Indiana lawmakers have passed a bill aimed at tracking changes in land use and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The bill directs the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to inventory farmland that has been lost to new developments over the past 12 years. The report, which will be released by July 1, 2024, will detail what the land is being used for now, giving policymakers and citizens a macro-level picture of how farmland is being utilized in the state.
The legislation is in response to concerns about the loss of productive farmland and its impact on Indiana's agriculture industry and rural communities. As land is switched from farmland to other uses, it changes how the property is taxed and can affect local economies. The bill has received support from a variety of stakeholders, including the Indiana Farm Bureau and rural community advocates.
The bill also includes a companion piece of legislation, House Bill 1132, which would create a land use task force once the report is concluded. This task force would work to identify strategies to support agriculture and rural communities and ensure that the state's farmland is utilized in a way that benefits all Hoosiers.
Indiana's new law is an important step towards understanding and managing the use of the state's farmland. It will help policymakers and citizens make informed decisions about land use and support the long-term vitality of Indiana's agriculture industry and rural communities.
Photo Credit: GettyImages-SkyF
Categories: Indiana, Government & Policy