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Committee reviews bill to codify Hoosier Homestead program and add local remonstrance for century‑old farms
Summary
House Bill 1265 would place the Hoosier Homestead Farm program into statute and create a limited local remonstrance process for century‑plus family farms facing fee‑simple condemnation; proponents said the change would give multigenerational farms a final local review before condemnation is pursued.
House Bill 1265 would put the Hoosier Homestead Farm program into state law and create a narrowly tailored process that lets qualifying multigenerational family farms ask their local legislative body to review proposed fee‑simple condemnations, the bill's sponsor told the committee.
"1265 simply gives a homestead farm the right to make one final appeal to their local legislative body to review the potential condemnation," the sponsor said, explaining that the remonstrance process would be limited to fee‑simple takings and would not apply to easements, leases, voluntary sales or good‑faith negotiated acquisitions.
Supporters described the program as recognition for families that have owned farms continuously for at least 100 years and said codifying the program would create an ISDA registry of Hoosier Homestead Farms. "By putting the program into statute, the ISDA will maintain an electronic registry of homestead farms, which is a necessary step to better understand these families who form the foundation of our agricultural sector," the sponsor said.
Multiple witnesses testified in favor. Linda Norton, whose family farm qualifies as an eighth‑generation operation, said proximity to Indianapolis brings development pressure and called the bill a useful recognition and protective measure for long‑standing farms. Jason Abel, a fourth‑generation farmer and county commissioner, said the measure complements other farmland protection efforts.
Quentin Hayes of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture testified neutral on the bill and suggested technical statutory additions, including making the application process and a requirement that property taxes be current part of statute. Hayes described the Hoosier Homestead Award as ceremonial and noted administrative practices that could be clarified if the program is codified.
The sponsor told the committee staff and ISDA were working on technical language; the bill was held to allow those amendments. The committee did not record a final vote on House Bill 1265 at this hearing.
