STATEHOUSE (April 11, 2023) – State Rep. Kendell Culp's (R-Rensselaer) legislation launching a comprehensive study into growth trends in Hoosier communities is now headed to the governor's desk where it could soon be law.
Culp said House Enrolled Act 1132 would create the Land Use Task Force, which would take a deep dive into growth trends in rural, urban and suburban communities, as well as how they can better position themselves to attract economic development and protect prime farm land. The task force would also look at barriers to community growth and areas where food insecurity exists.
"We all know the importance agriculture plays in this state," Culp said. "It's an economic driver in many of our local communities with great financial impact on our state and nation. Now is the time for us to better understand and balance these trends for future use in our rural, urban and suburban communities."
The 13-member task force would include three members from the Indiana Senate, three members from the Indiana House of Representatives and seven lay members from key industries, including agriculture, business, development, economic, food and beverage, local government, planning, real estate and zoning. Their findings and any policy recommendations would be reported to the Indiana General Assembly, which could take further action.
Last year, the American Farmland Trust ranked Indiana 44th among all states in efficient land use planning and farmland protection.
Culp, vice chair of the House Environmental Affairs Committee, also authored House Enrolled Act 1557 to task the Indiana State Department of Agriculture with conducting a statewide inventory of agricultural land lost from 2010 to 2022, and reporting on the causes for the losses. Culp said if both bills are signed into law, he expects that his proposed Land Use Task Force would use the data collected from this inventory report to help make recommendations for more efficient land use, which considers the loss of prime farmland.
To follow legislation considered for new laws by the governor, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/2023-bill-watch/.
-30-
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.
