After two of his authored bills received unanimous support, state Sen. Mark Spencer is feeling hopeful about the second half of Indiana’s legislative session.
“The bills in general are important because they reflect the desire of leadership and constituents in District 3,” Spencer, D-Gary, said. “I’m grateful for the bipartisan support and their patience with me as I’m trying to find my way and figure out how I can make a small contribution for Northwest Indiana.”
In his second legislative session as a state senator, two bills Spencer has authored passed the Indiana Senate and have moved to the House. Spencer authored Senate Bill 164 and Senate Bill 232, both of which have received unanimous support.
Senate Bill 164 would require the Indiana Department of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study to establish urban microfarm zones statewide, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. The department must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the general assembly by Dec. 1, 2027.
Spencer got the inspiration for Senate Bill 164 after his work creating a documentary with Faith CDC, “Nourishing Lives: The Power of Food is Medicine.”
“My eyes were opened, and I was absolutely inspired,” Spencer said. “The idea of taking seed to soil and soul to product, and also dealing with issues of food disparities and food deserts, was very intriguing to me.”
Spencer was the film’s director, and the documentary shows a deeper look into programs offered by Faith CDC and how providing access to medically tailored meals can help transform lives.
Spencer was “pleasantly surprised” that the Senate Agriculture Committee gave the bill a hearing, he said, and he believes it will teach many of his fellow legislators about the benefits of urban agriculture.
“I’m hoping to see a statewide efficient plan for partnership with the likes of Purdue University and other groups like Faith CDC that are leading the way with these practices,” Spencer said. “I also want it to help teach our young people because I truly fear that they don’t conceptualize where our food comes from and how it makes it to our table.”
The state senator also hopes that if passed, the bill will also start more conversations about the importance of nourishment and balanced meals, Spencer said.
This session, Spencer also authored Senate Bill 232, which has moved to the House. The bill would allow the city of Gary to hire a professional to appraise residential and commercial properties, and it prohibits employees or elected officials of the city from buying the appraised properties.
City officials can’t buy the property to ensure it’s given to the community, Spencer said, with the hope that neighborhoods will grow in the future.
“(The city of Gary) has 7,000 properties that are stuck in red tape, impossible to move, not on tax rolls and not generating revenue for the city,” Spencer said. “They’re just in a position where they’re bottlenecked with the red tape language.”
With the 7,000 properties, it would cost about $1,000 each to appraise the properties, which Spencer said “was cost-prohibitive.” If the bill passes, an appraiser could look at 10 residential and 10 commercial properties throughout the city, according to the bill.
“The city would then be able to use the average values from those appraisals as a minimum offering price for sale for those residential and commercial properties,” Spencer said. “I thought it would be a very productive and very resourceful tool for the city and its endeavors to continue to grow.”
Spencer said he worked with Mayor Eddie Melton’s administration to create Senate Bill 232. In a statement, Melton said the legislation is “a bold step” toward the city’s future, streamlining the path to growth and unlocking the potential of thousands of properties.
“We are entering a new era of revitalization for Gary, where every vacant lot represents a fresh opportunity for growth,” Melton said. “By updating the appraisal process through SB 232, we are removing financial barriers and unlocking the true value of our land. This legislation provides the modern tools we need to transform thousands of properties into vibrant community assets.”
As the bills move to the House, Spencer is hopeful they will receive the same unanimous support they had in the Senate.
“I’m very hopeful and focused on educating and making sure the members of the House are aware of the importance and value of these bills, and how they can affect various regions of our state,” Spencer said. “But I also understand that it is a measured process that takes time, and I appreciate that as well.”
On Monday, Senate Bill 164 was sent to the House Agriculture and Rural Development committee, and Senate Bill 232 was sent to the Local Government Committee on Jan. 28. Both bills will be heard at a later date.
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
