STATEHOUSE (April 15, 2025) – Legislation authored by State Rep. Tony Isa (R-Angola) to ease eligibility requirements for rural aviation boards throughout Indiana was recently signed into law.
Previously, aviation boards were required to allocate an equal number of seats to each political party. House Enrolled Act 1196 removes this requirement for aviation boards and airport authorities in communities with populations of 38,000 or fewer.
"This law allows for smaller Hoosier communities to focus on selecting the most qualified individuals for their aviation boards, regardless of political affiliation," Isa said. "House Enrolled Act 1196 is a common-sense approach to ensure effective governance at a local level."
Isa noted that in rural communities with smaller populations, the political affiliation requirement limits the pool of qualified candidates. This law aims to help those areas prioritize experience and qualifications over political affiliation when appointing members to airport boards.
House Enrolled Act 1196 passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support and was recently signed into law. For more information, or to watch session and committee meetings live, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Tony Isa (R-Angola) represents House District 51,
which includes all of LaGrange County and a portion of Steuben County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
