# Indiana HB 1557: Prescribed burning.

Indiana HB 1557, Prescribed burning., is a First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025) House bill sponsored by Beau Baird (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-30 (Public Law 124) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1557-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Indiana HB 1557
- State: Indiana
- Session: First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)
- Title: Prescribed burning.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-21
- Last action: 2025-04-30, Public Law 124
- Sponsor: Beau Baird (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: natural resources, the senate
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (191 yes, 34 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Defines "prescribed burn". Provides for the following: (1) Requirements to be met before a person conducts a prescribed burning. (2) That a certified prescribed burn manager and a completed prescribed burn plan must be present during a prescribed burning. (3) Certain civil liability immunities related to conducting a prescribed burn and the prescribed burn certification program. (4) Under certain conditions, exemption of prescribed burning from certain local regulations. (5) That a prescribed burning and the smoke produced by the prescribed burning do not constitute a nuisance. (6) That the division of forestry shall administer the training and certification program for prescribed burning. Limits damages for injuries or losses as result of a prescribed burn to actual damages.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Landowners gain burn rights and duties: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, Indiana landowners have the right to use planned fires for forestry, fuel reduction, habitat improvement, and plant management. The Division of Forestry runs the burn-manager certification program and sets written burn-plan standards; certified managers must complete its tra…
- Burners gain protections; damage claims narrow: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, Indiana protects certified burn managers, landowners, and authorized agents from civil liability for burn or smoke harm when they meet the planning, written-consent, 24-hour notice, and on-site supervision requirements described above. This protection excludes harm caused by…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Beau Baird (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Maureen Bauer (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michael Karickhoff (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Aylesworth (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Susan Glick (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-17 | House | House concurred with Senate amendments | pass | 80 | 10 |   |
| 2025-04-01 | Senate | Third reading: passed | pass | 38 | 9 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Third reading: passed | pass | 73 | 15 |   |

## Actions (22)

- 2025-04-30: Public Law 124 (House)
- 2025-04-30: Signed by the Governor (House)
- 2025-04-23: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Signed by the President Pro Tempore (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Signed by the Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-17: House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 488: yeas 80, nays 10 (House)
- 2025-04-14: Motion to concur filed (House)
- 2025-04-02: Returned to the House with amendments (Senate)
- 2025-04-01: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 329: yeas 38, nays 9 (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Second reading: ordered engrossed (Senate)
- 2025-03-25: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the Senate (House)
- 2025-02-04: Representatives Karickhoff and Bauer added as coauthors (House)
- 2025-02-04: Representative Aylesworth added as coauthor (House)
- 2025-02-04: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 92: yeas 73, nays 15 (House)
- 2025-02-04: Senate sponsor: Senator Glick (House)
- 2025-02-03: Second reading: ordered engrossed (House)
- 2025-02-03: Amendment #1 (Boy) failed; voice vote (House)
- 2025-01-30: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (House)
- 2025-01-21: Authored by Representative Baird (House)
- 2025-01-21: First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources (House)

## Bill text

- Enrolled House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1557/versions/HB1557.04.ENRS?format=pdf)
- House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1557/versions/HB1557.03.COMS?format=pdf)
- House Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1557/versions/HB1557.02.COMH?format=pdf)
- Introduced House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1557/versions/HB1557.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 324: Criminal procedures. (signed)
- SB 231: Various corrections matters. (signed)
- SB 80: Code publication. (signed)
- SB 453: Various tax matters. (signed)
- SB 464: Financial institutions and consumer credit. (signed)
- SB 371: Workforce matters. (signed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1557/versions/HB1557.04.ENRS?format=pdf)
- [House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1557/versions/HB1557.03.COMS?format=pdf)
- [House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1557/versions/HB1557.02.COMH?format=pdf)
- [Introduced House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1557/versions/HB1557.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related
- [SB 324: Criminal procedures.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB324-2025)
- [SB 231: Various corrections matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB231-2025)
- [SB 80: Code publication.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB80-2025)
- [SB 453: Various tax matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB453-2025)
- [SB 464: Financial institutions and consumer credit.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB464-2025)
- [SB 371: Workforce matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB371-2025)
- [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills)
- [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1557-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).