Legislators heard several hours of testimony Tuesday on a bill that would limit the control cities and towns have on areas surrounding their jurisdiction.
Currently cities and towns have the ability to regulate up to four miles outside their official territory to protect infrastructure and homeowners.
In the past, projects such as wind farms and coal mines have been subject to multiple layers of regulation—this bill would seek to simplify the law, but would make current regulations using the statute null and void.
Bill supporters say Hoosiers should not be subject to regulation from a governmental body they did not vote for, but those against it say cities and towns should be able to protect their infrastructure and homeowners.
Phil Gibson is a Henry County homeowner who says he’s opposed to the bill in it’s current form.
“It all boils down to money and it’s a greed issue. And if people could just be good neighbors and use common sense.”
The committee plans to hold a vote on the bill next week.
