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Committee approves bill limiting residency requirements for public defenders and staff
Summary
House Bill 1025 would prevent counties from imposing strict residency requirements on public defenders and their staff beyond contiguous counties; testimony from Marion County's public-defender leadership cited recruitment losses. Committee passed the bill 12–0.
The committee unanimously advanced House Bill 1025 after public-defender leaders described how rigid county residency requirements hinder recruitment and retention.
Ray Casanova, chief public defender for Marion County, told lawmakers that residency rules had caused the loss of prospective certified hires and attorneys and left open cases when waivers were denied. "Residency requirements are a real and ongoing barrier to staffing," Casanova said, adding his office had lost several attorneys and interns attributable to the rule.
Representative Zimmerman described the bill (as amended) as extending the contiguous-county approach, allowing public-defender employees to live in counties adjacent to their duty county. Supporters noted the change aligns with recent reforms and the Commission on Indiana's Legal Future recommendations.
The committee passed HB 1025 on a 12–0 roll call; sponsors said the change is designed to preserve constitutional representation by easing staffing shortages.
