Legislation: Baby Box Bills

Current legislation related to safe haven baby boxes in the United States.

Updated: bill descriptions and map are for 2024 state legislative sessions. Prior legislative bill analyses include the sessions from 2023 and 2022. Analysis of traditional Safe Haven legislation (not baby boxes) is here.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted Safe Haven laws. The bills below involve
proposed amendments to those laws, typically to add baby boxes to existing law. Updated as of February 18, 2024.

US Legislation 2024

KEY: Active • Enacted • Dead/In Limbo

Colorado

SB83 Legislative Page

Summary of SB83: Authorizes a fire station, hospital, or community clinic emergency center (authorized facility) to install a newborn safety device on its premises for parents who voluntarily relinquish their child who is 72 hours old or younger. Facility that installs a newborn safety device is responsible for the cost of the installation and maintenance, shall ensure the dual alarm system is functioning, and shall make information available to the relinquishing parent. Fiscal Note: none

Sponsor: Sen Jim Smallwood

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Oppose: Bastard Nation, Adoptees United, Adoptee Rights Law Center, Missouri Open, New York Adoptee Rights Coalition, Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition, Equal Access Oklahoma, Oklahoma Original Birth Certificates for All Adult Adoptee, Stop Safe Haven Baby Boxes Now

Actions:

January 24, 2024: Introduced; Referred to Senate Health and Human Services Committee
February 14, 2024: Hearing scheduled for Senate Health and Human Services Committee; removed from agenda
February 21, 2024: Hearing scheduled in Senate Health and Human Services Committee

Georgia

HB1030 Legislative Page

Summary of HB1030: Amend’s Georgia’ safe haven law to authorize the use of “newborn safety devices” and other changes in safe haven law.

Sponsor: Rep Clint Crowe, et al

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Actions:

January 24, 2024: Introduced
January 25: 2024: 1st reading
January 26, 2024: 2nd reading

Idaho

S1272 Legislative Page

Summary of S1272: Amends Idaho’s safe haven law to authorize the use of “newborn safety devices” at hospitals, fire stations, law enforcement agencies,and medical service providers that are open 24/7. Facilities required to cover all costs. Fiscal note: none

Sponsor: Senate Health and Welfare Committee

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Actions

February 2, 2024: Introduced; 1st reading
February 5, 2024: Referred to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
February 9, 2024: Reported out of Senate Health and Welfare Committee with Do Pass recommendation; Filed for 2nd reading.
February 12, 2024: 2nd second time; filed for 3rd reading

Maryland

SB912 Legislative Page | SB873 Legislative Page |HB1323 Legislative Page

SB912 /SB873/HB1323Summary: Companion bills that amend Maryland’s safe haven law to authorize the use of “newborn safety devices;” increases age of eligible infants to 60 days; requires Secretary of Human Services to issue an annual report on the cost of the program and the number of infants surrendered under the SH law.

Sponsor: Sen Mike McCay; Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Rep Wiliam Wivell

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Actions SB912 & S873

February 2, 2024: Introduced; 1st reading; Referred to Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
February 7, 2024: Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee schedules hearing for February 29, 2024

Actions HB1323

February 9, 2024: Introduced; 1st reading in House Judiciary Committee
February 10, 2024: House Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for February 29, 2024

Michigan

SB627 Legislative Page

SB 627 Summary: Carry-over from 2023. Amends Michigan’s safe haven law to include use of Safe Haven Baby Boxes/newborn safety devices. Box sites must be open 24/7; Department of Health and Human Services required to post location of boxes on its website. Infants will be turned over to private child placing agencies for adoption placement. Information regarding the surrender shall be accessible to child placing agency:

(i) The known date and time of surrender of the newborn.
(ii) The address of the location of surrender of the newborn.
(iii) Name and contact information.
(iv) Family medical information.
(v) Whether or not the information provided may be shared with
the child and prospective adoptive parent.

SB629 Legislative Page

S B 629 is a tie-bar bill linked to SB627. Under Michigan’s legislative process, both bills must pass in order for each to be enacted. SB629 only adds baby boxes to current safe haven law.

Sponsors: Sen. Jon Bumstead, Sen Rick Outman, Sen John Damoose, Sen Mark Huizenga,

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Actions:

November 1, 2023: Introduced; Referred to Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary & Public Safety; Reassigned to Committee on Housing and Human Services

HB5407 Legislative Page

HB5407 Summary: Amends Michigan’s safe haven law to authorize municipalities to install “baby drop boxes” in fire stations at their own expense.

Sponsor: Rep William Bruck

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Actions:

January 23, 2024: Introduced
January 24, 2024: Referred to House Families, Children, and Seniors Committee

Minnesota

HF3873 Legislative Page

HF3873 Summary: Amends Minnesota Safe Haven laws to include use of “newborn safety devices” at hospitals, fire stations, and other locations with 24/7 staffing.

