A bill that aims to better cover replacement costs for damaged state highway property has unanimously passed the Indiana House of Representatives. The measure was authored by Rolling Prairie Republican Jim Pressel.
He says it would save Hoosiers money. “House Bill 1422 takes away a depreciation factor when there’s a damage to real property or roadside property that belongs to INDOT and belongs to all the taxpayers of Indiana,” he explains. “This would kind of factor in replacement cost for those damaged or destroyed properties.” For example, he says that if an old roadside guardrail is damaged, the legislation would replace it for the current dollar value, unlike now, when insurance companies account for the age of the guardrail sign.
Pressel adds the bill would also change how INDOT is able to handle wetland sites. “It also allows the Department of Transportation to kind of fast-track land that has been mitigated, like wetlands, to a a not-for-profit organization that really focuses on wetlands and take it out of INDOT’s hands,” he says. “And they’ll be able to take care of it and pay for the upkeep, and the Hoosiers will be able to enjoy it.”
Pressel’s bill now goes to the Indiana Senate for further consideration.
