# Indiana HB 1161: Local government matters. Indiana HB 1161, Local government matters., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) House bill sponsored by Ethan Lawson (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-02-26 (Public Law 40) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1161-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Indiana HB 1161 - State: Indiana - Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) - Title: Local government matters. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-05 - Last action: 2026-02-26, Public Law 40 - Sponsor: Ethan Lawson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 5 - Subjects: local government, the senate - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (228 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 15 ## Summary 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. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Corrections board appointees face removal discretion: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, county executive appointees to community corrections advisory boards face at-pleasure service in counties without a consolidated city. This authority lasts while the executive body keeps every member who served when the appointment was made. - Drainage board appointees face removal discretion: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, drainage board members appointed under IC 36-9-27-5(a)(2) face at-pleasure service in counties without a consolidated city. The county executive holds this removal authority while its membership remains unchanged from the appointment date. - Municipal recreation appointees face removal discretion: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, recreation board appointees in third-class cities and towns serve at the appointing authority's pleasure, unless law provides otherwise. This lasts while the appointing city executive stays in office or the appointing town legislative body keeps all members. Qualifying secon… - Park boards need major spending approval: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, park and recreation boards need each applicable local executive's approval before using eminent domain. Covered contracts, property purchases, and capital improvements also need approval when costs exceed the lesser of $500,000 or 10% of the department's annual budget. Befor… - Written workplace rules for county employees: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered counties must maintain written employee conduct policies, coordinating with the county fiscal body when applicable. Current and new covered employees must acknowledge receipt as a condition of employment. The policy requirement excludes counties with a consolidated c… - Alcohol board removal rules vary locally: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, appointed local alcohol board members in counties with a consolidated city can be removed only for good cause. Elsewhere, they serve at the appointing authority's pleasure while the appointing official remains or the appointing body keeps its members. When neither continuity… - Building trustees gain safeguards after turnover: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered county building authority trustees serve at the county executive's pleasure while its membership remains unchanged. This applies to executive-appointed trustees in counties without a consolidated city. After membership changes, removal requires the specified court pr… - Counties can share parks and taxes: mixed, low. Two or more counties can create an area park district through substantially identical ordinances, required publication, and filing. During the petition periods, registered voters can petition for or against joining; the petition with more signatures wins. Counties appoint board members by populatio… - Development boards get new removal rules: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, most economic development commission appointees serve at the appointing authority's pleasure while its leadership remains unchanged. This means the appointing city or town executive stays in office, or the appointing county executive body keeps all members. After that, remov… - Health board terms reset and stagger: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, seven-member local health boards use four-year terms and staggered appointments. On nine-member boards, terms of members appointed before January 1, 2027, end December 31, 2026. Replacement terms initially last one to four years by member category; later terms last four year… - New service rules for police boards: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, appointed public works and safety board members in second- and third-class cities serve at their appointing executive's pleasure while that executive holds office. This also covers separate public works or public safety boards in second-class cities. Town police boards must… - Park board protections follow leadership changes: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, park and recreation board members serve at the appointing authority's pleasure while the appointing official remains or the appointing body's membership stays unchanged. After neither condition holds, removal requires cause, written charges, and a public hearing with at leas… - Planning board removals gain court appeals: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, advisory and area planning and zoning appeals board appointees serve at the appointing authority's pleasure. This lasts while the appointing officeholder remains in office or the appointing body keeps every original member. Once neither condition holds, removal requires caus… - Public defenders gain coverage, boards face limits: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, public defenders join the 'covered person' category under IC 36-1-8.5. That chapter's definition includes full-time county defenders, the state public defender and deputies, and chief public defenders. Contract and hourly defenders qualify with a full-time-equivalent caseloa… - Tourism board removal protections follow turnover: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered county convention, visitor, or tourism commission members serve at their appointing authority's pleasure. This lasts while the appointing official stays in office or the appointing body keeps the same members. Once neither condition holds, removal requires cause. The… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Ethan Lawson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Alex Zimmerman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brett Clark (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Jennifer Meltzer (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Justin Moed (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mike Bohacek (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-19 | House | House concurred with Senate amendments | pass | 93 | 1 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Third reading: passed | pass | 45 | 0 | | | 2026-01-20 | House | Third reading: passed | pass | 90 | 0 | | ## Actions (23) - 2026-02-26: Public Law 40 (House) - 2026-02-26: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2026-02-25: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Signed by the President Pro Tempore (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Signed by the Speaker (House) - 2026-02-19: House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 297: yeas 93, nays 1 (House) - 2026-02-18: Returned to the House with amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Motion to concur filed (House) - 2026-02-17: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 180: yeas 45, nays 0 (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Second reading: ordered engrossed (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Senator Bohacek added as second sponsor (Senate) - 2026-01-26: First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Referred to the Senate (House) - 2026-01-20: Senate sponsor: Senator Clark (House) - 2026-01-20: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 58: yeas 90, nays 0 (House) - 2026-01-15: Second reading: ordered engrossed (House) - 2026-01-13: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (House) - 2026-01-13: Representative Moed added as coauthor (House) - 2026-01-05: Authored by Representative Lawson (House) - 2026-01-05: Representative Meltzer added as coauthor (House) - 2026-01-05: Coauthored by Representative Zimmerman (House) - 2026-01-05: First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government (House) ## Bill text - Enrolled House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1161/versions/HB1161.04.ENRS?format=pdf) - House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1161/versions/HB1161.03.COMS?format=pdf) - House Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1161/versions/HB1161.02.COMH?format=pdf) - Introduced House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1161/versions/HB1161.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related bills - HB 1266: Department of education and education matters. (signed) - HB 1277: Health and human services matters. (signed) - HB 1210: Department of local government finance. (signed) - HB 1249: Various criminal law matters. (signed) - HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles. (signed) - HB 1115: Homeowners association governance. (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1161/versions/HB1161.04.ENRS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1161/versions/HB1161.03.COMS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1161/versions/HB1161.02.COMH?format=pdf) - [Introduced House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1161/versions/HB1161.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related - [HB 1266: Department of education and education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1266-2026) - [HB 1277: Health and human services matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1277-2026) - [HB 1210: Department of local government finance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1210-2026) - [HB 1249: Various criminal law matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1249-2026) - [HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1200-2026) - [HB 1115: Homeowners association governance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1115-2026) - [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills) - [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1161-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).