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Committee considers codifying Hoosier Homestead program and limited remonstrance for eminent domain
Summary
House Bill 1265 would put the Hoosier Homestead Farm recognition program into statute and create a narrow, local remonstrance process for family farms facing fee-simple condemnation; the committee heard testimony from long-standing farm families and ISDA, and the sponsor indicated technical amendments are forthcoming.
A sponsor presented House Bill 1265 to put the Hoosier Homestead Farm Program into statute and to create a limited local remonstrance process for homestead farms facing fee-simple condemnation under eminent domain.
The sponsor told the committee the bill would formally codify the ceremonial Hoosier Homestead Award (created in 1976), require ISDA to maintain an electronic registry of homestead farms and allow a homestead farm that faces a fee-simple taking to request review by the local legislative body before condemnation proceeds. "1265 simply gives a homestead farm the right to make 1 final appeal to their local legislative body to review the potential condemnation upon the land which the families have literally invested generations in," the sponsor said.
Testimony in support came from multigenerational farmers who described the award's importance. Linda Norton, whose operation qualifies as an eighth-generation farm when grandchildren are counted, described researching family records for the Hoosier Homestead award and said the statute could raise public awareness of century farms. Jason Abel, a fourth-generation farmer and county commissioner, said the proposal complements other farmland-protection measures and could help communities balancing growth and agricultural preservation.
Quentin Hayes of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture testified neutrally and described administrative details ISDA recommends, including verifying tax payments and clarifying the parcel designation that would receive protection. Hayes said the program is "ceremonial in nature" and recommended adding some application requirements into statute to make the registry functional.
Sponsor and committee members discussed technical edits. The sponsor said staff and ISDA were working on technical changes and the bill was being held so those edits could be drafted for the committee's next meeting.
Why it matters: Supporters said the measure would provide families with a formal avenue to seek local review before fee-simple condemnation, while preserving the limited scope so it does not block necessary public projects. Proponents argued the change recognizes multigenerational farms and provides a modest procedural protection for owners of homestead farms.
What’s next: The sponsor said technical amendments were being worked on with ISDA; the bill was held for further drafting and will return to committee for additional action.
