Committee holds Hoosier Homestead bill for amendment after testimony on eminent domain remonstrance

At a House Agriculture Committee meeting, members heard testimony on House Bill 1265, a measure to place the Hoosier Homestead Farm program into statute and to permit eligible homestead farms a local remonstrance process when a fee‑simple taking by eminent domain is proposed.

Representative Vince Green, the bill’s sponsor, framed the proposal as a way to protect multi‑generation family farms. He said the new process would let a homestead farm make “one final appeal to their local legislative body to review the potential condemnation” when a fee‑simple taking is proposed; the remonstrance is limited and does not apply to acquisition of easements, leases, voluntary sales or good‑faith negotiations in eminent domain proceedings.

Representative Green described the program’s history and scope: the Hoosier Homestead Award was created in 1976 to recognize farms owned continuously by the same family for at least 100 years and, in some cases, 150 or 200 years. The bill would require ISDA to maintain an electronic registry of homestead farms and direct local notice to the legislative body where the parcel is located if a taking is proposed.

Several family farmers and rural officials testified in favor; Linda Norton, who described her family’s farm as an eighth‑generation homestead in Johnson County, said the measure would help preserve the family legacy amid development pressure near Indianapolis. Jason Abel, a fourth‑generation farmer and Shelby County commissioner, said the bill complements other farmland preservation measures under consideration.

Quentin Hayes, legislative director for ISDA, testified neutral and offered technical suggestions. Hayes described the program as “ceremonial in nature” and recommended the legislature consider adding statutory requirements such as up‑to‑date property tax payments and formalizing the application process into law. He also noted that the parcel designated as the Hoosier homestead is the parcel that would receive protection under the bill.

Committee members discussed potential amendments, including clarifications about which parcels qualify, the scope of the remonstrance, and procedural details for local legislative review. Representative Green said he and staff would work with ISDA on technical fixes and that an amended version was expected at a future meeting.

The committee did not vote to advance the bill and the chair held the measure for amendment and further consideration at the next meeting.