Indiana's natural resources department would run state historic sites

The historic sites division would manage state historic sites. This covers site property, related duties, and state museum employees working at historic sites. The budget agency would determine and move money used for the sites into a historic sites fund. The transfers would occur on July 1, 2026.

A 13-member board would help guide the historic sites division. The natural resources director would chair the board, and the governor would appoint the other 12 members. The appointed members would include two site supporters and one resident from each of Indiana's nine U.S. House districts. The board provisions would take effect July 1, 2026.

The division or an entity it designates would manage a fund to support state historic sites. The fund would receive exhibit fees, donations, grants, and any money lawmakers set aside for it. The division could use money from the fund after budget committee review and budget agency approval. The fund provisions would take effect July 1, 2026.

A person would commit a Class B misdemeanor by altering historic property. The historic property must be within land the state owns or leases. The person must act knowingly and without a permit. This provision would take effect July 1, 2026.