republic-os/legislation/us/states/in/2020/sb-430.md

---
type: "Bill"
title: "Reservoir conservancy districts."
description: "Allows a conservancy district to be established as a \"reservoir conservancy district\" if: (1) the conservancy district will be established for certain purposes; (2) the boundaries will encompass part or all of a reservoir located partly within a consolidated city; and (3) at least 25% of the surface of the reservoir is owned by a utility governed by a board of directors for utilities of a consolidated city. Requires the board of directors of a reservoir conservancy district and the utility that owns the reservoir (utility owner) to enter into an operating agreement that describes all works of improvement and maintenance that the reservoir conservancy district proposes to perform. Requires that all such works be approved by the utility owner before the work begins. Provides that a reservoir conservancy district has all of the powers granted to other conservancy districts with certain exceptions, including: (1) a reservoir conservancy district does not have the power of eminent domain; and (2) the utility owner is exempt from all assessments, taxes, and fees imposed by the reservoir conservancy district. Imposes a limit on the special benefits tax levy of a reservoir conservancy district. Authorizes a reservoir conservancy district to impose and collect fees for the recreational use of watercraft on the reservoir, but provides that a one year use fee for a nonresident may not be 50% greater than the one year use fee for a resident, and that a one-day use fee may not exceed 17% of a one year use fee. Authorizes a reservoir conservancy district to establish rules concerning safety and resource conservation but provides that the rules shall not interfere with state rules or with the use of the reservoir for water supply purposes, shall not impair the commercial license of the commercial licensee of the utility owner, and shall not discourage uses of the reservoir for activities allowed under the fish and wildlife laws. Authorizes a reservoir conservancy district to: (1) install catch basins and filtration systems; (2) implement erosion control measures; (3) dredge; and (4) take other actions; with authorization from state and federal agencies. Provides that the utility owner has sole authority to control the water level and water quality of the reservoir. Provides that, except in a case of intentional or willful and wanton misconduct, the utility owner is not liable for any personal injury, death, property damage, or other loss that an individual incurs while present on or in the reservoir. Includes provisions concerning the potential civil liability of the utility owner, the state, the reservoir conservancy district, and owners of property located in a reservoir conservancy district for personal injury, death, or property damage occurring within the reservoir conservancy district."
jurisdiction: "us/states/in"
legislature: "Indiana General Assembly"
session: "2020"
identifier: "SB 430"
citation: "Indiana SB 430 (2020)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["CONSERVATION; CONSERVANCY DISTRICTS", "DAMS AND RESERVOIRS"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["David Wolkins", "James Merritt", "Mark Messmer"]
version_count: 5
action_count: 23
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2020-01-16"
last_action: "2020-03-21"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/fbd4dc39-1b9d-4778-965d-d3a99ce28d31"
source_url: "http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2020/bills/senate/430"
source_hash: "903ca420e79e72bf206ae093226f4253e5f42c9084404427e16c0430595bc06d"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-in"]
---