Sponsor: Rep PaulNovotny; Rep John Huot

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Actions:

February 15, 2024: Introduced; 1st reading’; referred to Senate Health Finance and Policy Committee

Nebraska

LB876 Legislative Page

LB876 Summary: Amends Nebraska’s safe haven law to include use of Safe Haven Baby Boxes/newborn safety devices by biological parent(s) or their authorized agent. Age of babies extended to 90 days. (1) Subject to available funding the state Department of Health and Human Services shall award grants to be used for the installation of a newborn safety device, but not for the purchase or ongoing operation of a box, unless the lack of funding jeopardizes the use of an installed box. The legislature will set aside $15,000 for this. (2) $50,000 will be appropriated for HHS for FY 2024-25 and $10,000 each year thereafter, to develop, implement, and maintain a public information program to inform the general public about the SH law. This includes an interactive website, distribution of educational literature including decals and placards, development of educational materials, training for EMTs, law enforcement, or any member of the public expressing an interest in such training. Fiscal Note: $65,000. ($15000 grants to locations, 2023-24); $50,000 maintenance for 6 years.

NOTE: The Nebraska legislature is unicameral (only 1 house). All members are called Senators.

Sponsor: Sen. Rick Holdcroft

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc.; Voices for Children in Nebraska

Actions:

January 3, 2024: Introduced
January 5, 2023: Referred to Legislature Judiciary Committee
February 7, 2024: Hearing in Legislature Judiciary Committee. Testimony taken; No action taken

New Hampshire

HB1607

HB1607 Summary: Short, poorly written bill amends New Hampshire’s safe haven law to include the use of Safe Haven Baby Boxes/newborn safety devices by parents; extends age of infants to 61 days.

Sponsor: Rep Glenn Cordelli

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Actions:

January 3, 2023: Introduced; Referred to House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs (must be out of committee by March 21, 2024–all bills in NH receive hearings and a recommendation on passage by committees)
February 7, 2024: Hearing scheduled in House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee. Testimony taken. No action taken.

New Jersey

A1181 Legislative Page

A1181 Summary: This bill has been introduced the last few sessions of the legislature. Amends New Jersey safe haven law to authorize use of “newborn safety devices.” Requires newly constructed police stations, fire stations, and hospitals to provide “newborn safety device.” Eliminates requirement that facility be staffed 24/7 in order to qualify for an affirmative defense so long as the infant is left with with an adult employee or newborn safety device.

Sponsor: Rep Carol Murphy

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc.

Actions:

January 9, 2024: Introduced; Referred to Assembly Children, Family, and Food Security Committee

New Mexico

SB91 Legislative Page

SB91 Summary:

Sponsor:

Support:

Oppose:

Actions:

Pennsylvania

SB267 Legislative Page

SB267 Summary: Carry-over from 2023. Adds Urgent Care facilities to authorized traditional Safe Haven drop-off points; adds Urgent Care facilities to baby box locations as long as a 911 alarm system is in place.

Sponsor: Sen. Michele Brooks et al.

Support: For some reason Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc is complaining about this bill even though it supports similar bills in other states.

Actions:

January 31, 2023: Introduced
April 24, 2023: 3rd reading; Passed 50-0; Sent to House
April 25, 2023: Referred to House Judiciary Committee

South Carolina

H4687 Legisla tive Page

Summary of H4687 Amends South Carolina’s safe haven law to include the use of Safe Haven Baby Boxes/newborn safety devices; adds 911 pick-up service to traditional SH laws. Contains no ICWA-type protections.

Sponsor: Rep Chandra Dillard

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc

Actions

December 14, 2023: Prefiled and Introduced; referred to House Judiciary Committee

Tennessee

SB1671 Legilative Page|HB2067 Legislative Pag e

Summary of SB1671/H2067: Requires each county to obtain and maintain a “newborn safety device.”

(1) By December 31, 2024, DCS in consultation with local officials in each county, shall identify a location to install a newborn safety device in each county of this state. (2) By December 31, 2025, subject to specific appropriation of funds by the general assembly, the department shall issue funds to each county to pay for the installation of a newborn safety device. The funds issued to a county must only be used for installation and other costs associated with maintaining proper operation of the device. (3) No later than December 31, 2024, and no later than each December 31 thereafter of a year for which the general assembly makes a specific appropriation of funds, the department shall submit a report to the speaker of the senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the health and welfare committee of the senate, and the health committee of the House of Representatives, on the status of each county’s device. Fiscal note:

Sponsors: Sen Becky Massey; Rep Ed Butler

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc

Actions S1571

January 10, 2024: Introduced in Senate Judiciary Committee; Passed on 1st consideration
January 11, 2024: Passed on 2nd consideration
January 20, 2024: Recommended Do Pass,
February 27, 2024: Calendar

Actions HB2067

January 24, 2024: Introduced
January 30, 2024: Assigned to House Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee
February 7, 2024: Placed on calendar of Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee for 2/13/2024
February 14, 2024: Action deferred to hearing on 2/20/2024
February 20, 2024: Passed Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee; Referred to House Civil Justice Committee
February 28, 2024: Hearing scheduled in House Civil Justice Committee

