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Leising: Bill to expand property owners' rights moves to governor's desk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kellyn Harrison, Press Secretary
Kellyn.Harrison@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498

Leising: Bill to expand property owners' rights moves to governor's desk

STATEHOUSE (March 8, 2024) — A bill authored by State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) that would make it easier for property owners to clean their land will now move to the governor's desk for final approval.

Senate Enrolled Act 140 would allow property owners to remove logs that are crossways in a stream or river without a permit from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources under certain conditions.

One condition would allow property owners to burn the logs unless a local ordinance directs otherwise.

"Indiana residents continue to struggle unnecessarily to build or sell their own land because restrictive state drainage laws have eroded these rights," Leising said. "Senate Enrolled Act 140 would take a step in expanding property owners' rights and helping them maintain their land without having to worry if they are following strict drainage regulations."

SEA 140 is a result of the Drainage Task Force's studies. The task force, which Leising co-chaired during the 2022 and 2023 interim, met to:

  • Review the responsibilities of landowners and state and local authorities under current land drainage laws;
  • Consider recommendations concerning drainage and regulatory matters; and
  • Consider whether the balance between state and local authority over agricultural land drainage favors state authority more in Indiana than in neighboring states.

The bill would also require the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to oversee and take actions necessary to prepare and publish an updated version of the Indiana Drainage Handbook.

To track bills on the governor's desk, click here.

To learn more about SEA 140 and other bills Leising is working on this session, click here.

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State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) represents Senate District 42, which includes Decatur, Fayette, Ripley and Rush counties, and portions of Franklin, Jennings and Shelby counties.

Click here to download a high-resolution photo.