Legislation 2026 | Stop Baby Boxes Now!

Legislation related to safe haven baby boxes in the United States. Bill descriptions and map are for 2026 state legislative sessions. Prior legislative bill analyses include the 2025, 2024 2023 and 2022 sessions. Analysis of traditional Safe Haven legislation (not baby boxes) is here.

New map up shortly

KEY: Active • Enacted • Dead/In Limbo • Session Dates

Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc. prides itself in taking “no taxpayer funds” to pay for boxes. This is not true. Several states hae passed bills to the establish grants to pay for baby boxes. Grant and other public funding schemes are noted in individual bill summaries.

It’s difficult to determine if individual states include an ICWA protection or their own Indian protection law written into their SH/SHBB statutes. If you see errors in the legislative information below, please let us know

About the and icons

Bill would authorize Baby Abandonment Box installation/use in state.

Add-on legislation to current laws that already authorize boxes. Add-ons include, but are not limited, to authorization for state funding; authorization for additional baby box locations; increase in age babies can be boxed; addition of baby box “education” in public school curriculum

Bill is marginally connected to baby box legislation

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ALASKA

SB 9 Legislative Page – carried over from 2025

SB9 Summary: Amends the Alaska Safe Haven law to authorize installation of baby abandonment boxes located at hospitals, freestanding medical facilities, offices of private physicians, municipal police stations, rural health clinics, state trooper posts, fire stations or other facilities designated by commissioner as an appropriate location for a “device.” State Appropriations: No. Age Limit: 21 days or less. ICWA Protections: Yes . OBC Access: Yes. Senate Amendments: Summary here. Several including addition of tribal health partners as locations and requirements for box size and signage. Alaska Legislative Session: January 20-May 20, 2026. Crossover Deadline: None

Sponsor: S en Robert Myers (R)

Support: Anchorage Fire Department, Alaska Right to Life, Right to Life Interior Alaska, Alaska Childens’ Trust, Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association

Actions:

January 10. 2025: Prefiled
January 22, 2025: Introduced; 1st Reading, Referred to Senate Health & Human Services Committee
February 20, 2025: Hearing in Senate Health and Social Services Committee. Documents for hearing, submitted testimony/letters here. (Results unknown)
February 25, 2025: Hearing in Health and Social Services Commitee; Bill held over for further discussion.
March 13, 2024: Hearing in Health and Social Services Commitee
March 14, 2025: Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
March 3 1, 2025: Hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee; Set aside for further discussion
April 11, 2025: Hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee; no vote. More discussion needed especially regarding safety and inspection.
May 12, 2025: Hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee: No recommendation 3-1. Referred to Senate Rules Committee
May 20, 2025: Sine Die. Carried over to 2026

Companion Bill HB64

Sponsor: Rep Frank Tomaszewski

Actions

January 24, 2025: Introduced; Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
May 2, 2025: Referred to House Judiciary Committee
May 15, 2025: Hearing in House Judiciary; No vote; Held over
May 20, 2025: Sine Die. Carried over to 2026

GEORGIA

HB 350 Legislative Page – carried over from 2025

HB 350 Amends Georgia Safe Haven law to authorize installation of baby abandonment boxes; incudes requirements and specs for boxes; authorizes ambulance services to accept physical custody of newborns Same bill failed to meet cross-over deadline last session. Age Limit: 30 days or less. State Appropriations: No. ICWA Protections: No. OBC Access: No (clean bill pending; March 6, 2025: passed Senate) Georgia Legislative Session: January 12, 2026-April 6, 2026. Crossover Deadline: None

Sponsor: Rep Mike Cameron (R)

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Bringing Newborn Safety Devices to Georgia, Georgia Right to Life

Actions:

February 10, 2025: Introduced
February 11, , 2025: 1st Reading
February 12, 2025: 2nd Reading
February 19, 2025: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee unanimously
March 6, 2025. Failed to meet cross-over deadline: Dead
April 2, 2025: (Last day of session). According to BB advocates, the bill tacked on to another House bill (we do not find the number) and reportedly passed House 146-15). It was not heard in the Senate.
April 4, 2025: Withdrawn; Recommitted (It will return next session)

