HB 1161 Indiana House · 2026 Regular Session

Local government matters.

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 status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Feb 2026
Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Signed Feb 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Bill (S) House Bill (H) · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated to reflect its progression through the legislative process, changing the bill number from HB to EH (Engrossed) and updating dates to February 2026. The digest summary was rewritten to clarify that appointed officials in non-consolidated counties serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority only as long as the appointing official remains in office and the board composition remains unchanged. A new requirement was added mandating that county executives must pre-approve specific high-cost actions by park and recreation boards, such as eminent domain or contracts over $500,000, to ensure fiscal oversight.
Scope change
The scope of the bill's applicability was clarified to explicitly exclude counties containing consolidated cities from certain provisions regarding appointed officials and county administrator salaries. Additionally, the scope of executive oversight was expanded to include pre-approval requirements for specific financial and legal actions by park and recreation boards.
TIMELINE

All dates were updated to reflect the bill's status as an engrossed version passed by the House and amended by the Senate in February 2026.

REQUIREMENT

The digest was revised to clarify that the 'serve at the pleasure' rule for appointed officials is conditional on the appointing authority retaining their office and the board retaining its original membership.

A new requirement was added mandating that county executives must pre-approve park and recreation board actions involving eminent domain, large contracts, property acquisition, or capital improvements exceeding $500,000 or 10% of the annual budget.

SCOPE

Provisions regarding the appointment of officials and salary setting for county administrators were explicitly limited to counties that do not contain a consolidated city.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2026 · House Jan 20, 2026

How they voted

440
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Feb 17, 2026
D Democratic9
7 Yea 2
77% Yea
R Republican40
37 Yea 3
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
9
Committee
2
Feb 26, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President of the Senate
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 297: yeas 93, nays 1
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 180: yeas 45, nays 0
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 58: yeas 90, nays 0
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
lower
3 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors