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Committee advances resolution to change constitutional reference from auditor to comptroller
Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 17, which begins the constitutional process to replace references to "auditor" with "comptroller," passed the committee. Election officials and the comptroller's office testified about transition language and timing.
The House Judiciary Committee passed Senate Joint Resolution 17, which begins the constitutional amendment process to change references from "auditor" to "comptroller" in the state constitution and related statutes.
Senator Carrasco said the measure completes earlier statutory steps to change the office name and that the accompanying statutory bill (Senate Bill 221) would align remaining code references ahead of the 2026 ballot. "By beginning the process to change the constitution's references to comptroller instead of auditor, we will ensure that all references in the Indiana code and the constitution together are in alignment," Jennifer Thuma, general counsel for the state comptroller, told the committee.
Brad King, co-director of the Indiana Election Division, explained transition scheduling built into the resolution: a temporary schedule treats an individual serving as auditor after June 30, 2023, as serving as comptroller for constitutional purposes through Jan. 1, 2031, and is designed to eliminate legal uncertainty during the transition. King told members that the Indiana Supreme Court has held a constitutional amendment becomes effective at 6 p.m. when the polls close: "The Indiana Supreme Court has held that when a constitutional amendment becomes effective is the moment at 6PM when the polls close," he said, explaining why the schedule language is included.
Committee members discussed the effective date language and how scheduled transitions would align with terms of office. The committee moved, called the roll and passed the resolution; the clerk announced the bill passed with 12 votes in favor. The committee advanced the joint resolution to the next step of the constitutional amendment process.
