KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Indiana

HB1161 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

Labor Privacy
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Ethan Lawson
Last action
2026-02-26
Official status
Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how salary rules work, leaving some uncertainty about implementation specifics.

Indiana Local Government Changes

This law changes how some local government boards and committees operate, sets rules for county executives regarding employee salaries and conduct policies, and protects the privacy of public defenders.

What This Bill Does

  • It says that people who are put on certain boards or committees in a county without a consolidated city can be removed by the person who appointed them if that person is still in charge.
  • It allows any notary to give an oath to new members of a police board after a town has been reorganized.
  • It makes sure that each member of a nine-person health board serves for different times, so they don't all leave at once.
  • It lets the county leader set salaries for workers in the county office as long as it follows rules made by other people who manage money.
  • It requires county leaders to have written rules about how employees should behave and work.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People appointed to local government boards or committees
  • County executives and their staff
  • Public defenders

Terms To Know

consolidated city
A large city that combines with the county it is in.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact details of how the salary rules work might be unclear without more information.
  • Not all local government boards or committees will be affected by these changes.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1161.02.COMH.AMS06

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator James Buck

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to allow local governments more flexibility in setting certain regulations.

  • Allows local governments to have more control over specific rules within their jurisdiction.
  • The exact details of which regulations will be affected are not specified, making it unclear how this change will impact local communities.
HB1161.02.COMH.AMS07

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Brett Clark

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes how local governments in Indiana can manage certain aspects of their operations.

  • The amendment modifies the Indiana Code to allow local governments more flexibility in managing specific areas of governance.
  • The official text does not provide detailed specifics about which particular areas of local government management are affected, making it hard to explain concrete changes.
HB1161.02.COMH.AMS09

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Rick Niemeyer

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes how local governments in Indiana can use certain funds.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code that allows local governments to use specific funds for public safety and infrastructure projects.
  • The exact details of which funds are eligible and what types of projects qualify under this amendment are not specified in the provided text.
  • It is unclear how this change will be implemented or regulated by state authorities.
HB1161.01.INTR.AMH02

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Ethan Lawson

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to allow local governments more flexibility in managing their finances.

  • Adds new provisions that give local governments additional options for financial management.
  • The specific details of how local governments can manage their finances are not provided, making it unclear exactly what changes will be allowed.
HB1161.01.INTR.AMH04

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Ben Smaltz

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to allow local governments more flexibility in managing their finances.

  • Adds new provisions that give local governments additional options for financial management.
  • The specific details of how local governments can manage their finances are not provided, making it unclear exactly what changes will be allowed.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-02-26 House

    Public Law 40

  3. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  5. 2026-02-23 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  6. 2026-02-19 House

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

  7. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Returned to the House with amendments

  8. 2026-02-18 House

    Motion to concur filed

  9. 2026-02-17 Senate

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

  10. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  11. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  12. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Senator Bohacek added as second sponsor

  13. 2026-01-26 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

  14. 2026-01-21 House

    Referred to the Senate

  15. 2026-01-20 House

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

  16. 2026-01-20 House

    Senate sponsor: Senator Clark

  17. 2026-01-15 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  18. 2026-01-13 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  19. 2026-01-13 House

    Representative Moed added as coauthor

  20. 2026-01-05 House

    Authored by Representative Lawson

  21. 2026-01-05 House

    Coauthored by Representative Zimmerman

  22. 2026-01-05 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

  23. 2026-01-05 House

    Representative Meltzer added as coauthor

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
Local government matters.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

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.