IndianaHB 1197First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)House

Election matters.

Sponsored By: Ethan Lawson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Requires particular candidates for selection for an appointment pro tempore to an office to: (1) comply with qualification requirements imposed on candidates for election to the office; and (2) if the individual is a candidate for selection by a caucus, be affiliated with the political party holding the caucus. Allows an individual or entity with authority to select a candidate for an appointment pro tempore to remove a candidate from consideration if the candidate does not meet these requirements. Specifies additional grounds on which certain county officers or a township executive may be charged and deprived of office following a hearing. Provides that if an accused party does not appear before the court, the court may proceed to hear and determine the accusation in the accused party's absence. Includes a member of the county executive, if the county does not contain a consolidated city, in a provision concerning the initiation of an action for removal of a county officer. Exempts a member of the county executive from a requirement concerning physical presence in the county officer's office. Provides that a city-county legislative body may declare the seat of a member vacant by a two-thirds vote if the member fails to perform the duties of the member's office.

elections and apportionmentthe senateelections

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Stricter eligibility for temporary public appointments

Beginning July 1, 2025, candidates for covered temporary public appointments must meet the requirements for election to that office. Candidates seeking selection by a party caucus must also be affiliated with that party. The selecting authority can remove candidates who do not qualify. Qualifications measured before an election use the caucus date or county party chair's appointment date, whichever applies.

County executives face new attendance rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, these rules apply to county executive members in counties without a consolidated city. Members can face removal for failing, refusing, or being unable to participate in four consecutive regular county executive meetings. The court removal process for county officers applies to them. But they are exempt from the requirement to spend a reasonable amount of time each month in their county office.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ethan Lawson

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Carolyn Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Pierce

    Republican • House

  • Michael Crider

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Gaskill

    Republican • Senate

  • Timothy Wesco

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 250 • No: 25

House vote • 4/17/2025

House concurred with Senate amendments

Yes: 88 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Amendment #1 (Walker K) prevailed

Yes: 28 • No: 17

House vote • 1/28/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 85 • No: 8

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    5/1/2025House
  2. Public Law 159

    5/1/2025House
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/23/2025Senate
  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    4/22/2025Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    4/21/2025House
  6. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 482: yeas 88, nays 0

    4/17/2025House
  7. Returned to the House with amendments

    4/16/2025Senate
  8. Motion to concur filed

    4/16/2025House
  9. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 433: yeas 49, nays 0

    4/15/2025Senate
  10. Amendment #1 (Walker K) prevailed; Roll Call 374: yeas 28, nays 17

    4/10/2025Senate
  11. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    4/10/2025Senate
  12. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    3/31/2025Senate
  13. First reading: referred to Committee on Elections

    2/18/2025Senate
  14. Referred to the Senate

    1/29/2025House
  15. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 31: yeas 85, nays 8

    1/28/2025House
  16. Cosponsor: Senator Crider

    1/28/2025House
  17. Senate sponsor: Senator Gaskill

    1/28/2025House
  18. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    1/27/2025House
  19. Representative Jackson C added as coauthor

    1/27/2025House
  20. Amendment #2 (Lawson) prevailed; voice vote

    1/27/2025House
  21. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    1/21/2025House
  22. Authored by Representative Lawson

    1/8/2025House
  23. First reading: referred to Committee on Elections and Apportionment

    1/8/2025House
  24. Coauthored by Representatives Wesco and Pierce K

    1/8/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed House Bill (H)

  • Engrossed House Bill (S)

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

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