HB 1181

                                                             Introduced Version
           HOUSE BILL No. 1181
                 _____
              DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 2-5-55.
Synopsis: Eviction task force. Establishes the access to counsel in
eviction task force (task force) to review matters related to the eviction
process and potential funding sources to increase a tenant's access to
counsel in an eviction proceeding. Sets forth membership, and requires
the task force to issue a report to the legislative council. Provides that
the task force expires December 31, 2026.
Effective: Upon passage.
                         Shackleford
   January 5, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary.
2026  IN 1181—LS 6585/DI 129
                                                                                       Introduced
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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                   HOUSE BILL No. 1181
    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning the
 general assembly.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1    SECTION 1. IC 2-5-55 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
2 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON
3 PASSAGE]:
4    Chapter 55. Access to Counsel in Eviction Task Force
5    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "task force" refers to the access
6 to counsel in eviction task force established by section 2 of this
7 chapter.
8    Sec. 2. The access to counsel in eviction task force is established
9 as a temporary task force serving the general assembly.
10    Sec. 3. (a) The task force consists of the following twelve (12)
11 members, all of whom are voting members:
12(1) A member of the house appointed by the speaker.
13(2) A member of the house appointed by the minority leader
14of the house.
15(3) A member of the senate appointed by the president pro
16tempore of the senate.
17(4) A member of the senate appointed by the minority leader
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1      of the senate.
2      (5) A member representing the Indiana Public Defender
3      Council, appointed by the governor.
4      (6) A member representing the Indiana State Bar Association,
5      appointed by the governor.
6      (7) A member representing the Fair Housing Center of
7      Central Indiana, appointed by the governor.
8      (8) A member representing the Indiana Apartment
9      Association, appointed by the governor.
10      (9) A member representing a tenant advocacy group,
11      appointed by the speaker.
12      (10) A member who is a judge who presides over eviction
13      cases in Indiana, appointed by the president pro tempore of
14      the senate.
15      (11) Two (2) members whose income does not exceed fifty
16      percent (50%) of the state median income adjusted for
17      household size, appointed as follows:
18(A) One (1) member appointed by the minority leader of
19the house.
20(B) One (1) member appointed by the minority leader of
21the senate.
22    (b) The members appointed under subsection (a)(1) and (a)(3)
23 shall serve as co-chairs of the task force for the duration of the task
24 force.
25    (c) A member of the task force serves for the duration of the
26 task force. However, a member of the task force, including each
27 co-chair of the task force, serves at the will of the member's
28 appointing authority.
29    (d) Appointing authorities shall appoint the members of the task
30 force not later than June 1, 2026.
31    Sec. 4. (a) The task force shall meet at the call of the co-chairs.
32    (b) The task force shall meet for the first time not later than
33 August 1, 2026.
34    (c) Seven (7) members of the task force constitute a quorum.
35    (d) The affirmative votes of a majority of the members of the
36 task force are required for the task force to take action on any
37 measure, including adoption of the report under section 7(2) of this
38 chapter.
39    (e) All meetings of the task force are open to the public in
40 accordance with and subject to IC 5-14-1.5. All records of the task
41 force are subject to the requirements of IC 5-14-3.
42    Sec. 5. (a) A lay or legislative member of the task force is
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1 entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and travel
2 allowances paid to legislative members of interim study committees
3 established by the legislative council.
4     (b) A member of the task force who is:
5(1) a state employee; and
6(2) not a member of the general assembly;
7 is not entitled to a per diem. However, the member is entitled to
8 reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under
9 IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in connection
10 with the member's duties as provided in the state policies and
11 procedures established by the Indiana department of
12 administration and approved by the budget agency.
13     Sec. 6. The legislative services agency shall staff the task force.
14 The task force shall operate under the policies and rules of the
15 legislative council.
16     Sec. 7. The task force shall do the following:
17(1) Conduct a study of:
18(A) the eviction process throughout Indiana and the
19performance of designated organizations and community
20groups that provide eviction relief services; and
21(B) potential funding sources to increase access to counsel
22to represent a tenant subject to an eviction proceeding.
23(2) Not later than November 15, 2026, adopt and submit to the
24executive director of the legislative services agency, for
25distribution to the legislative council, a report that includes
26the following:
27(A) The results of the task force's study under subdivision
28(1).
29(B) The task force's recommendations with regard to state
30policies, including any recommended legislation, to provide
31a tenant with increased access to counsel in an eviction
32proceeding.
33The report must be submitted in an electronic format under
34IC 5-14-6.
35     Sec. 8. This chapter expires December 31, 2026.
36     SECTION 2. An emergency is declared for this act.
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