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House committee advances bill to boost protections and higher condemnation payouts for Hoosier Homestead farms
Summary
Representative Rob Green’s HB1105 would create a statutory Hoosier Homestead registry and require payment equal to the greater of 200% of fair market value or 200% of replacement cost plus relocation and business-loss costs when a qualifying multi‑generational family farm is taken by eminent domain; the committee approved the bill 11‑0.
Representative Rob Green urged the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee to pass House Bill 1105, saying the measure would give century‑plus family farms — recognized by the Hoosier Homestead program — stronger protections and a chance to speak before a condemning authority.
"This bill seeks to give these families a voice to push back against potential condemnation of their homestead farm," Green said, outlining provisions that would create an electronic Hoosier Homestead registry and restrict the measure to fee‑simple takings.
The bill’s core compensation provision would “require compensation for the greater of 200% of fair market value or 200% of replacement costs of the farm plus relocation expenses and any business losses resulting from the condemnation,” Green told the committee.
Quentin Hayes, testifying neutral, said the Indiana State Department of Agriculture currently manages the non‑statutory Hoosier Homestead program on a part‑time basis and that putting the program into statute and creating a registry would require additional staff capacity. "By requiring the agency to maintain a registry, it would require the agency to hire two more positions... likely with a legal background," Hayes said, noting the department has postponed an award ceremony because of staff turnover.
Katrina Hall of the Indiana Farm Bureau voiced support for HB1105, calling it a formal recognition of a long‑standing program and arguing the increased compensation is appropriate for preserved farmlands that may not be fully valued under current formulas. "We rise in support of 11‑05," Hall said, adding the Farm Bureau worked with the author on revisions and supports the eminent‑domain protections.
Committee members asked technical questions and Green closed by emphasizing the bill’s limited scope and voluntary program participation. A committee member moved to pass the bill and, after a roll call, the committee recorded an 11‑0 vote to advance HB1105.
The committee forwarded HB1105 to the next stage of consideration with unanimous support; members did not set an effective date in the hearing record.
