The 2025 legislative session has begun, and I look forward to the next few months working at the Statehouse to represent you and to advance efforts important to our community. During session, I will author, testify and vote on bills related to the needs and concerns I have been hearing from constituents. For most of my legislation this year, I'm focused on keeping Indiana competitive in agriculture by supporting Hoosier farmers and rural communities.
Over two-thirds of the state of Indiana is farmland, totaling nearly 15 million acres. Agriculture contributes an estimated $35 billion to Indiana’s economy. While there are still more than 53,000 farms in operation today, the number is down from the nearly 57,000 farms in 2017. Knowling this, I am working to support farmers across the state through tax incentives and protecting prime farmland.
Not everyone can pass their farm down to the next generation, often leading to the land being sold for development or non-agricultural use. While these are not bad outcomes, it is always difficult to see multi-generational farming operations end. This is why I am proposing House Bill 1191 to incentivize young or beginning farmers just starting out to step up and take over agricultural operations from retiring farmers.
To further safeguard prime farmland, I authored House Bill 1234 in which the state, in coordination with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, would establish an agricultural conservation easement fund and agricultural land protection program. Instead of selling their land to developments, families can protect their agricultural land by placing the land in an easement and gifting the easement to a trusted entity. Easements would not prevent family farms from maintaining, residing on and improving their land while under the protection program.
With more legislation still in the works, I am excited to dive into session and represent the voices of House District 16. Please reach out to my office with any questions at in.gov/h16 or by calling 317-232-9819. To follow my legislation and stay up to date on session, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) represents House District 16,
which includes portions of Jasper, Pulaski, Starke and White counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
