HB 1257 — Child services matters.

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.

Bill Text

• Enrolled Enrolled House Bill (H) Current pdf
• House Bill (H) View text pdf
• House Bill (S) View text pdf
• Introduced Introduced House Bill (H) pdf

Action History

1. March 04, 2026

   Public Law 84

2. February 27, 2026

   Signed by the President of the Senate

3. February 27, 2026

   Signed by the President Pro Tempore

4. March 04, 2026

   Signed by the Governor

5. February 26, 2026

   Signed by the Speaker

6. February 26, 2026

   House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 390: yeas 84, nays 0

7. February 25, 2026

   Motion to concur filed

8. February 24, 2026

   Third reading: passed; Roll Call 243: yeas 48, nays 0

9. February 24, 2026

   Returned to the House with amendments

10. February 16, 2026

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

11. February 16, 2026

    Senators Ford J.D., Qaddoura, Rogers added as cosponsors

12. February 10, 2026

    Senators Schmitt, Walker G added as cosponsors

13. February 09, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

14. February 02, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Family and Children Services

15. January 29, 2026

    Referred to the Senate

16. January 28, 2026

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 132: yeas 93, nays 0

17. January 28, 2026

    Senate sponsors: Senators Donato, Johnson T

18. January 27, 2026

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

19. January 22, 2026

    Representative DeVon removed as coauthor

20. January 22, 2026

    Representative Goss-Reaves added as coauthor

21. January 22, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

22. January 13, 2026

    Representative Morris added as coauthor

23. January 12, 2026

    Representative Jackson C added as coauthor

24. January 05, 2026

    Coauthored by Representative DeVon

25. January 05, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs

26. January 05, 2026

    Authored by Representative McGuire

Sponsors

• Julie McGuire · Primary

Votes

Subjects