Kentucky

An overview of Kentucky law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state.

Law

• Section 117 KRS 405.075

Legislation

2021

• HB155 – Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices located in staffed hospitals, fire stations, and police stations. Passed. Effective July 1, 2021

2020

• HB447 – Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices located in 24/7 staffed hospitals, emergency medical services, fire stations, and police stations. Sine Die.

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Hearings/Testimony/Letters

• Bastard Nation Letter to the Kentucky Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee in Opposition to HB155, Safe Haven Baby Boxes, March 11, 2021  (Similar letter sent to Governor requesting he veto bill, March 19, 2021)

News and Commentary

2024

• Kentucky welcomes its latest Haven Baby Box; Here’s Where, WHAS-TV, January 12, 2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box installed at Jeffersontown Fire station in Louisville, WDRB-TV, January 15, 2024
• Northern Kentucky fire department unveils new Safe Haven Baby Box, WNRC-TV, January 31, 2024
• Kentucky has 31 Safe Haven baby boxes with newest addition in Hopkinsville, WZTV-TV, February 11, 2024
• Safe Haven Box unveiled in Hopkinsville, Kentucky Today, February 15, 2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box Coming to Glasgow Department, WCLU-AM-FM March 1, 2024
• “Momibus” bill nears passage, Forward Kentucky, March 25, 2024
• Safe Haven Baby B ox now available in Frankfort for safe, anonymous surrender of infants, Frankfort State Jornal, March 29, 2024
• Frankfort installs its first Safe Haven baby box, Spectrum News, April 4 2024
• Kentucky Right to Life partnerships bring Safe Have Baby Boxes to communities, Pregnancy Help News, April 8, 2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box blessed at Louisville Fire Engine 10, WHAS-TV, Apri 23, 2024
• No judgment”: Safe Have dedicated at Nichoasville fire station, WUKY-TV, April 25 2024
• Bowling Green Safe Haven Baby Box to be blessed, WBKO-TV, May 24, 2024
• Kentucky’s 36th Safe Haven Baby Box installed at Hikes Point Fire station in Louisville, WDRB-TV, May 24, 2024
• City of Middesboro honors Olivia Johnson, SOAR Appalachia Student of the Year, Middlesboro News, May 24, 2024
• “God’s hand was in it:” Richmond pregnancy center opens satellite location in Berea, leads charge for local Safe Haven box, Kentucky Today, May 26,2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box gets installed in Pikeville, Appalachian News-Express, July 12, 2024
• New “Safe Haven Baby Box” ceremony Tuesday, WTVQ-TV, August 13, 2024
• Kentucky’s 39th Safe Haven Baby Box opens in Richmond, Kentucky Today, August 13, 2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box hotline number will be displayed in Kentucky high schools, Kentucky Today, August 24, 2024
• Hazard celebrates opening of a Safe Haven Baby Box, WYMT-TV, September 10, 2024
• Eastern Kentucky now has access to a Safe Haven baby box, Kentucky Today, September 11, 2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box Opened, Dedicated at Breckenridge Memorial ER, WXBC-TV, September 11, 2024
• How often do the baby boxes of the Tri-State get used? Yahoo, September 11, 2024
• Baby box blessing ceremony conducted at fire department, Hazard Herald, September 12, 2024
• New Safe Haven Baby Box opens in Paducah, offering secure place to surrender infants, Paducah Sun, September 17, 2024
• Abortion Alternative, Appalachian News-Express, September 20, 2024
• Kentucky Lawmakers Force Public Schools to Advertise Safe Haven Baby Box Hotline. SSHBBN, October 10, 2024
• Glasgow to bless new Safe Haven Baby Box, WBKO-TV, October 15, 2024
• Glasgow Fire Department home to city’s first Safe Haven Baby Box, WBKO-TV, October 16, 20
• Officials look to bring baby box to Grayson County, Grayson County News, November 21, 2024
• Lexington’s first Safe Haven Baby Box to be dedicated soon, WEKU, November 22, 2024
• 45th Baby Box blessed at Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Department, WLKY-TV, December 13, 2024
• Madisonville officials bless 46th Safe Haven Baby Box in Kentucky, WFIE-TV, December 13, 2024
• “It will save a baby’s life.” LaRue County Herald News, December 18, 2024
  