# Indiana SB 430 (2020) — Reservoir conservancy districts.

Allows a conservancy district to be established as a "reservoir conservancy district" if: (1) the conservancy district will be established for certain purposes; (2) the boundaries will encompass part or all of a reservoir located partly within a consolidated city; and (3) at least 25% of the surface of the reservoir is owned by a utility governed by a board of directors for utilities of a consolidated city. Requires the board of directors of a reservoir conservancy district and the utility that owns the reservoir (utility owner) to enter into an operating agreement that describes all works of improvement and maintenance that the reservoir conservancy district proposes to perform. Requires that all such works be approved by the utility owner before the work begins. Provides that a reservoir conservancy district has all of the powers granted to other conservancy districts with certain exceptions, including: (1) a reservoir conservancy district does not have the power of eminent domain; and (2) the utility owner is exempt from all assessments, taxes, and fees imposed by the reservoir conservancy district. Imposes a limit on the special benefits tax levy of a reservoir conservancy district. Authorizes a reservoir conservancy district to impose and collect fees for the recreational use of watercraft on the reservoir, but provides that a one year use fee for a nonresident may not be 50% greater than the one year use fee for a resident, and that a one-day use fee may not exceed 17% of a one year use fee. Authorizes a reservoir conservancy district to establish rules concerning safety and resource conservation but provides that the rules shall not interfere with state rules or with the use of the reservoir for water supply purposes, shall not impair the commercial license of the commercial licensee of the utility owner, and shall not discourage uses of the reservoir for activities allowed under the fish and wildlife laws. Authorizes a reservoir conservancy district to: (1) install catch basins and filtration systems; (2) implement erosion control measures; (3) dredge; and (4) take other actions; with authorization from state and federal agencies. Provides that the utility owner has sole authority to control the water level and water quality of the reservoir. Provides that, except in a case of intentional or willful and wanton misconduct, the utility owner is not liable for any personal injury, death, property damage, or other loss that an individual incurs while present on or in the reservoir. Includes provisions concerning the potential civil liability of the utility owner, the state, the reservoir conservancy district, and owners of property located in a reservoir conservancy district for personal injury, death, or property damage occurring within the reservoir conservancy district.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Engrossed Senate Bill (H)** (committee substitute) — [source](http://in-proxy.openstates.org/2020/bills/SB0430/versions/SB0430.03.ENGS)
2. **Enrolled Senate Bill (S)** (committee substitute) — [source](http://in-proxy.openstates.org/2020/bills/SB0430/versions/SB0430.05.ENRH)
3. **Introduced Senate Bill (S)** (committee substitute) — [source](http://in-proxy.openstates.org/2020/bills/SB0430/versions/SB0430.01.INTR)
4. **Senate Bill (S)** (committee substitute) — [source](http://in-proxy.openstates.org/2020/bills/SB0430/versions/SB0430.04.COMH)
5. **Senate Bill (S)** (committee substitute) — [source](http://in-proxy.openstates.org/2020/bills/SB0430/versions/SB0430.02.COMS)

## Votes

- SB 430 - Merritt - 3rd Reading — **46–2** (pass) · upper
- SB 430 - Wolkins - 3rd Reading — **92–0** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- David Wolkins — primary (person)
- James Merritt — primary (person)
- Mark Messmer — primary (person)
- Carolyn Jackson — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2020-01-16** Authored by Senator Merritt
- **2020-01-16** First reading: referred to Committee on Environmental Affairs `reading-1, referral-committee`
- **2020-01-28** Committee report: amend do pass, adopted `committee-passage`
- **2020-01-30** Senator Messmer added as second author
- **2020-02-03** Amendment #3 (Messmer) prevailed; voice vote `amendment-passage, amendment-failure`
- **2020-02-03** Amendment #6 (Spartz) prevailed; voice vote `amendment-passage, amendment-failure`
- **2020-02-03** Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed `reading-2`
- **2020-02-04** Third reading: passed; Roll Call 191: yeas 46, nays 2 `reading-3, passage`
- **2020-02-04** House sponsor: Representative Wolkins
- **2020-02-05** Referred to the House
- **2020-02-11** First reading: referred to Committee on Environmental Affairs `reading-1, referral-committee`
- **2020-02-20** Committee report: amend do pass, adopted `committee-passage`
- **2020-02-25** Representative Jackson added as cosponsor
- **2020-02-25** Second reading: ordered engrossed `reading-2`
- **2020-02-27** Third reading: passed; Roll Call 221: yeas 92, nays 0 `reading-3, passage`
- **2020-02-28** Returned to the Senate with amendments `amendment-failure`
- **2020-03-03** Motion to concur filed
- **2020-03-04** Senate concurred in House amendments; Roll Call 333: yeas 46, nays 3 `amendment-failure`
- **2020-03-09** Signed by the President Pro Tempore
- **2020-03-16** Signed by the Speaker
- **2020-03-18** Signed by the President of the Senate
- **2020-03-21** Public Law 148
- **2020-03-21** Signed by the Governor `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/fbd4dc39-1b9d-4778-965d-d3a99ce28d31`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Indiana legislature records).