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Committee hears Hoosier Homestead bill and holds it for technical amendment
Summary
House Bill 1265 would codify the Hoosier Homestead Farm program and give qualifying century-plus family farms a local remonstrance right before fee‑simple eminent domain takings. The committee heard testimony and agreed to hold the bill for technical amendments.
Representative Green presented House Bill 1265, which would place the Hoosier Homestead Farm recognition program into statute and create a limited remonstrance process for family farms that have been in a family for 100, 150 or 200 years.
"House Bill 1265 seeks to balance competing views of time," Representative Green said, summarizing the bill's intent to give long‑held family farms a path to appeal to a local legislative body before a fee‑simple condemnation. The bill, as described to the committee, applies only to fee‑simple takings and does not extend to easements, leases or voluntary sales.
Supporters described the program as a way to preserve generational farms and give families additional notice and local review in the event of proposed condemnation. Linda Norton, who said her farm will be a bicentennial farm in 2029, described the Hoosier Homestead recognition as "more than a metal sign" and urged the committee to statutorily recognize the program. Jason Abel, a fourth‑generation farmer and Shelby County commissioner, said policies like HB 1265 and HB 1234 together would help communities manage growth while preserving agricultural heritage.
Quentin Hayes, legislative director for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, testified neutral on HB 1265 and described the Hoosier Homestead Award as a ceremonial program established in 1976. Hayes suggested statutory clarifications ISDA would like to see added, including codifying eligibility requirements and ensuring parcels have property taxes paid up to date; he also explained that the designation applies to the parcel or parcels designated on the application.
Key program details discussed in committee included the current eligibility criteria: continuous family ownership for 100, 150 or 200 years; a minimum of 20 acres or, for smaller parcels, active farm income of at least $1,000 annually; and an administrative award process that ISDA currently manages. Witnesses and members discussed that more than 6,000 Hoosier Homestead Awards have been issued historically.
Outcome: Committee members agreed to hold HB 1265 so authors and ISDA staff could work on technical changes and an amendment; Representative Green said the item will appear on the agenda at a future meeting after those changes are prepared.
