INDIANA—A new Indiana law concerning election matters, H.E.A. 1197, has been signed into law as Public Law 159-2025 and will take effect on July 1, 2025. This legislation modifies the process for charging and removing certain county officers or a township executive from office.
The new law specifies additional grounds for these elected officials to be charged and subsequently removed from their positions following a hearing. While the specific additional grounds are not detailed in this summary, the legislation expands the reasons for potential removal.
Furthermore, the law stipulates that if an accused party fails to appear before the court for a hearing regarding their removal, the court is authorized to proceed with the hearing and determine the accusation in the accused party’s absence.
The legislation also includes a member of the county executive (if the county does not contain a consolidated city) within the provision concerning initiating an action to remove a county officer. This clarifies who can initiate such removal proceedings in specific county structures.
This new law modifies the accountability framework for certain local elected officials in Indiana. The full text of House Enrolled Act 1197 can be accessed on the Indiana General Assembly website at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/house/1197.