2023

• Kentucky sees its 1st infant anonymously surrendered at a fire station “baby box”, CNN, February 12, 2023
• In Our View: Baby box truly safe haven, Ashland Daily Independent, February 18, 2023
• Awareness, fundraising in works for Ashland’s Safe Haven Baby Box, Ashland Daiy Independent, February 17, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box in the works in McLean County WEVV-TV, March 16, 2023
• Owensboro, Kentucky family raising money and awareness to save lives, WBKR-FM, March 28, 2023
• “Baby box” could be coming to county, McClean County News, March 30, 2023
• Pendleton County Ambulance asks for help to provide a safe haven for newborns, Falmouth Outlook, April 18, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box receives city approval, Kentucky Standard, May 13, 2023
• Corbin installs 147th Safe Haven Baby Box in the US, Corbin Times-Tribune, May 25, 2023
• Hebron Fire Department adds new baby box at North Bend Road station, WCPO-TV, June 2, 2023
• Installation begins for Safe Haven Baby Box at OFD Station 1, Owensboro Times, FD June 14, 2023
• City Commission approves baby drop-off ordinance, Danville Advocate-Messenger, June 26, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box to be Installed in Hopkinsville, WKDZ-FM, June 29, 2023
• Safe Haven BabyBox planned for Hopkinsville, Hoptown Chronicle, July 12,2023
• Hopkinsville baby box will be “another way to serve her.” Kentujcky Today, July 12, 2023
• Safe haven locations for infants include fire stations; fire chief says “you don’t have to have fear of reprisal.” WPSD-TV, July 12, 2023
• Middlesboro student hopes to help mothers, babies in need, Middlesboro News, July 20, 2023
• Second Safe Haven Baby Box comes to Shelby County, Shelbyville Sentinel, July 26,2023
• Fire station hosts fundraiser to bring Safe Haven Baby Box to Central KY, WKYT-TV/MSM, August 17,2023
• More Safe Haven Baby Boxes to be added in Kentucky, WSRB-TV, August 22, 2023
• Hup 2..3..4..Hup 2..3..4..Safe Haven Baby Boxes are Marching into Kentucky, SSHBBN, August 25, 2023
• Baby Box installed in fire Station 1, Owensboro Times, August 27, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box to be installed in Danville, WDKY-TV, August 29, 2023
• Letter to the Editor: Take a closer look, Owensboro Sentinel-News, August 30, 2023
• Bardsville Fire Department installs new Safe Haven baby box, Kentucky Standard, September 5, 2023
• Letter: Frankfort needs a safe have box, Frankfort State Journal, September 6, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box coming soon to Paducah, WPSD-TV, September 13, 2023
• Local News Brief: Fundraiser for Safe Haven Baby Box, Ashland Daily Independent, September 17, 2023
• Quick on the draw: KY Baptist kids raise funds for Safe Haven Baby Box in Daviess County, Kentucky Today, September 22, 2023
• Hazard approves fundraising for Safe Haven Baby Box, Hazard Herald, September 22, 2023
• Jessamine County holds fundraiser for Safe Haven Babyhx, Asbury Collegian, September 23,2023
• Murray City Council changes meeting schedule to once a month, Murray Ledlger & Times, September 29, 2023
• Danville Fire Derpartment welcomes “Safe Haven Baby Box.” WKYT-TV, September 29, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box set to be installed in Paducah in 2024, WPSD-TV, October 10, 2023
• Baby Box coming to Frankfort Fire Department, Frankfort State Journal, October 10, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box being installed at the Georgetown/Scott Co. EMS building, Georgetown News-Graphic, October ,12023
• Safe Haven Baby Box dedicated, Georgetown News-Graphic, October 12, 2023
• Murray, Kentucky Safe Haven Baby Box Talk: Oh Those College Girls…SSHBBN, October 26, 2023
• Door of Hope, MFD raising funds for baby box, Madisonville Messenger, October 28, 2023
• Bardstown Fire Department installs new Safe Haven baby box, Kentucky Standard, September 5, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box is now in Pendleton County, Falmouth Outook, November 14, 2023
• Carrollton unveils county’s first Safe Haven Baby Box, News Democrat, November 21, 2023
• City moves forward with Safe Haven Baby Box Plan, Winchester Sun, November 22, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box dedicated at London Firehouse, London Sentinel-Echo, December 13, 2023
• Local nonprofits partner to fund installation of 2 new Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Louisville, WDBR-TV, December 19, 2023
• Safe Haven Box blessed in Northern Kentucky, WKRC-TV, December 21, 2023
• Central Bank donates $20,000 toward Safe Haven Baby Box project, Winchester Sun, December 21, 20223
• City of Edgewood dedicates Safe Haven Baby Box, installed in the side of the firehouse, Northern Kentucky Tribune, December 22, 2023

