Stay Informed

Indiana Farm Bureau members have a lot to celebrate as the 2020 legislative session comes to a close.

While most advocacy efforts in 2020 focused on INFB's health benefit plan, the public policy team also worked on other legislation that aligned with Farm Bureau’s 2020 priorities as well as bills that may have an impact on agriculture.

There were two bills supported by INFB to expand rural broadband:

• Senate Enrolled Act 177 transfers the authority of the Broadband Ready Program to the Office of Rural and Community Affairs, which aligns with the agency’s focus on working to improve communities around the state.
• Senate Enrolled Act 343 changes the Rural Telephone Cooperative Act to the Rural Communications Cooperative Act, which will expand service offerings for rural Hoosiers. 

“For the past several years, Indiana Farm Bureau has focused on the rollout and implementation of rural broadband,” said Katrina Hall, INFB’s director of public policy. “Rural broadband is important for these communities as it fosters economic growth, educational opportunities and connectivity. Moving forward, INFB will continue to support any effort that increases speeds, creates more efficiency and expands internet access to Hoosiers in rural Indiana.”

INFB’s public policy team also worked on legislation to clarify the state’s pesticide statutes. Senate Enrolled Act 438 makes some technical clarifications concerning pesticide registration, use and application. The bill also creates a working group of affected industry organizations, with a recommendation due to the Indiana General Assembly before Dec. 1, 2020.

“Indiana Farm Bureau supported the effort to help the Office of Indiana State Chemist modernize the civil penalty portion of the Indiana pesticide statute,” said Jeff Cummins, INFB’s associate director for policy engagement. “SEA 438 is an important first step in developing a well-rounded approach to creating a more objective and transparent process of assessing civil penalties to deter bad actors. INFB looks forward to participating in the working group this year.”

Other important bills INFB worked on this session protect property rights and promote economic growth in rural Indiana:

• SEA 229 provides that a wetland permit is not required from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for the reconstruction or maintenance of a regulated drain if the work is being completed in the existing drainage easement.  
• SEA 340 revises the statute allowing a municipality to condemn property for economic development to require a three-fourths vote of the local legislative body before exercising the power of eminent domain. The bill requires a municipality to provide notice to affected owners, both residents and nonresidents, when the city is considering taking over private property and creates a new right of appeal in eminent domain proceedings.
• SEA 20 requires that an agricultural extension educator must be a resident in that county in order to serve on the county’s advisory plan commission. The bill also provides that an educator who is not a resident of the county can serve in a nonvoting advisory capacity.

  During the 2020 session, 273 INFB members from 81 counties visited the Statehouse to meet with their legislators. Members shared their stories and experiences as they related to bills that would impact agriculture.

“Thanks to the members who participated this session – they truly made a difference,” Hall concluded.