Texas

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

Law

• SB780 (Effective September 1, 2023)

Legislation

2023

• SB780 – Amends the Texas Baby Moses law to allow “newborn safety devices” (baby box) to be installed at state-approved locations Baby Moses/Safe Haven locations for the anonymous relinquishment of infants up to 60 days of age. Enacted, effective September 1, 2023.
• HB4533 – Similar to SB780 but (1) requires SH locations “if possible” to add a webpage to their website with a form for parents to fill out regarding the baby’s history and medical facts, and (2) requires the state to publish an annual report that includes the number of children voluntarily left at designed care providers, the general locations of the designed care providers who took possession; and the method by which possession was taken. SB2343 is the companion bill. Died in session.

2022

• HB2010 – Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices. Sine die

2021

• HB1843 –  Companion to SB1311. Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices. Sine die
• SB 443 – Companion to HB 1843 Sine die

Hearings/Testimony/Letters

2023

• Texas SB780: Bastard Nation/SSHBBN Letter of Opposition to SB870, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 7,2023
• VIDEO: Hearing in Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 8, 2023 (Marker 20:00)
• VIDEO: Floor vote and debate on SB2019, March 16, 2023
• HB2010 : Bastard Nation/SSHBBN Comments in Opposition to HB 2010, House Services Committee, April 4, 2023. Edited version (3000 character limit on submission template) of SB870 testimony. Hearing was not streamed. (lost in cyberspace)

2021

• VIDEO: House Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee Hearing on HB 683: Extension of Baby Moses to 1-year, March 15, 2021 (related to baby boxes) Marker: 2:10
• Letter: Texas HB 683 Baby Moses age expansion to 1-year. Please oppose. March 15, 2021 (related to baby boxes)
• Texas: HB 1843 – In Opposition. Safe Haven Baby Boxes, House Human Services Committee, March 23, 2021 (personal letter)

News and Commentary

2024

2023

• Lubbock City Council approves installation of third Safe Haven Baby Box in Texas, Live Action News, February 16, 2024
• Video Safe Haven Baby Family”is raising money to bring Baby Box to Palestine, KLST-TV, March 21, 2024 (Texas-Indiana connection)
• Safe Haven baby box to be installed at Abilene Fire Station 7, KXVA-TV, March 29, 2024
• Baby boxes limit family preservation options for Texans in crisis, Dallas Morning News, March 29, 2024(Paywall; we used Bravo to get in)
• Abilene becomes 1st in Texas to host anonymous program for parents to surrender infants: Safe Haven Baby Box, Concho Valley Homepage, Apri 3, 2024
• “Now we have a resource for these parents,” Texas’ first Safe Haven Baby Box in Abilene , KEYE-TV, April 5, 2024
• Lubbock first baby box to be blessed this week, KMAC-TV, July 16, 2024
• LFR hosts grand opening of 1st safe haven baby box for the South Plains, KCBD-TV, July 18, 2024
• Lubbock baby box supporters reflect on newborn being found in dumpster, Everything Lubbock, July 23 2024
• ‘Needs to be addressed’: Texas Rep. Geanie Morrison talks Baby Moses Law after state sees uptick in infant abandonments, KPRC-TV, August 21, 2024
• Central Texas woman holds fundraiser for baby box at Lakeway, KVUE-TV, August 23, 2024
• The Woodlands may soon be home to Houston areas’s first Safe Haven Baby Box, KPRC-TV, August 29, 2024
• Infant abandonment has always been an issue, writers of “Baby Moses” law say, Houston Public Media, September 3, 2024
• Corsicana Opens Safe Haven Baby Box, NavCo Chronicle, September 5, 2024
• “Palestine becomes fourth Texas city to install Safe Haven Baby Box, Palestine Herald-Press, October 29, 2024
• Dallam Hartley Counties Healthcare Foundation, Dallham Texan, November 17, 2024
• “Thank God, the baby was alive”| Community advocate calls for action after newborn is found on side of road, KENS-TV, November 190, 2024
• Wolfarth invites community to Safe Haven Baby Box dedication, Everything Lubbock, November 25, 2924
• SAFD joins baby box fundraising initiative, Concho Valley.com, November 27, 2924
• Wolfforth Fire opens region’s 2nd Safe Haven Baby Box, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, December 3, 2024
• First Safe Haven Baby Box blessed in East Texas, KLTV-TV, December 3, 2024

