Committee advances bill to replace 'auditor' with 'comptroller' in Indiana law to match office name on 2026 ballot

Senate Bill 221, which would update remaining Indiana Code references from "auditor" to "comptroller," received a favorable recommendation from the committee and passed a roll call vote, 10 yeas, after testimony that the change is needed to avoid voter confusion in the 2026 election.

The change completes a multi-step statutory renaming that began in the 2023 budget bill and was partially addressed by a 2024 technical corrections effort, Speaker Jennifer Thuma said. "These changes will ensure that voters will see the office listed as comptroller on the ballot to avoid any confusion since this is how the office is now known," Thuma, general counsel for the Indiana comptroller, Elise Neshala, told the committee.

The bill would alter remaining statutory references so the title used on ballots and in election law matches the office’s current name. Brad King, Republican co-director of the Indiana Election Division, urged the committee to approve the bill, saying the change is especially important for the 2026 ballot and to preempt potential challenges. "We are attempting through Senate Bill 221, to prevent and preempt any action of that sort by making it crystal clear that the transition has been made so the voters know the officer voting for in November of 2026," King said.

Why it matters: The committee was told that although the 2023 budget bill changed the office name to comptroller, and a later technical corrections bill (Senate Bill 35) updated many citations, several Indiana Code provisions were not amended and would still read "auditor." Without this bill, the statute-ordered ballot title could differ from the name the office now uses, which witnesses said could confuse voters and invite legal challenges.

Testimony and support: Jennifer Thuma identified several legislators who sponsored or cosponsored the measure, thanking Senator Carrasco as the bill author with Senators Buck and Ford as coauthors and Representative Stuartwald with Representatives Davis and Lawson as sponsors/cosponsors. Brad King said elections staff worked with the comptroller’s office on the bill and highlighted the practical risk of mismatched names on ballots.

Committee action and vote: After a short period for questions and a motion to move the bill, the committee called the roll. The transcript shows votes recorded as follows: Representative Bartlett (yes), Representative Harris (aye), Representative Campbell (aye), Representative Miller (yes), Representative O'Brien (aye), Representative Engleman (yes), Representative Schonkweiler (yes), Representative Jordan (yes), Representative Green (yes), Representative Abbott (yes). Two members—Representative Hatcher and Representative Karakoff—recorded "pass for now" on the roll call. Representative King was recorded as excused. The clerk announced, "Bill passes 10." The committee did not record a named mover or seconder for the motion in the transcript.

Next steps: Witnesses said the statutory changes in this bill work in conjunction with Senate Joint Resolution 17, which was to be considered in the other chamber to complete the process.

Ending: With the committee’s favorable recommendation, the bill moves forward in the legislative process; sponsors and elections staff said they will monitor related resolution action in the other chamber to finalize the name-change work in statute.