Indiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

HB 1161 — Local government matters.

Last action — Public Law 40

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 05, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Mike Braun (Republican) on February 26, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

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 Text

Action History

  1. Public Law 40

  2. Signed by the Governor

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  5. Signed by the Speaker

  6. Returned to the House with amendments

  7. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 297: yeas 93, nays 1

  8. Motion to concur filed

  9. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 180: yeas 45, nays 0

  10. Second reading: ordered engrossed

  11. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  12. Senator Bohacek added as second sponsor

  13. First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

  14. Referred to the Senate

  15. Senate sponsor: Senator Clark

  16. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 58: yeas 90, nays 0

  17. Second reading: ordered engrossed

  18. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  19. Representative Moed added as coauthor

  20. Authored by Representative Lawson

  21. Representative Meltzer added as coauthor

  22. Coauthored by Representative Zimmerman

  23. First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

HB 1161 - Lawson

Passed 93 Yea · 1 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 65104
Democrat 26002
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 93106
% of votes cast 93%1%0%6%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Dant Chesser — Yea
Garcia Wilburn — Yea
Alex Burton Democrat Yea
Blake Johnson Democrat Yea
Carey Hamilton Democrat Not Voting
Carolyn Jackson Democrat Yea
Cherrish Pryor Democrat Yea
Chris Campbell Democrat Yea
Chuck Moseley Democrat Yea
Earl Harris Democrat Yea
Edward DeLaney Democrat Yea
Gregory Porter Democrat Yea
John Bartlett Democrat Yea
Justin Moed Democrat Not Voting
Kyle Miller Democrat Yea
Matt Pierce Democrat Yea
Maureen Bauer Democrat Yea
Mike Andrade Democrat Yea
Mitch Gore Democrat Yea
Philip GiaQuinta Democrat Yea
Ragen Hatcher Democrat Yea
Randy Novak Democrat Yea
Renee Pack Democrat Yea
Robin Shackleford Democrat Yea
Ryan Dvorak Democrat Yea
Sheila Klinker Democrat Yea
Sue Errington Democrat Yea
Tonya Pfaff Democrat Yea
Vanessa Summers Democrat Yea
Vernon Smith Democrat Yea
Alaina Shonkwiler Republican Yea
Alex Zimmerman Republican Yea
Andrew Ireland Republican Yea
Beau Baird Republican Yea
Becky Cash Republican Yea
Ben Smaltz Republican Yea
Brad Barrett Republican Yea
Bruce Borders Republican Yea
Chris Jeter Republican Not Voting
Chris Judy Republican Yea
Chris May Republican Yea
Cindy Ledbetter Republican Yea
Cory Criswell Republican Yea
Craig Haggard Republican Yea
Craig Snow Republican Yea
Dale DeVon Republican Yea
Danny Lopez Republican Yea
Dave Hall Republican Yea
Dave Heine Republican Yea
David Abbott Republican Yea
Doug Miller Republican Not Voting
Edmond Soliday Republican Not Voting
Edward Clere Republican Yea
Elizabeth Rowray Republican Yea
Ethan Lawson Republican Yea
Ethan Manning Republican Yea
Garrett Bascom Republican Yea
Gregory Steuerwald Republican Nay
Harold Slager Republican Yea
Heath VanNatter Republican Yea
Hunter Smith Republican Yea
J.D. Prescott Republican Yea
Jack Jordan Republican Yea
Jake Teshka Republican Yea
Jeffrey Thompson Republican Yea
Jennifer Meltzer Republican Yea
Jim Lucas Republican Yea
Jim Pressel Republican Yea
Joanna King Republican Yea
Julie McGuire Republican Yea
Julie Olthoff Republican Yea
Karen Engleman Republican Yea
Kendell Culp Republican Yea
Kyle Pierce Republican Yea
Lindsay Patterson Republican Yea
Lori Goss-Reaves Republican Yea
Lorissa Sweet Republican Yea
Mark Genda Republican Yea
Martin Carbaugh Republican Yea
Matt Commons Republican Yea
Matt Hostettler Republican Yea
Matt Lehman Republican Yea
Michael Karickhoff Republican Yea
Michelle Davis Republican Yea
Mike Aylesworth Republican Yea
Peggy Mayfield Republican Yea
Robb Greene Republican Yea
Robert Behning Republican Yea
Robert Heaton Republican Yea
Robert Morris Republican Yea
Ryan Lauer Republican Yea
Shane Lindauer Republican Yea
Steve Bartels Republican Yea
Tim Yocum Republican Yea
Timothy O'Brien Republican Yea
Timothy Wesco Republican Yea
Todd Huston Republican Not Voting
Tony Isa Republican Yea
Wendy McNamara Republican Yea
Zach Payne Republican Yea

