In a previous hearing, the Senate Local Government Committee heard HB 1161 on local government matters sponsored by Sen. Clark and Sen. Bohacek authored by Rep. Lawson and Rep. Zimmerman. The bill in relevant part provides that members appointed to county public defender boards and community corrections advisory boards serve at the pleasure of the members appointing authority. The bill also 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. The bill provides that county policy and evaluation standards do not apply to employees of a court, a judicial officer, a probation department, a prosecutor’s office, a public defender office, or a community corrections program.
The Johnson County Commissioners, Indiana County Commissioners, Indiana County Auditors Association, Association of Indiana Municipalities, Association of Indiana Counties, and Americans for Prosperity previously testified in support of the bill. The Indiana Judges Association previously testified but remained neutral. The American Planning Association previously testified in opposition.
On February 12, 2026, the Committee heard the bill for amend and vote. The Committee amended the bill by consent to stagger the terms that members serve on boards. The amended bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1161