STATE BILLIN HB 1161PASSED

Local government matters.

State of Indiana

Local government matters. Provides that individuals who are appointed to certain boards, committees, or other bodies in a county that does not have a consolidated city, serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority as long as: (1) the officeholder who appointed the individual continues to hold the office; or (2) the board, committee, or body that appointed the individual retains all of the same members who served when the individual was appointed. Provides that, in the case of a reorganized political subdivision, the oath of office of the town board of police commissioners is administered by any of the individuals granted notary powers. Staggers the terms of a nine member local board of health. Provides that the county executive, excluding a county containing a consolidated city, may set the salary of a county administrator subject to: (1) salary parameters established; or (2) approval; by the county fiscal body. Provides that each county executive, excluding a county containing a consolidated city and certain employees, shall adopt and maintain a written personnel policy, employee handbook, or equivalent document establishing minimum standards for county employee conduct, performance, and workplace expectations. Requires the executive of a county or municipality (unit) to preapprove any of the following actions of the unit's park and recreation board, if the cost exceeds the lesser of $500,000 or 10% of the park district's annual budget: (1) Exercising eminent domain powers. (2) Entering into a contract. (3) Acquiring real or personal property. (4) Making capital improvements. Adds public defenders to those officials whose home addresses may be restricted from public property data base websites.

Status
Passed
Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date
Feb 26, 2026
259 days ago
Current chamber
House of Representatives
Session
2026 Regular Session
IN HB 1161 · PassedFeb 26

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Bill details

Last action
Public Law 40 · Feb 26, 2026

Sponsors

ELEthan LawsonRepresentative · Republican · HD-053Primary sponsor
AZAlex ZimmermanRepresentative · Republican · HD-067
JMJennifer MeltzerRepresentative · Republican · HD-073
JMJustin MoedRepresentative · Democrat · HD-097
BCBrett ClarkSenator · Republican · SD-024
MBMike BohacekSenator · Republican · SD-008

Bill history

Newest first.

Feb 26, 2026Public Law 40House
Feb 26, 2026Signed by the GovernorHouse
Feb 25, 2026Signed by the President of the SenateSenate
Feb 24, 2026Signed by the President Pro TemporeSenate
Feb 23, 2026Signed by the SpeakerHouse
Feb 19, 2026House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 297: yeas 93, nays 1House
Feb 18, 2026Returned to the House with amendmentsSenate
Feb 18, 2026Motion to concur filedHouse
Show 15 earlier actions
Feb 17, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 180: yeas 45, nays 0Senate
Feb 16, 2026Second reading: ordered engrossedSenate
Feb 12, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedSenate
Feb 5, 2026Senator Bohacek added as second sponsorSenate
Jan 26, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Local GovernmentSenate
Jan 21, 2026Referred to the SenateHouse
Jan 20, 2026Senate sponsor: Senator ClarkHouse
Jan 20, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 58: yeas 90, nays 0House
Jan 15, 2026Second reading: ordered engrossedHouse
Jan 13, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedHouse
Jan 13, 2026Representative Moed added as coauthorHouse
Jan 5, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Local GovernmentHouse
Jan 5, 2026Authored by Representative LawsonHouse
Jan 5, 2026Coauthored by Representative ZimmermanHouse
Jan 5, 2026Representative Meltzer added as coauthorHouse

Recorded votes

House - Third readingJan 20, 2026 · House · 90 yea · 0 nayPassed
Senate - Third readingFeb 17, 2026 · Senate · 45 yea · 0 nayPassed
House - House concurred with Senate amendmentsFeb 19, 2026 · House · 93 yea · 1 nayPassed

Read the bill at the source

This page follows the bill as the legislature records it. For the bill's full text and the official record, use the legislature's own site.

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