Environment (Conservation)

Adds a purpose for which money in the clean water Indiana fund may be used. Renames the value added research fund to the agricultural market development fund and makes various changes to the purposes for which money in the agricultural market development fund may be used. Allows the agricultural market development fund to accept grants, donations, and money received from any other source. Requires the division of soil conservation to work in collaboration with state and federal agencies and research institutions in the installation and maintenance of mesonet sites. Allows money in the grain buyers and warehouse licensing agency license fee fund to be used to augment and supplement funding for the implementation of the Indiana grain buyers and warehouse licensing and bonding law subject to approval by the budget agency. Makes conforming changes.

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.

Establishes the ground water and aquifer preservation task force to recommend water regulations to the legislative council. Creates a two year moratorium on the establishment of certain major ground water withdrawal facilities during the period beginning May 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2028. Provides an exception to the moratorium.

Requires the department of natural resources to study and issue a report on the following topics: (1) opportunities to leverage public land to improve public health outcomes; (2) options for a consistent visitor fee collection system at state fish and wildlife areas; and (3) a plan to mitigate and recover from natural disasters affecting public land.