2022

• Kentucky’s 6th Safe Haven Baby Box dedicated at PRP fire station, WDRB-TV, February 1, 2022
• Safe Haven Baby Boxes give options to Kentucky mothers not ready to care for a child, Spectrum News, February 16, 2022
• Kentucky’s eighth Safe Haven Baby Box blessed in Portland neighborhood, WHAS-TV, March 16, 2022
• Bullitt County community gathers for blessing of 9th Safe Haven Baby box in Ky, WAVE-TV, April 19, 2022
• Right to Life begins campaign to install electronically monitored baby box, Kentucky Today.com May 9, 2022
• Kentucky’s 10th Safe Haven Baby Box now available at Okolona fire station, WDRB-TV, June 16, 2022
• “A God moment”: Church raises $50K for safe boxes where people can surrender babies, Louisville Courier Journal, July 14, 2022
• ‘People were hooting and hollering and crying and hugging:’ Louisville church raises over $54,000 to fund baby boxes, WHAS-TV, July 15, 2022
• In a “God Moment,” Kentucky Church Raises $60,000 to Fund Unethical Safe Haven Baby Box Social Experiment, SHBBN!, July 23, 2022
• Edgewood looks to install Safe Haven Baby Bos on firehouse, LINKNKY. com, July 24, 2022
• Safe Haven Baby Box Unveiled in Powderly, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, August 3, 2022
• Dozens gather to pray, thank God for Safe Haven Baby Box, Kentucky Today, August 10, 2022
• Baby Box opens at Radcliff Fire Department, Elizabethtown News-Enterprise, August 11, 2022
• Safe Haven Baby Box installed at Shively Fire Department, WDRB-TV, August 30, 2022
• Annual “Walk for Life” set for September 10, Owensboro Times, September 1, 2022
• Safe Haven Baby Box coming to LaRue County, LaRue County, Herald News, September 21, 2022 (may be offline)
• LaRue County moves forward to secure Safe Haven Box, LaRue County Herald, News September 21, 2022
• Ky Family Hosting 5K Run/Walk to Honor the Life of their Daughter in Heaven, WBKR-FM, September 30, 2022
• City Council tables RV park ordinance; Rudder ends Mayoral term, London Sentinel-Echo, December 7, 2022
• Blandford launches Faith Found Me to encourage young moms, Owensboro Times, December 11, 20222
• Baby Box added to Lovers Lane location of Bowling Green Fire Department. WNKY-TV, December 16, 2022
• Safe Haven Baby Box dedicates new Louisville Location, WAVE_TV,/MSN December 20, 2022
• Corbin Fire Battalion Chief suggests installing Safe Haven Baby Box, Kentucky Daily, December 10, 1011

2021

• Kentucky teen abandoned as newborn advocating for Safe Haven Baby Boxes, WLEX-TV  January 20, 2021
• Teen who was abandoned as an infant in China leads petition to save babies in America, Christianity Daily, January 26, 2021
• Rep. Nancy Tate makes case for “baby boxes” bill, Elizabethtown News-Enterprise, February 25, 2021
• Bill for baby boxes gains favor in Senate, Kentucky Today, March 16, 2021
• Bill aimed at safe surrender option on newborn lives signed, Kentucky Today, March 26, 2021
• Conservative foundation honors Meade legislator, Elizabethtown News- Enterprise, March 29, 2021
• Advocates cheer legalization of ‘baby boxes’ in Kentucky, WDRB-TV Louisville, March 29, 2021
• Bowling Green Fire Department to get a baby Safe Haven Box in new station, WNKY-TV, March 30, 2021
• Fern Creek church donating 4 Safe Haven Baby Boxes after raising $60,000, WDRB-TV, June 21, 2021
• A last resort: Kentucky’s first Safe Haven “baby box” is opening in Okolona, Louisville Courier-Journal, July 2, 2021
• Kentucky’s first baby box for surrendered newborns operating in Louisville, Louisville Spectrum News, July 2, 2021
• Leitchfield baby box initiative put on hold, Grayson County News-Gazette, July 24, 2021
• Council: Baby box “not an option” for Leitchfield, Grayson County News-Gazette, August 21, 2021
• Zoneton Fire install Kentucky’s second Safe Haven Baby Box, MSN,August 26, 2021
• Oldham County installs first baby box at fire department, WDRB-TV Louisville, September 25, 2021

2019

• Organization pushing for Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Kentucky, WBKO-TV,   August 21, 2019

2007

• Safe Infants Act Allows Parents to Safely Surrender Babies;’ 5-year old law gives parents of newborns another option, Press Release, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, March 19, 2007. (Internet Archive)

Updated: December 18, 2024