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Indiana Farm Bureau is celebrating several legislative successes for Hoosier farmers after the 2022 Indiana General Assembly ended March 9. As Statehouse operations returned to normal from pandemic protocols last year, this year brought more members to Indianapolis to meet with legislators and advocate for policies that were important to them.

One of the more contested issues at the Statehouse for members this year was carbon sequestration legislation. INFB worked with BP (British Petroleum), National Petroleum Council, Purdue University, CountryMark and Indiana Department of Natural Resources on House Enrolled Act 1209, a bill that protects landowner subsurface property rights regarding carbon sequestration. The bill has passed both the Indiana House and Senate and now heads to Gov. Holcomb.

At the same time, INFB members helped stop Senate Bill 265 and House Bill 1249, which did not provide any protection for landowner property rights below the surface, provided no landowner notice, no need for landowner consent and no compensation to landowners for use of their land.

“Advocating for agriculture has always been Farm Bureau’s priority,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “We are only as successful as our grassroots, and INFB members made sure their voices were heard by staying connected with legislators and engaged in the legislative process this session.”

Kron added that INFB was grateful to see legislation pass to provide relief for individual taxpayers and look forward to further consideration in the budget session next year. Some of the bills INFB supported concerning tax policy were:

• HEA 1002 – Repeals and amends certain provisions concerning excess state reserves, among other tax matters.
• SEA 119 – Makes new farm equipment and new agricultural improvements eligible for local tax abatement.
• SEA 145 – Sets out regulations for commercial real estate property and includes the “dark box” fix that INFB’s public policy team has been working on for five years.

Also passed this year was HEA 1149, which specifies the requirements for the preparation and sale of food products as a home-based vendor. It allows shelf-stable food to be sold from vendors’ homes, online and at community events, instead of just at farmers markets and roadside stands. This legislation will help keep rural communities viable by broadening the opportunities available for individuals working out of their homes.

Other bills supported by INFB include:

• HEA 1148 – Combines the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine into one entity.
• SEA 129 and HEA 1147 – Require the state seed commissioner to charge fees for testing seed for purity and germination that are commensurate with fees that are standard in the seed-testing industry.

“With the short session this year and Statehouse operations getting back to normal, we knew it would be pretty fast paced,” said Andy Tauer, executive director of public policy. “But so much was still accomplished in a short amount of time to positively impact agriculture.”