 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 269.5. "Sugar Creek", for
10 purposes of IC 14-22-9-3.5, refers to the tributary stream that
11 originates in Tipton County and travels southwest through the
12 following counties before merging with the Wabash River:
13 (1) Clinton.
14 (2) Boone.
15 (3) Montgomery.
16 (4) Parke.
17 SECTION 3. IC 14-22-9-3.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
SB 121—LS 6054/DI 148 2
1 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
2 1, 2025]: Sec. 3.5. (a) This section does not apply to the following:
3 (1) A bait dealer licensed under IC 14-22-16.
4 (2) An individual who possesses a scientific purposes license
5 issued under IC 14-22-22.
6 (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), an individual may not
7 use the following devices to take minnows from a waterway:
8 (1) A dip net.
9 (2) A cast net.
10 (3) A minnow trap.
11 (4) A minnow seine.
12 (c) An individual may use a device described in subsection (b) to
13 take minnows from a waterway if all of the following conditions
14 are met:
15 (1) The individual:
16 (A) takes only the minnows that can be reasonably used
17 before the end of the day in which the minnows were
18 caught;
19 (B) uses the minnows as bait to fish;
20 (C) possesses a pole and line needed to fish;
21 (D) keeps the minnows near the individual's pole and line;
22 and
23 (E) returns any unused minnows at the end of the day to
24 the waterway from which the minnows were caught.
25 (2) The minnows that are taken are not transported away
26 from the waterway in which the minnows were caught.
27 (3) The waterway from which the minnows were caught is not
28 Sugar Creek.
SB 121—LS 6054/DI 148 3
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources, to
which was referred Senate Bill No. 121, 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 121 as introduced.)
GLICK, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 7, Nays 1
SB 121—LS 6054/DI 148