Senate Bill
SB 280
Deer hunting.
In plain English
Allows hunters to use rifles to hunt deer on public property, with certain restrictions, for hunting seasons beginning after June 30, 2025. Removes rifle case length limits and lets hunters use a centerfire rifle that fires a bullet at least 5.56 millimeters wide. Bars the Department of Natural Resources from making rules on centerfire rifle case length.
Written by AI from the official digest below, and checked only by automated rules. If they differ, the official digest and bill text control.
Official digest
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. 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. Prohibits the department of natural resources from adopting rules regarding centerfire rifle case length limitations.
Latest action: Public Law 76, April 16, 2025Full text and history at iga.in.gov
Authors and sponsors
Scott Baldwin, Chris Garten, Tyler Johnson, Shane Lindauer
Co-authors and co-sponsors: Jeff Raatz, Matt Commons, David Abbott, Robb Greene
Roll-call votes
3 recorded votes, oldest first. Third-reading votes decide whether a bill passes a chamber; amendment votes and procedural motions are listed too.
Senate · Feb 4, 2025
Third reading: vote to pass
Roll call text: SB 280 - Baldwin - 3rd Reading
Passed
50 yes0 no
Republicans: 39 yes, 0 noDemocrats: 10 yes, 0 noNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no
How each member voted
Yes (50)
- Aaron Freeman (R)
- Andrea Hunley (D)
- Blake Doriot (R)
- Brett Clark (R)
- Brian Buchanan (R)
- Chris Garten (R)
- Cyndi Carrasco (R)
- Dan Dernulc (R)
- Daryl Schmitt (R)
- David Niezgodski (D)
- Ed Charbonneau (R)
- Eric Bassler (R)
- Eric Koch (R)
- Fady Qaddoura (D)
- Gary Byrne (R)
- Greg Goode (R)
- Greg Taylor (D)
- Greg Walker (R)
- J.D. Ford (D)
- Jean Leising (R)
- Jeff Raatz (R)
- Jim Buck (R)
- Jim Tomes (R)
- Justin Busch (R)
- Kyle Walker (R)
- La Keisha Jackson (D)
- Linda Rogers (R)
- Liz Brown (R)
- Lonnie Randolph (D)
- Mark Spencer (D)
- Michael Crider (R)
- Mike Bohacek (R)
- Mike Gaskill (R)
- Mike Young (R)
- Randy Maxwell (R)
- Rick Niemeyer (R)
- Rod Bray (R)
- Rodney Pol (D)
- Ron Alting (R)
- Ryan Mishler (R)
- Scott Alexander (R)
- Scott Baldwin (R)
- Shelli Yoder (D)
- Spencer Deery (R)
- Stacey Donato (R)
- Sue Glick (R)
- Travis Holdman (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
- Unknown member
- Vaneta Becker (R)
House · Mar 27, 2025
Third reading: vote to pass
Roll call text: SB 280 - Lindauer - 3rd Reading
Passed
92 yes0 no8 did not vote
Republicans: 63 yes, 0 no, 7 did not voteDemocrats: 27 yes, 0 no, 1 did not voteIndependents: 1 yes, 0 noNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no
How each member voted
Yes (92)
- Alaina Shonkwiler (R)
- Alex Burton (D)
- Alex Zimmerman (R)
- Andrew Ireland (R)
- Beau Baird (R)
- Becky Cash (R)
- Ben Smaltz (R)
- Bob Heaton (R)
- Bob Morris (R)
- Brad Barrett (R)
- Bruce Borders (R)
- Carey Hamilton (D)
- Carolyn Jackson (D)
- Cherrish Pryor (D)
- Chris Campbell (D)
- Chris Jeter (R)
- Chris Judy (R)
- Chris May (R)
