INDIANA—The Indiana Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee has moved forward with House Bill 1006, a significant bill to reform prosecutor oversight and funding in the state.
The bill, sponsored by Senators Aaron Freeman and Cyndi Carrasco and authored by Representative Chrit Jeter, proposes creating a special prosecutor unit, a prosecutor review board, and a public prosecution fund.
During a March 11 hearing, Senator Freeman presented the bill, outlining its provisions to establish clear guidelines and standards for counties seeking reimbursement of prosecution-related expenses. Testimonies from the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and the Indiana Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys voiced strong support for the proposed reforms.
On March 25, 2025, the committee convened for an amend-and-vote hearing, adopting three key amendments. These amendments refine the bill by:
- Requiring members appointed to the Indiana Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys be trial court judges from counties receiving reimbursement from the Commission.
- Specifying that reimbursement for a deputy prosecuting attorney’s salary from the public prosecution fund cannot exceed 27.5% of the elected prosecuting attorney’s salary.
- It also detailed the appointment process and terms for the prosecutor review board, including limitations on the number of members from the same political party.
Following the adoption of these amendments, the committee voted 5-3 to pass the bill. It has since been recommitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
The bill, if passed, would represent a significant shift in how prosecutors are overseen and funded in Indiana. Interested parties can review the full text of HB 1006 at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/house/1006
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