IndianaHB 1099First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)House

Safe haven infants and foster youth.

Sponsored By: Dale DeVon (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Provides that the maximum age for a safe haven infant is 60 days of age. Repeals the definition of "abandoned child". Amends the definition of "foster youth". Makes conforming changes.

familythe senatefamily and children services

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Parents get longer safe haven window

Beginning July 1, 2025, Indiana's safe haven age limit rises from 30 to 60 days. Emergency medical providers must take custody without a court order when parents voluntarily leave infants who are, or appear, within that limit with them or in qualifying newborn safety devices. Parents can also relinquish infants after delivery by notifying medical staff, without expressing an intent to return. Separately, the abandoned-infant definition covers children under 12 months knowingly or intentionally left in danger or at medical facilities by parents, guardians, or custodians with no reasonable plan to resume care. Leaving a child with an emergency medical provider without an expressed intent to return is no longer a listed abandonment category.

Foster youth eligibility starts at 15

Beginning July 1, 2025, Indiana's foster-youth definition for transitional services covers ages 15 through 23, lowering the minimum from 16. Youth must have been found by a court to need services or been in foster care when they became adults. Participation in older youth collaborative care or voluntary older youth services is no longer a listed basis for qualifying.

Some safe haven parents lose notices

Beginning July 1, 2025, courts need not notify safe haven parents of periodic case reviews when they legally withhold their names. Notice of hearings to end parental rights is also not required for parents who withhold their names. That hearing exception also applies when parents indicate they are abandoning the child under the safe haven law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dale DeVon

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Greg Walker

    Republican • Senate

  • Kyle Pierce

    Republican • House

  • Lori Goss-Reaves

    Republican • House

  • Stacey Donato

    Republican • Senate

  • Travis Holdman

    Republican • Senate

  • Vanessa Summers

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 139 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 2/4/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 90 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    4/3/2025House
  2. Public Law 30

    4/3/2025House
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    3/27/2025Senate
  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    3/24/2025Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    3/20/2025House
  6. Returned to the House without amendments

    3/19/2025Senate
  7. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 243: yeas 49, nays 0

    3/18/2025Senate
  8. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    3/13/2025Senate
  9. Committee report: do pass, adopted

    3/10/2025Senate
  10. First reading: referred to Committee on Family and Children Services

    2/18/2025Senate
  11. Referred to the Senate

    2/5/2025House
  12. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 80: yeas 90, nays 0

    2/4/2025House
  13. Senate sponsor: Senator Donato

    2/4/2025House
  14. Cosponsors: Senators Holdman and Walker G

    2/4/2025House
  15. Representative Summers added as coauthor

    2/3/2025House
  16. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/3/2025House
  17. Committee report: do pass, adopted

    1/30/2025House
  18. Representative Goss-Reaves added as coauthor

    1/27/2025House
  19. Representative Pierce K added as coauthor

    1/21/2025House
  20. First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs

    1/8/2025House
  21. Authored by Representative DeVon

    1/8/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

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