STATEHOUSE (Feb. 11, 2025) – State Rep. Tony Isa (R-Angola) authored legislation geared toward relaxing membership requirements for rural aviation boards across Indiana to attract more qualified candidates.
Current law requires aviation boards to be bipartisan and offer the same number of seats for both political parties. Under House Bill 1196, aviation boards and airport authorities in areas with a population of 38,000 or less would not have to follow these political party membership requirements.
"Among Indiana's 70 public use airports, 41 would be eligible for the provision," Isa said. "This legislation would give airport commissioners the flexibility to select qualified candidates to sit on aviation boards."
Isa said in rural communities that have smaller populations there is a smaller pool of qualified candidates to choose from due to the political party affiliation requirement. This legislation would support rural areas so they can focus less on party affiliation and more on selecting qualified and experienced individuals to serve on the airport boards.
House Bill 1196 passed the House with bipartisan support and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. For more information, 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.