2023

• Hughes bill improving safety, availability of “baby boxes” passes in Texas Senate, KLTV-TV March 16, 2023 (includes video of floor discussion and vote)
• How safe haven drop-off boxes can help parents with safer alternatives, WOAI-TV, May 26, 2023
• Baby Moses’ law expanded to allow for anonymous drop-off of infants in “baby boxes, San Antonio Express-News, June 25, 2023

____________

2023-2024: San Antonio Big $$$$$ Campaign

• City of San Antonio: Proposed Operations and Capital Budget FY 2024
• Press Release Council. John Courage, September 2, 2023 (initial salvo for $250.000; Statement in Support from DA Joe Gonzalez
• Bastard Nation/SSHBBN Letter to San Antonio City Council Governance Committee: Please do not support government Safe Haven Baby Box financing and installation, August 29, 2023
• New “baby boxes” to keep infants safe to be considered by San Antonio City Council, KENS-TV, August 30, 2023
• Freedom from Religion Foundation Action Fund Letter of Opposition to SA Mayor and City Council, September 6, 2023
• Commentary: San Antonio needs to invest in existing Adoption, resources, not baby boxes, San Antonio Express-News September 7, 2023
• Action Alert. Stop San Antonio from Funding $Half a Million in Public Funds for SHBB, SSHBBN/Bastard Nation, September 11, 2023
• Press Release: San Antonio City Council Poised to Pass Unethical and Archiac Social Experiment on Babies to the Tune of Nearly $1/2 Million in Taxpayer Money, SSHBBN & Bastard Nation, September 13, 2023
• “Babies have got to stop dying:” San Antonio one of the first Texas cities to fund infant boxes, San Antonio Express-News, October 1, 2023
• Advocates hoping life saving “baby boxes'”ready to go by end of year, KENS-TV, March 29, 2024
• A box that could save a life, KENS-TV, April 2, 2023
• San Antonio awaits approval of bill for safe haven infant drop-off boxes, Texas Public Radio, May 23, 2023
• Baby Boxes” coming to San Antonio fire stations after expansion of Baby Moses Law, KENS-TV, June 28, 20223
• Odessa Fire Chief believes a Safe Haven would be beneficial here after success in Hobbs, KOSA-TV,
• Coryell Health set to receive first safe haven”baby box” in Texas, Gatesville Messenger, October 3, 2023
• Local pro-life nonprofit raises $20k to installl safe haven box in Abilene for anonymous infant surrender, Big Country, October 10, 2023

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2022

• College Station City Council Agrees to Study Hosting a Safe Haven Newborn Baby Box at a Fire Station, WTAW M/FM, August 31, 2022
• District 9 Councilman Announces Safe Babies SA: A Proposal to Install Life Saving “Baby Boxes” at Safe Haven Locations (press release), September 2, 2022
• Baby Boxes gives parents another option to surrender a baby, KSAT-TV, September 3, 2022
• These will save lives,” City Council proposes safe infant surrender box, San Antonio Express News, September 3, 2022

2021

• Sen. Bryan Hughes introduces bill aimed at keeping abandoned babies safe, Wood County Now, March 10, 2021
• Texas Safe Haven adoption alternatives – Abrazo Adoption Associates/Elizabeth Jurenovich. March 16, 2021
• Texas HB 683 Seeks to Expand Baby Moses Abandonment Age to 1-Year. Why We Oppose by Marley Greiner, Bastard Nation, March 17, 2021 (related to baby boxes)

2018 – 2020

• Advocate promoting baby boxes in Texas, Baytown Sun, June 13, 2020
• Should Texas Adopt the Use of Baby Boxes to Save Unwanted Infants? Texas Hill Country, August 23, 2018
• Local nonprofit working to bring ‘Safe Haven Baby Boxes’ to San Antonio, KENS-TV, October 5, 2018

Updated December 4, 2024