Wyoming

HB0155 Legislative Page

Summary of HB155: Wyoming has no SHBB law, but this bill authorizes the state to create a temporary grant program of $300,000 in taxpayer money for safe haven locations to “purchase” and mange a SHBB. Only one grant will be available for each location. Sponsors of the bill don’t seem to know that baby boxes are leased for 5 years, not purchased. The bill contains no standards for box construction, safety, or operation. Wyoming is a Dillon’s Law state and we will look in to how this impacts the bill. Fiscal note: $300,000 (location grants)

Sponsor: Rep Rachel Rodriguez-Wiliams

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes

Actions:

February 12, 2024: Received for introduction
February 16, 2024: Not accepted for introduction

Dead/Carried Over

Indiana

SB60 Legislative Page

Summary of SB60 is pending. We told them so! Walks back much of last year’s SB345, which authorized box providers to bypass the state and place babies directly with adoption agencies.

requires the Indiana clearinghouse for information on missing children and missing endangered adults to cooperate with licensed child placing agencies for purposes of locating missing children.
amends the definition of “safe haven infant” to provide that the term means any infant taken into custody by an emergency medical services provider under specified circumstances.
Amends the definition of “abandoned infant” for purposes of juvenile law to provide that the term does not include a safe haven infant. Requires an emergency medical services provider who takes custody of a safe haven infant at a location other than a hospital to transport the safe haven infant to a hospital.
Requires the department of child services (department) to do the following: (1) Create and maintain: (A) a means by which licensed child placing agencies may opt to receive notice of a safe haven infant having been taken into custody by an emergency medical services provider; and (B) a registry of licensed child placing agencies that have opted to receive notice. (2) Accurately track the number of safe haven infants taken into custody by emergency medical services providers. Requires a licensed child placing agency that assumes custody of a safe haven infant to immediately notify the department that the licensed child placing agency has assumed custody of the safe haven infant. Provides that if a licensed child placing agency assumes custody of a safe haven infant from an emergency medical services provider with which the licensed child placing agency, or an employee of the licensed child placing agency, has a financial relationship that could be construed as providing an incentive for the emergency medical services provider to give custody of the safe haven infant to the licensed child placing agency, the licensed child placing agency: (1) may not place the safe haven infant; and (2) shall, without unnecessary delay after taking custody of the safe haven infant, transfer custody of the safe haven infant to the department. Provides that if the department or a licensed child placing agency files a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship, the petition must be accompanied by an affidavit attesting to the existence of specified conditions. Specifies that notice to an unnamed or unknown putative parent regarding the surrender of a safe haven infant must be published only in Indiana counties. Makes technical corrections.

Sponsor: Sen Travis Holdman

Support: Conditional Support: (certain sections) Bastard Nation, Adoptees United, Adoptee Rights Law Center, Missouri Open, New York Adoptee Rights Coalition, Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition, Equal Access Oklahoma, Oklahoma Original Birth Certificates for All Adult Adoptees, Stop Safe Haven Baby Boxes

Oppose:

Actions

December 13, 2023: Pre-filed/Introduced
January 8, 2024: 1st reading; Referred to Senate Family and Children’s Services Committee
January 29, 2024: Hearing scheduled in Senate Family and Children’s Services Committee – Not heard
February 7, 2024: Failed to meet legislative deadlines. Dead.

Washington

HB1888 Legislative Page | SB6224 Legislative Page

Summary of HB 1888/SB6224: Companion bills. Amends Washington Safe Haven Law to (1) expand age limit from 72 hours to 31 days of age; (2) allow the use of baby boxes; (3) requires annual public report on cases. Although SHBB brags that the boxes are not funded by public money, the bill requires the following:

The department shall provide grant funding for at least three newborn transfer locations to install, maintain, and provide outreach regarding newborn safety devices. One of the newborn transfer locations provided funding under this subsection must be located in Indian country. The grant funding under this subsection must be provided to newborn transfer locations in populous areas in the following locations: (i) Central Washington; (ii) East of the crest of the Cascade mountain range; and (iii) West of the crest of the Cascade mountain range.

Sponsor: Rep Gina Mosbrucker, Rep Lauren Davis. Sen Phil Fortunato

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc

Oppose: Bastard Nation, Adoptee Rights Law Center, Missouri Open, New York Adoptee Rights Coalition, Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition, Equal Access Oklahoma, Oklahoma Original Birth Certificates for All Adult Adoptees., Stop Safe Haven Baby Boxes Now,

Actions: HB 1888

December 6, 2023: Pre-filed for introduction
January 8, 2024: 1st reading; referred to House Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee
February 6, 2024: Died without further action

Actions: SB6224

January 15, 2024: 1st reading; Referred to Senate Human Services Committee
February 6, 2024: Failed to meet legislative deadlines. Dead.

Updated: February 18, 2024