LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6837 NOTE PREPARED: Mar 27, 2025
BILL NUMBER: SB 280 BILL AMENDED: Mar 25, 2025
SUBJECT: Deer Hunting.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Baldwin BILL STATUS: As Passed House
FIRST SPONSOR: Rep. Lindauer
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: The bill provides that, for a hunting season beginning after June 30, 2025, rifles
may be used to hunt deer on public property subject to certain restrictions. It removes certain rifle case length
limitations and provides that a hunter may use a rifle chambered for a centerfire rifle cartridge that fires a
bullet that is at least five and fifty-six hundredths (5.56) of a millimeter in diameter or larger to hunt deer.
It prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from adopting rules regarding centerfire rifle case length
limitations.
Effective Date: July 1, 2025.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Workload would minimally increase for Natural Resources
Commission (NRC) to amend current rules regarding rifle cartridges and case lengths. Rulemaking is a
routine task of the NRC and should be accomplished with existing resources.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures:
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Department of Natural Resources.
Local Agencies Affected:
Information Sources:
https://iga.in.gov/publications/agency_report/2016-2020-use-of-high-powered-rifles-fro-deer-hunting.pdf.
Fiscal Analyst: Heather Puletz, 317-234-9484.
SB 280 1