Official roll call →

HB 1161 - Clark - 3rd Reading

Passed 45 Yea · 0 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 37003
Democrat 8002
Total 45005
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (50)
Member Party Vote
Andrea Hunley Democrat Not Voting
David Niezgodski Democrat Yea
Fady Qaddoura Democrat Yea
Greg Taylor Democrat Yea
J.D. Ford Democrat Yea
La Keisha Jackson Democrat Yea
Lonnie Randolph Democrat Yea
Mark Spencer Democrat Yea
Rodney Pol Democrat Not Voting
Shelli Yoder Democrat Yea
Aaron Freeman Republican Yea
Blake Doriot Republican Not Voting
Brett Clark Republican Yea
Brian Buchanan Republican Yea
Chris Garten Republican Not Voting
Cyndi Carrasco Republican Yea
Dan Dernulc Republican Yea
Daryl Schmitt Republican Yea
Ed Charbonneau Republican Yea
Eric Bassler Republican Not Voting
Eric Koch Republican Yea
Gary Byrne Republican Yea
Greg Goode Republican Yea
Greg Walker Republican Yea
James Buck Republican Yea
James Tomes Republican Yea
Jean Leising Republican Yea
Jeff Raatz Republican Yea
Justin Busch Republican Yea
Kyle Walker Republican Yea
Linda Rogers Republican Yea
Liz Brown Republican Yea
Michael Crider Republican Yea
Michael Young Republican Yea
Mike Bohacek Republican Yea
Mike Gaskill Republican Yea
Nick McKinley Republican Yea
Randy Maxwell Republican Yea
Rick Niemeyer Republican Yea
Rodric Bray Republican Yea
Ron Alting Republican Yea
Ryan Mishler Republican Yea
Scott Alexander Republican Yea
Scott Baldwin Republican Yea
Spencer Deery Republican Yea
Stacey Donato Republican Yea
Susan Glick Republican Yea
Travis Holdman Republican Yea
Tyler Johnson Republican Yea
Vaneta Becker Republican Yea

Official roll call →

HB 1161 - Lawson - 3rd Reading

Passed 90 Yea · 0 Nay · 10 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 63007
Democrat 27003
Total 900010
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Alex Burton Democrat Yea
Blake Johnson Democrat Yea
Carey Hamilton Democrat Yea
Carolyn Jackson Democrat Yea
Cherrish Pryor Democrat Yea
Chris Campbell Democrat Not Voting
Chuck Moseley Democrat Yea
Earl Harris Democrat Yea
Edward DeLaney Democrat Yea
Gregory Porter Democrat Yea
John Bartlett Democrat Yea
Justin Moed Democrat Yea
Kyle Miller Democrat Yea
Matt Pierce Democrat Yea
Maureen Bauer Democrat Yea
Mike Andrade Democrat Yea
Mitch Gore Democrat Yea
Philip GiaQuinta Democrat Yea
Ragen Hatcher Democrat Yea
Randy Novak Democrat Yea
Renee Pack Democrat Not Voting
Robin Shackleford Democrat Yea
Ryan Dvorak Democrat Not Voting
Sheila Klinker Democrat Yea
Sue Errington Democrat Yea
Tonya Pfaff Democrat Yea
Vanessa Summers Democrat Yea
Vernon Smith Democrat Yea
Victoria Garcia Wilburn Democrat Yea
Wendy Dant Chesser Democrat Yea
Alaina Shonkwiler Republican Yea
Alex Zimmerman Republican Yea
Andrew Ireland Republican Yea
Beau Baird Republican Yea
Becky Cash Republican Yea
Ben Smaltz Republican Yea
Brad Barrett Republican Not Voting
Bruce Borders Republican Yea
Chris Jeter Republican Yea
Chris Judy Republican Yea
Chris May Republican Yea
Cindy Ledbetter Republican Yea
Cory Criswell Republican Yea
Craig Haggard Republican Yea
Craig Snow Republican Yea
Dale DeVon Republican Yea
Danny Lopez Republican Yea
Dave Hall Republican Yea
Dave Heine Republican Not Voting
David Abbott Republican Yea
Doug Miller Republican Yea
Edmond Soliday Republican Yea
Edward Clere Republican Yea
Elizabeth Rowray Republican Not Voting
Ethan Lawson Republican Yea
Ethan Manning Republican Not Voting
Garrett Bascom Republican Yea
Gregory Steuerwald Republican Yea
Harold Slager Republican Yea
Heath VanNatter Republican Yea
Hunter Smith Republican Yea
J.D. Prescott Republican Yea
Jack Jordan Republican Yea
Jake Teshka Republican Yea
Jeffrey Thompson Republican Yea
Jennifer Meltzer Republican Not Voting
Jim Lucas Republican Yea
Jim Pressel Republican Yea
Joanna King Republican Not Voting
Julie McGuire Republican Yea
Julie Olthoff Republican Yea
Karen Engleman Republican Yea
Kendell Culp Republican Yea
Kyle Pierce Republican Yea
Lindsay Patterson Republican Yea
Lori Goss-Reaves Republican Yea
Lorissa Sweet Republican Yea
Mark Genda Republican Yea
Martin Carbaugh Republican Yea
Matt Commons Republican Yea
Matt Hostettler Republican Yea
Matt Lehman Republican Yea
Michael Karickhoff Republican Yea
Michelle Davis Republican Yea
Mike Aylesworth Republican Yea
Peggy Mayfield Republican Yea
Robb Greene Republican Yea
Robert Behning Republican Yea
Robert Heaton Republican Yea
Robert Morris Republican Yea
Ryan Lauer Republican Yea
Shane Lindauer Republican Yea
Steve Bartels Republican Yea
Tim Yocum Republican Yea
Timothy O'Brien Republican Yea
Timothy Wesco Republican Yea
Todd Huston Republican Not Voting
Tony Isa Republican Yea
Wendy McNamara Republican Yea
Zach Payne Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety housing labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1161 do?
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.
Who sponsors HB 1161?
HB 1161 is sponsored by Ethan Lawson (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 1161?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 05, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1161?
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