IndianaHB 1257Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)House

Child services matters.

Sponsored By: Julie McGuire (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Adds four members to the statewide child fatality review committee, one of whom is appointed by each of the following: (1) The speaker of the house of representatives. (2) The president pro tempore of the senate. (3) The minority leader of the house of representatives. (4) The minority leader of the senate. Provides that a court may grant postadoption contact privileges to the birth parent of a child if the child is at least one year of age (rather than two years of age, under current law). Adds information that must be included in the annual report of the department of child services (department) concerning child fatalities or near fatalities in Indiana that are the result of child abuse or neglect. Requires the department to promptly disclose to the public certain information regarding child fatalities or near fatalities. Allows the department, upon request, to provide additional information regarding cases of child fatalities or near fatalities subject to certain requirements. Provides that the obligation of the department to conduct a detailed assessment of a report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect does not apply if the report is screened out and referred to a law enforcement agency. Provides that the department: (1) shall disclose information regarding reported child abuse or neglect to a member of the United States Congress representing Indiana or a member of the Indiana general assembly (state legislator) upon request of the state legislator; (2) may release information to the news media to confirm, clarify, correct, or supplement information concerning reported child abuse or neglect that has been made public by a source other than the department; and (3) shall, upon request by the news media, report to the news media specified information regarding the death of a child whose death is suspected to be the result of child abuse or neglect. Provides that if the information disclosed or released by the department includes a record that is redacted to exclude specified information, the record is not confidential. Provides that the department may provide unredacted reports or material to: (1) a service provider that requires access to the unredacted reports or material to assess whether the service provider's services are suitable for the child; and (2) the attorney general or a prosecutor for purposes of a criminal investigation by the attorney general or prosecutor. Provides that the statutory limit on the department's provision of services to a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child who is the subject of a petition alleging the child to be a child in need of services (CHINS) applies: (1) regardless of whether the child has been removed from the home of the parent, guardian, or custodian; (2) regardless of whether the services are provided at the direction of a court or at the direction of the department; and (3) beginning on the date on which the CHINS petition is filed. Makes technical and conforming changes.

familythe senatefamily and children services

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Shorter service limits for reuniting families

For child-in-need-of-services petitions filed July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, reunification services have a 15-month limit from filing. Petitions filed beginning July 1, 2026, have a 12-month limit. The limits cover parents, guardians, and custodians assigned services by the court or department, even without removal or after return home. After an evidence hearing, courts can grant a 90-day extension for substantial compliance when it serves the child's best interests. A second extension of up to 90 days requires clear and convincing evidence and findings supporting those same conditions. Extension orders must explain the supporting facts and likely timelines. Courts can also extend services when someone lacked an adequate chance to participate through no fault of their own. Delays in establishing paternity or seeking custody, and nonparticipation caused by the person's own conduct, do not justify extensions. Courts must also consider the child's minor siblings.

Clearer family timelines and required backup plans

Beginning July 1, 2026, courts must set projected return-home dates for children removed in child-in-need-of-services cases. They must also set projected dates for adoption placement, emancipation, or legal guardianship. Written findings must state remaining reunification-service time when court-ordered services apply and the child has experienced out-of-home placement. At review or permanency hearings, plans must include a permanent or long-term option besides reunification after 12 months removed within the latest 22 months. This requires a backup plan, not a final placement decision.

Younger children qualify for postadoption contact

Beginning July 1, 2026, the minimum age for court-approved postadoption contact falls from 2 years to 12 months. The child must have a significant emotional attachment to the birth parent, and contact must serve the child's best interests. Each adoptive parent must consent, and the adoptive and birth parents must sign and file a contact agreement. Required agency and child representative recommendations or comments must be provided, and the court must approve the agreement. Children age 12 or older must also consent.

Child abuse hotline recordings stay private

Beginning July 1, 2026, recordings of Indiana child abuse hotline calls remain confidential. Release generally requires a court order, with exceptions under the child-fatality disclosure rules. A prosecutor can also obtain a recording involved in that prosecutor's complaint through a written request without a court order.

More official access to child welfare records

Beginning July 1, 2026, providers authorized to care for, treat, or supervise children can access needed unredacted child welfare records. Access must help assess the child, provider, or services for suitability before care begins. The Attorney General's Office and prosecutors can access records for criminal investigations. State legislators doing official work can access juvenile court records without a court order and request unredacted department records. The department must respond within 20 business days, including safe system reviews, information about other entities' actions, and older records. Legislators can share unredacted records only for a legitimate government purpose of protecting children from abuse or neglect. These confidentiality exceptions do not create general public access.

More public information on child deaths

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana's Department of Child Services must promptly share information about abuse- or neglect-related child deaths and near deaths. Federal limits apply, and the department must protect reporters' and potential child victims' identities. After an arrest, public arrest and court records must be shared unless disclosure violates a victim's privacy. Required publications follow the child-fatality disclosure rules rather than the usual redacted-record process; not every related record becomes public. For additional requests, the department must consult prosecutors and share as much as possible, accounting for specific harm to investigations or prosecutions. The department can also clarify facts about abuse or neglect incidents already made public by another source. For media requests about suspected abuse- or neglect-related child deaths, known details are due within 5 business days, or 10 for complex cases. These details include the child's age and gender, department actions, and related child-in-need-of-services petitions.

Some abuse reports skip department assessments

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana's Department of Child Services can skip assessing a report it screens out and refers to law enforcement. Both screening out and referral are required for this exception. The rule does not require the person who reported the concern to take another step.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Julie McGuire

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Carolyn Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Daryl Schmitt

    Republican • Senate

  • Fady Qaddoura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Greg Walker

    Republican • Senate

  • J.D. Ford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Linda Rogers

    Republican • Senate

  • Lori Goss-Reaves

    Republican • House

  • Robert Morris

    Republican • House

  • Stacey Donato

    Republican • Senate

  • Tyler Johnson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 225 • No: 0

House vote • 2/26/2026

House concurred with Senate amendments

Yes: 84 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 48 • No: 0

House vote • 1/28/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 93 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 84

    3/4/2026House
  2. Signed by the Governor

    3/4/2026House
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    2/27/2026Senate
  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    2/27/2026Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    2/26/2026House
  6. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 390: yeas 84, nays 0

    2/26/2026House
  7. Motion to concur filed

    2/25/2026House
  8. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 243: yeas 48, nays 0

    2/24/2026Senate
  9. Returned to the House with amendments

    2/24/2026Senate
  10. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/16/2026Senate
  11. Senators Ford J.D., Qaddoura, Rogers added as cosponsors

    2/16/2026Senate
  12. Senators Schmitt, Walker G added as cosponsors

    2/10/2026Senate
  13. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/9/2026Senate
  14. First reading: referred to Committee on Family and Children Services

    2/2/2026Senate
  15. Referred to the Senate

    1/29/2026House
  16. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 132: yeas 93, nays 0

    1/28/2026House
  17. Senate sponsors: Senators Donato, Johnson T

    1/28/2026House
  18. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    1/27/2026House
  19. Representative DeVon removed as coauthor

    1/22/2026House
  20. Representative Goss-Reaves added as coauthor

    1/22/2026House
  21. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    1/22/2026House
  22. Representative Morris added as coauthor

    1/13/2026House
  23. Representative Jackson C added as coauthor

    1/12/2026House
  24. Coauthored by Representative DeVon

    1/5/2026House
  25. First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs

    1/5/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

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