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Committee hears bill to put Hoosier Homestead program into statute and add remonstrance option against eminent domain
Summary
House Bill 1265 would codify the Hoosier Homestead Farm program, create an electronic registry of homestead farms, and allow eligible homestead farms a limited local appeal (remonstrance) before a fee‑simple condemnation. The committee heard testimony supporting the measure and agreed to hold the bill for technical changes before further action.
Representative Greene presented House Bill 1265, which would place the Hoosier Homestead Farm program into statute and create a limited local remonstrance process for family farms that qualify as Hoosier Homestead Farms.
Representative Greene said the bill “first puts the Hoosier Homestead Farm Program into statute” and would require the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to maintain an electronic registry of homestead farms; it would also provide a process for a homestead farm to remonstrate to the local legislative body when a fee‑simple condemnation is proposed.
Linda Norton and other multigenerational farm owners testified in support. Norton said her family farm received a Hoosier Homestead award and described the application process and the cultural meaning of the designation. Jason Abel, a county commissioner and fourth‑generation farm owner, told the committee the bill complements farmland protection efforts by giving families an extra local review step when a condemnation is proposed.
Quentin Hayes, legislative director for ISDA, testified in a neutral capacity and described the ceremonial nature of the Hoosier Homestead Award program. Hayes suggested potential statutory clarifications the department would support — for example, adding that property taxes must be paid up to date and specifying the parcel(s) that would receive protection. ISDA characterized the program as ceremonial but said defining procedures in statute would allow better tracking of eligible farms.
Representative Greene said he and staff were working with ISDA on technical amendments and that those changes would likely appear on the agenda at a future meeting. The committee agreed to hold the bill to allow the technical work to be completed before further action.
The discussion emphasized that remonstrance is limited to fee‑simple takings for condemnation and does not apply to easements, voluntary sales or negotiated acquisitions; local bodies must still determine whether a public taking is necessary and if there are feasible alternatives.
No committee vote was recorded on HB 1265 at this meeting; the bill was held for amendment and future consideration.
