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Indiana Farm Bureau members meet with state lawmakers over breakfast

A lobbyist for Indiana Farm Bureau says a shortened session in the State General Assembly has brought a sense of urgency to passing bills impactful for farmers.

Senior Director of Policy Strategy and Advocacy Katrina Hall tells Brownfield the legislature plans to finish their session by March 8.

“The foreign ownership bill is one that we are watching really closely, and we are really excited about it, a lot of legislators also are behind the measure,” she says.

House Bill 1183 was authored by Representative Kendell Culp, Indiana Farm Bureau Vice President.  Hall says any changes in the state Senate still have the potential to compromise the bill.

Hall says the organization is also continuing conversations on the need for farmland tax reform which is currently driven by a net income calculation.

“From ‘22 to ’23, the values went up 16 percent, she says. “The taxes that people will pay this year will go up almost 27 percent, and next year will be another 20 percent. We are very concerned about that.”

She says HB 1315, which would provide biodiesel tax credits, likely won’t be passed until the next session because it needs to go through the appropriations process.

Farmer members from across the state discussed top legislative priorities with lawmakers during this week’s Indiana Farm Bureau Ag Breakfast.