# Indiana HB 1311: Adoption for abandoned infants.

Indiana HB 1311, Adoption for abandoned infants., is a First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025) House bill sponsored by Ryan Lauer (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-01-13 (Authored by Representative Lauer) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1311-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Indiana HB 1311
- State: Indiana
- Session: First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)
- Title: Adoption for abandoned infants.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Last action: 2025-01-13, Authored by Representative Lauer
- Sponsor: Ryan Lauer (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: judiciary
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Provides that when the department of child services (department) or a licensed child placing agency takes custody of a child who is voluntarily left with an emergency services provider or in a newborn safety device, the department or licensed child placing agency shall: (1) not later than 72 hours after taking custody of the child, contact each licensed child placing agency in Indiana and request that the licensed child placing agency inform the department of any suitable prospective adoptive parent for the child known to the licensed child placing agency; and (2) collaborate with licensed child placing agencies to identify a prospective adoptive parent for the child. Requires the department to: (1) request that the Indiana department of health conduct one or more searches of the putative child registry on behalf of the child before a petition is filed to terminate parental rights with regard to the child, with at least one request being made not earlier than 30 days after the estimated date of birth of the child; and (2) notify an individual identified as a potential father by the registry search that the individual's consent to termination of the parent-child relationship will be irrevocably implied if the individual does not file a paternity action with regard to the child. Provides that when considering an out-of-home placement for the child during child in need of services proceedings, if a court, the department, or the licensed child placing agency is unable to locate a suitable and willing relative (or de facto custodian, if applicable) with whom to place the child, the court or the department shall consider placing the child with a prospective adoptive parent before considering any other placement for the child. Requires that a child's case plan include certain information.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ryan Lauer (Republican), House

## Actions (2)

- 2025-01-13: Authored by Representative Lauer (House)
- 2025-01-13: First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1311/versions/HB1311.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 324: Criminal procedures. (signed)
- SB 231: Various corrections matters. (signed)
- SB 80: Code publication. (signed)
- SB 453: Various tax matters. (signed)
- SB 464: Financial institutions and consumer credit. (signed)
- SB 371: Workforce matters. (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2025/bills/HB1311/versions/HB1311.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related
- [SB 324: Criminal procedures.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB324-2025)
- [SB 231: Various corrections matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB231-2025)
- [SB 80: Code publication.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB80-2025)
- [SB 453: Various tax matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB453-2025)
- [SB 464: Financial institutions and consumer credit.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB464-2025)
- [SB 371: Workforce matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB371-2025)
- [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills)
- [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1311-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).