New Indiana Law Requires Disclosure of Appointed Officers
June 25, 2025
Beginning July 1, 2025, House Enrolled Act 1509 (codified at IC 5-14-9) takes effect in the State of Indiana and imposes mandatory disclosure requirements for appointed officers serving on any board, body, committee, commission or other instrumentality of the State or a political subdivision in Indiana.
What is HEA 1509?
HEA 1509 is designed to increase transparency regarding public board appointments. This law mandates that governmental entities disclose specific details about appointed officers, which include individuals serving on a board by virtue of an appointment (rather than election) by an elected officer or a board of members who are all elected officers.
Requirements under HEA 1059
Effective July 1, 2025, all meeting notices or agendas for these boards must disclose the following information for each appointed officer:
- The officer’s full name;
- The name of the appointing authority; and
- The start and end date of the officer’s term.
This information must also be published on one of the following platforms:
- Public Website Posting: If the board or appointing authority maintains a website, the above information must be published and regularly maintained there.
- No Website: The disclosure must instead be posted to the Indiana Office of Technology’s Computer Gateway.
Recommendations
Indiana boards should take immediate steps to ensure compliance with this law to avoid potential violations of Indiana’s public meeting laws. To prepare for compliance, these boards should:
1. Review all current board appointments and verify the term dates and appointing authority for each member, and update appointments if necessary;
2. Update internal processes to ensure future meeting notices or agendas include these required disclosures; and
3. Coordinate with their IT staff to post and maintain the disclosures online or work with the State’s Office of Technology to ensure this information is posted on Gateway.
If you have any questions regarding HEA 1509, or how this law may impact your board, please contact Scott C. Frissell or your regular Krieg DeVault attorney.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult with counsel concerning your situation and specific legal questions you may have.
Practices
June 25, 2025
Beginning July 1, 2025, House Enrolled Act 1509 (codified at IC 5-14-9) takes effect in the State of Indiana and imposes mandatory disclosure requirements for appointed officers serving on any board, body, committee, commission or other instrumentality of the State or a political subdivision in Indiana.
What is HEA 1509?
HEA 1509 is designed to increase transparency regarding public board appointments. This law mandates that governmental entities disclose specific details about appointed officers, which include individuals serving on a board by virtue of an appointment (rather than election) by an elected officer or a board of members who are all elected officers.
Requirements under HEA 1059
Effective July 1, 2025, all meeting notices or agendas for these boards must disclose the following information for each appointed officer:
- The officer’s full name;
- The name of the appointing authority; and
- The start and end date of the officer’s term.
This information must also be published on one of the following platforms:
- Public Website Posting: If the board or appointing authority maintains a website, the above information must be published and regularly maintained there.
- No Website: The disclosure must instead be posted to the Indiana Office of Technology’s Computer Gateway.
Recommendations
Indiana boards should take immediate steps to ensure compliance with this law to avoid potential violations of Indiana’s public meeting laws. To prepare for compliance, these boards should:
1. Review all current board appointments and verify the term dates and appointing authority for each member, and update appointments if necessary;
2. Update internal processes to ensure future meeting notices or agendas include these required disclosures; and
3. Coordinate with their IT staff to post and maintain the disclosures online or work with the State’s Office of Technology to ensure this information is posted on Gateway.
If you have any questions regarding HEA 1509, or how this law may impact your board, please contact Scott C. Frissell or your regular Krieg DeVault attorney.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult with counsel concerning your situation and specific legal questions you may have.