# Indiana HB 1389: Adoption and foster care matters. Indiana HB 1389, Adoption and foster care matters., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) House bill sponsored by Shane Lindauer (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-02-26 (Signed by the Governor) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1389-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Indiana HB 1389 - State: Indiana - Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) - Title: Adoption and foster care matters. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-08 - Last action: 2026-02-26, Signed by the Governor - Sponsor: Shane Lindauer (Republican) - Cosponsors: 12 - Subjects: judiciary, the senate - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (252 yes, 166 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary Prohibits a governmental entity from discriminating against a person in adoption and foster care matters based on the person's sincerely held religious belief, unless the discriminatory act as applied to the person is required to advance a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of advancing the interest. Specifies that a governmental entity may consider whether a person involved in adoption or foster care matters shares the same religion or faith tradition as a child or the child's parent when considering placement of a child. Allows a person to bring a cause of action against a governmental entity for discriminating against the person, or raise a violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, and allows for certain remedies. Provides that there is a two year statute of limitation for a discrimination claim. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Families and providers can enforce religious protections: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, people and organizations can sue Indiana government entities for violating these adoption and foster care protections. They can also raise violations as claims or defenses in court without first completing an agency appeal process. Lawsuits must start within two years of the… - Religious protections for foster and adoptive families: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana protects adoption and foster care providers, religious groups, and parents from government discrimination. Protections cover providing or refusing services, setting policies, and raising children based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Covered services include pla… - Shared faith can shape children's placements: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana government entities may consider shared religion when deciding where to place a child. They may favor someone who shares the religion or faith tradition of the child or the child's parents. This permits a preference for matching placements over others, but does not r… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Shane Lindauer (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brian Buchanan (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Chris Jeter (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Dale DeVon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Gary Byrne (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Greg Walker (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Liz Brown (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Mike Gaskill (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Robert Heaton (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Scott Alexander (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Spencer Deery (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Stacey Donato (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Tyler Johnson (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-19 | House | House concurred with Senate amendments | pass | 84 | 12 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Third reading: passed | pass | 44 | 0 | | | 2026-02-02 | House | Third reading: passed | pass | 69 | 29 | | | 2026-01-29 | House | Amendment #2 (Garcia Wilburn) failed | fail | 26 | 63 | | | 2026-01-29 | House | Amendment #3 (Garcia Wilburn) failed | fail | 29 | 62 | | ## Bill text - Enrolled House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1389/versions/HB1389.04.ENRS?format=pdf) - House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1389/versions/HB1389.03.COMS?format=pdf) - House Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1389/versions/HB1389.02.COMH?format=pdf) - Introduced House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1389/versions/HB1389.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related bills - HB 1406: Tax and fiscal matters. (signed) - HB 1266: Department of education and education matters. (signed) - HB 1277: Health and human services matters. (signed) - HB 1210: Department of local government finance. (signed) - HB 1249: Various criminal law matters. (signed) - HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles. (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1389/versions/HB1389.04.ENRS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1389/versions/HB1389.03.COMS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1389/versions/HB1389.02.COMH?format=pdf) - [Introduced House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1389/versions/HB1389.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related - [HB 1406: Tax and fiscal matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1406-2026) - [HB 1266: Department of education and education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1266-2026) - [HB 1277: Health and human services matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1277-2026) - [HB 1210: Department of local government finance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1210-2026) - [HB 1249: Various criminal law matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1249-2026) - [HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1200-2026) - [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills) - [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1389-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).