Last year, we told you about a bill introduced by State Rep. Robb Greene (R-Shelbyville) that would provide greater protections for farms that have been in the same family for many generations—and make it far more challenging for local governments to seize those properties through eminent domain.
“I think it should be more than a metal sign—and it just strikes me that this is just a no-brainer to do for the preservation of farmland,” says Rep. Greene referring to those blue Hoosier Homestead signs that you see in front a farm that’s been in the same family for at least 100 years.
The Hoosier Homestead program was created in 1976 and recognizes the contributions of Indiana’s farms that have been in the same family for 100, 150, and 200 years.
“I’d estimate there are maybe 3,500 to 4,000 farms that are still holding that designation [in Indiana],” according to Greene.
He tells Hoosier Ag Today that one of those farms in his district was threatened to be seized through eminent domain.
“The original intent of the bill came from constituents in my district who dealt with an eminent domain issue,” he says. “They had a Centennial Farm along the I-65 Corridor, and at the last minute, there was a federal highway regulation that prevented their eminent domain process from moving forward. They were able to keep the farm, but they reached out to me and said, ‘We go through this process to register our farm that we’ve kept in our family for six generations. But, I don’t see any protections for these farms, and all we get is some metal sign.’ That doesn’t seem right to me.”
That bill passed unanimously in the Indiana House last year, but stalled in the State Senate.
After Greene introduced his bill, he says he and his staff heard from many Hoosier Homestead farm owners throughout the state who shared how local government entities had tried to seize part or all of their farmland through eminent domain.
That’s why Greene has filed House Bill 1105—which is similar to last year’s bill, but he says those protections for those farms come about in a different way.
“I said, let’s make this as financially restrictive on anybody that’s going to want to use eminent domain against a [Hoosier Homestead] farm. So, we upped the purchase value, so that it’s the greater of 200 percent of fair-market value or replacement cost, as well as replacement costs to be able to relocate. So, if there’s a local body that’s looking to use eminent domain, I wanted to make this as financially onerous on them as possible to have that protection there for these farms, so government entities have to look elsewhere.”
House Bill 1105 is also co-sponsored by State Rep. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) and State Rep. Hunter Smith (R-Zionsville).
In fact, Rep. Greene is asking that those who own a Hoosier Homestead designated property who have been impacted by their local government insisting on seizing all or part of their farmland through eminent domain, to contact him and his office, so he may share your story—or ask you to share your story with lawmakers in order to advance this bill through the 2025 legislative session.
If you’re a Hoosier Homestead farmland owner who has been threatened with eminent domain and are interested in sharing your story, or testifying on this bill, you may e-mail Rep. Greene at h47@iga.in.gov. You can also reach his office at 800-382-9841.
CLICK HERE to read House Bill 1105.
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