Indiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Indiana HB1257: Child services matters.
Status: Signed into law, March 4, 2026
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
What the bill says
An act to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law. SECTION 1. IC 16-49-4-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.171-2025, SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 2. The statewide child fatality review committee consists of the following members: (1) The following members appointed by the governor: (1) (A) A coroner or deputy coroner. (2) (B) A representative from the state department or (B) (ii) specializes in injury prevention. (3) (C) A representative of a: (A) (i) local health department established under IC 16-20-2; or (B) (ii) multiple county health department established under IC 16-20-3. (4) (D) A pediatrician. (5) (E) A representative of law enforcement who has experience in investigating child deaths. (6) (F) A representative from an emergency medical services provider. (7) (G) The director or a representative of the department of child services. HEA 1257 -- Concur (8) (H) A representative of a prosecuting attorney who has experience in prosecuting child abuse. (9) (I) A pathologist who is: (A) (i) certified by the American Board of Pathology in forensic pathology; and (B) (ii) licensed to practice medicine in Indiana. (10) (J) A mental health provider. (11) (K) A representative of a child abuse prevention program. (12) (L) A representative of the department of education. (13) (M) An epidemiologist. (14) (N) …
Sponsors
- Julie McGuire (R, HD-093) · primary sponsor
- Carolyn Jackson (D, HD-001)
- Robert Morris (R, HD-084)
- Lori Goss-Reaves (R, HD-031)
Latest actions
- : Public Law 84
- : Signed by the Governor
- : Signed by the President of the Senate
- : Signed by the President Pro Tempore
- : Signed by the Speaker
- : House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 390: yeas 84, nays 0
- : Motion to concur filed
- : Third reading: passed; Roll Call 243: yeas 48, nays 0
- : Returned to the House with amendments
- : Second reading: ordered engrossed
Votes
- HB1257.03.COMS.CON01 (February 26, 2026): 84 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HB1257.03.COMS (February 24, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HB1257.02.COMH (January 28, 2026): 93 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: CHILDREN AND MINORS; Children in Need of Services (CHINS), GENERAL ASSEMBLY; Generally, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS; Prosecutors, COURTS; Supreme Court, AGENCIES; Department of Child Services (DCS), STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS; Attorney General, COURTS; Judges, DEATH AND DECEASED; Mortality Reporting
Common questions
- What is HB1257?
- HB1257 is a bill in the Indiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Child services matters.
- What does HB1257 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.
- What is the status of HB1257?
- Signed into law as of March 4, 2026. Latest action: Public Law 84 (March 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1257?
- Julie McGuire (R, HD-093), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1257?
- On the Indiana Legislature website: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1257
Source: official Indiana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.