- Chuck Moseley (D)
- Cory Criswell (R)
- Craig Snow (R)
- Dale DeVon (R)
- Danny Lopez (R)
- Dave Hall (R)
- Dave Heine (R)
- David Abbott (R)
- Doug Miller (R)
- Earl Harris (D)
- Ed Clere (I)
- Ed DeLaney (D)
- Ed Soliday (R)
- Elizabeth Rowray (R)
- Ethan Lawson (R)
- Ethan Manning (R)
- Garrett Bascom (R)
- Greg Steuerwald (R)
- Gregory Porter (D)
- Hal Slager (R)
- Heath VanNatter (R)
- Hunter Smith (R)
- J.D. Prescott (R)
- Jack Jordan (R)
- Jake Teshka (R)
- Jeff Thompson (R)
- Jim Lucas (R)
- Jim Pressel (R)
- Joanna King (R)
- John Bartlett (D)
- Julie McGuire (R)
- Julie Olthoff (R)
- Justin Moed (D)
- Karen Engleman (R)
- Kendell Culp (R)
- Kyle Miller (D)
- Kyle Pierce (R)
- Lindsay Patterson (R)
- Lori Goss-Reaves (R)
- Lorissa Sweet (R)
- Mark Genda (R)
- Martin Carbaugh (R)
- Matt Hostettler (R)
- Matt Lehman (R)
- Matt Pierce (D)
- Maureen Bauer (D)
- Michelle Davis (R)
- Mike Andrade (D)
- Mike Aylesworth (R)
- Mike Karickhoff (R)
- Mitch Gore (D)
- Peggy Mayfield (R)
- Phil GiaQuinta (D)
- Ragen Hatcher (D)
- Reneé Pack (D)
- Robb Greene (R)
- Robin Shackleford (D)
- Ryan Dvorak (D)
- Ryan Lauer (R)
- Shane Lindauer (R)
- Sheila Klinker (D)
- Sue Errington (D)
- Tim O'Brien (R)
- Tim Wesco (R)
- Tim Yocum (R)
- Tony Isa (R)
- Tonya Pfaff (D)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
- Unknown member
- Vanessa Summers (D)
- Vernon Smith (D)
- Wendy Dant Chesser (D)
- Wendy McNamara (R)
- Zach Payne (R)
Did not vote (8)
- Bob Behning (R)
- Cindy Ledbetter (R)
- Craig Haggard (R)
- Jenny Meltzer (R)
- Matt Commons (R)
- Steve Bartels (R)
- Todd Huston (R)
- Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D)
Senate · Apr 1, 2025
Final vote: concurrence or conference report
Roll call text: SB 280 - Baldwin
Passed
46 yes1 no3 did not vote
Republicans: 35 yes, 1 no, 3 did not voteDemocrats: 10 yes, 0 noNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no
How each member voted
Yes (46)
- Aaron Freeman (R)
- Andrea Hunley (D)
- Blake Doriot (R)
- Brett Clark (R)
- Brian Buchanan (R)
- Cyndi Carrasco (R)
- Dan Dernulc (R)
- Daryl Schmitt (R)
- David Niezgodski (D)
- Ed Charbonneau (R)
- Eric Bassler (R)
- Eric Koch (R)
- Fady Qaddoura (D)
- Gary Byrne (R)
- Greg Goode (R)
- Greg Taylor (D)
- Greg Walker (R)
- J.D. Ford (D)
- Jean Leising (R)
- Jim Buck (R)
- Jim Tomes (R)
- Justin Busch (R)
- Kyle Walker (R)
- La Keisha Jackson (D)
- Linda Rogers (R)
- Liz Brown (R)
- Lonnie Randolph (D)
- Mark Spencer (D)
- Mike Bohacek (R)
- Mike Gaskill (R)
- Mike Young (R)
- Randy Maxwell (R)
- Rick Niemeyer (R)
- Rod Bray (R)
- Rodney Pol (D)
- Ron Alting (R)
- Ryan Mishler (R)
- Scott Alexander (R)
- Scott Baldwin (R)
- Shelli Yoder (D)
- Spencer Deery (R)
- Sue Glick (R)
- Travis Holdman (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
- Unknown member
- Vaneta Becker (R)
No (1)
- Michael Crider (R)
Did not vote (3)
- Chris Garten (R)
- Jeff Raatz (R)
- Stacey Donato (R)
Source: Open States, compiled from the Indiana General Assembly's official roll calls. The official record at iga.in.gov controls. Spot an error? Let us know.