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Heidi Gant
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HGant@infb.org

(Indianapolis) – April 28, 2025 – At the conclusion of the 2025 Indiana General Assembly, Indiana Farm Bureau celebrated several legislative successes for Hoosier farmers.

The major priorities for INFB heading into this year were to modernize the farmland property tax formula to reduce unfair tax burdens and to implement water protections for farmers.

“Anytime you have a major ask of the legislature during a budget session it’s going to be a heavy lift,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “We knew we were really going to have to focus all our efforts on the most important issues for agriculture, and we relied on our grassroots more than ever. We had more than 650 members from almost every county show up at the Statehouse and Third House meetings back in their districts this year to relay those priorities to their legislators.”

The bill that gained the most attention this session was Senate Enrolled Act 1, which ended up as a sweeping realignment of the property tax base. This included a phasing in of a new assessed value deduction for farmland and an increase in the capitalization rate in the farmland formula from 8% to 9%. That change is not permanent however, as it will sunset in 2027.

“While this will provide relief to Hoosier farmers on their real property taxes the next couple of years, taxes on other agricultural infrastructure like farm buildings and permanent structures are expected to increase due to shifts within the tax base,” said Andy Tauer, INFB executive director of public policy. “Our members have seen property tax bills go up 60% over the past three years, while net farm incomes have gone down. So, we need to return to the Statehouse in the coming years to craft a more comprehensive and sustainable solution for farmers.”

Water protections were another major priority this year. Members of the INFB water task force in 2024 identified a gap in protections for agriculture and significant groundwater well users who utilize irrigation or need water for livestock. Under current law, those users bear the burden of proving any loss of water and are liable in court.

INFB worked with Sen. Sue Glick to create Senate Enrolled Act 28, which establishes a reporting and investigation process managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to fix those issues to ensure agriculture is protected for any potential loss of usable water. That legislation has been signed by the governor.

Another positive piece of legislation crossed the finish line in Senate Enrolled Act 461. The bill more clearly defines the responsibilities of the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency in ensuring a grain buyer is in compliance with the law. It will help struggling licensees and gives the agency more autonomy.

Other bills supported by INFB include:

• House Enrolled Act 1012 - Requires law enforcement to inform a landowner of damage to one’s property in the event of a motor vehicle accident.
• House Enrolled Act 1149 - Provides agriculture producers a singular online resource for information on changes to state and federal law, funding opportunities, permitting requirements, lost farmland data and more.  
• House Enrolled Act 1461 - Provides additional and alternative funding and tax options for local government infrastructure projects. This was a big win for rural communities and the state as a whole for road funding.

In mid-March, INFB also hosted the third annual Statehouse Breakfast where members and leaders from the state’s other major ag organizations gathered with lawmakers of both chambers to reiterate priorities for the second half of the legislative session.

“Although we were successful in getting our water policy signed, we did not get the property tax relief that Hoosier farmers really need,” said Kron. “While we are appreciative of the change in the farmland formula, it’s incredibly important that we advocate for more tax relief for our members in the future and we vow to do just that. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes to create long-lasting policy that really makes a difference, so our members can be sure we’ll be working hard on laying that groundwork for future legislation.”

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About Indiana Farm Bureau: For more than 100 years, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has protected and enhanced the future of agriculture and our communities. As the state’s largest general farm organization, INFB works diligently to cultivate a thriving agricultural ecosystem to strengthen the viability of Indiana agriculture. Learn more at INFB.org.

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