Indiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Indiana HB1316: Child welfare provider protections.
Status: In committee, January 6, 2026
Prohibits a governmental entity from discriminating against a person in adoption and foster care matters based on the person's sincerely held religious belief. Allows a person to sue a governmental entity for discriminating against the person and allows for certain remedies. Provides that there is a two year statute of limitation for a discrimination claim.
What the bill says
A bill FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.
From the introduced text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law. SECTION 1. IC 31-9-2-5.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 5.2. "Adoption or foster care service", for purposes of IC 31-10-3.5, refers to any one (1) or more of the following: (1) Promoting foster parenting. (2) Coordinating placement of a child in a home or facility licensed under IC 31-27. (3) Recruiting a foster parent or an adoptive parent. (4) Licensing or certifying a foster family home. (5) Promoting adoption. (6) Assisting with an adoption or supporting an adoptive parent. (7) Performing or assisting with a home study. (8) Assisting with a kinship guardianship or a kinship caregiver. (9) Providing any family preservation service. (10) Providing any family support service or temporary 2026 IN 1316--LS 6642/DI family reunification service. SECTION 2. IC 31-9-2-40.9 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 40.9. "Discriminate", for purposes of IC 31-10-3.5, includes any one (1) or more of the following acts when done solely based on a person's sincerely held religious belief: (1) Denying or otherwise making unavailable any funding to the person, (B) a loan; (C) a scholarship; (D) a guarantee; or …
Sponsors
- Robert Heaton (R, HD-046) · primary sponsor
- Dale DeVon (R, HD-005)
Latest actions
- : Authored by Representative Heaton
- : Coauthored by Representative DeVon
- : First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs
Subjects: CIVIL LAW AND PROCEDURE; Statute of Limitations, CHURCHES AND RELIGIONS, CIVIL RIGHTS, CHILDREN AND MINORS; Adoption
Common questions
- What is HB1316?
- HB1316 is a bill in the Indiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Child welfare provider protections.
- What does HB1316 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.
- What is the status of HB1316?
- In committee as of January 6, 2026. Latest action: Authored by Representative Heaton (January 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1316?
- Robert Heaton (R, HD-046), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB1316?
- On the Indiana Legislature website: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1316
Source: official Indiana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.