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Committee holds Hoosier Homestead bill for amendment after testimony
Summary
House Bill 1265, which would place the Hoosier Homestead Award program into statute and create a limited local remonstrance right for qualifying century‑plus family farms facing fee‑simple condemnation, received testimony and was held for technical amendments and further committee consideration.
A bill to codify the Hoosier Homestead Award program and create a limited local appeal for qualifying multi‑generational farms facing fee‑simple condemnation was presented to the House Agriculture Committee and was held for amendment after testimony and technical questions.
The sponsor described the proposal as a way to give families whose farms have been in the same family for a century or more an extra local review before fee‑simple condemnation. The sponsor said the measure would not prevent lawful condemnation where no feasible and prudent alternative exists; it would only create a required local notice and opportunity for remonstrance for Hoosier Homestead farms and would not apply to taking easements, voluntary sales, leases, or good‑faith negotiated acquisitions.
Several farmers and county officials testified in support. Linda Norton, who described her operation as an eighth‑generation farm in Johnson County, said the Hoosier Homestead designation is “more than a metal sign to hang on their barn” and urged support. Jason Abel, a fourth‑generation farmer and county commissioner, said the bill would complement other farmland‑protection measures by recognizing and giving limited procedural protections to family farms.
Quentin Hayes of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture testified the Hoosier Homestead Award program is currently ceremonial and administered by ISDA; Hayes recommended the committee consider adding statutory requirements such as current property‑tax compliance and clarified that the remonstrance process would be limited to fee‑simple takings and not to easements.
Committee members discussed technical language and the membership and duties of any oversight or review body created by the bill. The sponsor and ISDA staff said technical edits were needed; Representative Green indicated staff and the author would work with ISDA on those changes. The committee held the bill to allow drafters to prepare the technical amendments and return the bill for further consideration.
