Indiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Indiana HB1356: Conservation of agricultural land.
Status: In committee, January 13, 2026
Requires each board of county commissioners to adopt an ordinance to allow landowners to apply to have land included in an agricultural resource area within the county. Specifies certain procedures and requirements for the agricultural resource area programs. Provides provisions that apply to land within a program, including eminent domain provisions, a prohibition against annexation for nonagricultural purposes, certain priority provisions for specified funding, and authorization for a county option property tax deduction for land located within agricultural resource areas in the county. Authorizes the Indiana state department of agriculture (department) to receive and hold agricultural conservation easements acquired by gift, bequest, or devise and to enter into agreements with nongovernment entities to monitor those easements. Establishes the farmland advisory board for the purpose of advising the department on developing standards for accepting, monitoring, and enforcing agricultural conservation easements it may hold, creating a model agricultural resource area ordinance, collecting feedback on agricultural resource areas, and supporting education and outreach about agricultural resource areas.
What the bill says
A bill FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning agriculture and animals.
From the introduced text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning agriculture and animals. SECTION 1. IC 6-1.1-46.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Chapter 46.5. County Option Deduction for Agricultural Resource Areas Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "agricultural resource area" means an agricultural resource area established under IC 14-40-2. Sec. 2. (a) A county fiscal body of a county in which one (1) or more agricultural resource areas are established may adopt an ordinance to apply a property tax deduction in determining the assessed value of all land within agricultural resource areas that are located in the county. (b) An ordinance adopted under this section must specify the percentage of the deduction from assessed value to apply under this chapter. The deduction percentage may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the assessed value of the land within an agricultural resource area. The same deduction percentage must 2026 IN 1356--LS 7093/DI apply to all agricultural resource areas within the county. Sec. 3. (a) If a county fiscal body wishes to adopt an ordinance under section 2 of this chapter, the fiscal officer of the county shall, in addition to any other notices required for the adoption of an ordinance, issue a notice to the fiscal officer …
Sponsors
- Kendell Culp (R, HD-016) · primary sponsor
- Robb Greene (R, HD-047)
- Aylesworth, Mike (R)
- Tonya Pfaff (D, HD-043)
Latest actions
- : Representative Pfaff added as coauthor
- : Representatives Greene, Aylesworth added as coauthors
- : Authored by Representative Culp
- : First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government
Subjects: BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COUNCILS; Newly Created, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, TAXES; Property Taxes, AGENCIES; Department of Agriculture (ISDA), LOCAL GOVERNMENT; Generally, NATURAL RESOURCES; Conservancy Districts
Common questions
- What is HB1356?
- HB1356 is a bill in the Indiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Conservation of agricultural land.
- What does HB1356 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning agriculture and animals.
- What is the status of HB1356?
- In committee as of January 13, 2026. Latest action: Representative Pfaff added as coauthor (January 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1356?
- Kendell Culp (R, HD-016), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1356?
- On the Indiana Legislature website: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1356
Source: official Indiana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.