MICHIGAN

HB 4067 Legislative Page – carried over from 2025

HB 4067 Summary: Same as previous Senate bill except this session introduced in the House. Amends Michigan safe haven law authorizes baby abandonment boxes; include box specs box site: requires sites to 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:

The known date and time of surrender of the newborn.
The address of the location of surrender of the newborn.
Name and contact information.
Family medical information.
Whether or not the information provided may be shared wit the child and prospective adoptive parent.

Age Limt: 3 days or less. State Appropriations: No. ICWA Protections: No. OBC Access: No. Varied restrictions depending on DOB. No unrestricted access for any group. Michigan Legislative Session: January 14-December 31, 2026. Crossover Deadline” None

Sponsor: Rep Wiliam Bruck (R) (introduced) and numerous co-sponsors

Support: Safe Haven baby Boxes Inc. Salt Life Global, Right to Life Michigan, Wyandotte Rotary Club

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, Michigan Adoptee Rights Coalition, Stop Safe Haven Baby Boxes Now, Saving Our Sisters, National Association of Adoptees, and Parents, Michigan Council for Maternal & Child Health, Michigan Poverty Law Program, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, Family Law Section of SMB, Michigan Association of Fire Fighters, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Actions:

February 13, 2025: Introduced; Referred to House Families and Veterans Committee
August 12, 2025: House Committee on Families and Veterans Hearing, No vote taken, (Hearing does not appear on bill page).

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HB 4069 Legislative Page – carried over from 2025

HB6069 Summary: Same as previous Senate bill except this session introduced in the House, This is a tie-bar bill linked to HB 4067. Under Michigan’s legislative process, both bills must pass in order for each to be enacted. Bill only adds baby boxes to current safe haven law. . Michigan Legislative Session: January 14-December 31, 2026. Crossover Deadline: None

Sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R ) (introduced with numerous co-sponsors

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc., Right to Life Michigan, Wyandotte Rotary Club

Actions:

February 13, 2025: Introduced; Referred to House Families and Veterans Committee
August 12, 2025: House Committee on Families and Veterans Hearing, No vote taken, (Hearing does not appear on bill page)

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HB4068 Legislative Page

HB4068 Summary: Requires funeral director or agent that assumes custody of a “dead body” of an infant who “survived an attempted abortion” or was placed in a baby abandonment box and later died, to report the death as any other death is reported. . Michigan Legislative Session: January 14-December 31, 2026. Crossover Deadline: None

Sponsor: Rep Mai Xiong (D) (introduced) and numerous co-sponsors

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Right to Life Michigan, Wyandotte Rotary Club

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, Michigan Adoptee Rights Coalition, Stop Safe Haven Baby Boxes Now, Saving Our Sisters, National Association of Adoptees, and Parents, Michigan Council for Maternal & Child Health, Michigan Poverty Law Program, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, Family Law Section of SMB, Michigan Association of Fire Fighters, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Actions:

August 12, 2025: House Committee on Families and Veterans Hearing, No vote taken, (Hearing does not appear on bill page)

February 13, 2025: Introduced; Referred to House Families and Veterans Commitee

MINNESOTA

HF1903 Legislative Page (Companion to SF2282) – carried over from 2025

HF1903 Summary. Amends Minnesota’s Safe Haven law to authorize installation of baby abandonment boxes at hospitals, fire stations, and emergency service facilities; incudes requirements and specs for boxes. Requires FDA approval for box. FDA has ruled that the device is not a “medical device,” so we are not sure if that is an approval as defined by the general use of the term. The boxes are not UL listed. Similar bill failed to get a committee hearing in 2024. Rep. Novotny is chair of Health, Finance and Policy Commitee this session, though the Minnesota House is evenly split between the parties and its governance is subject to a power sharing agreement between the parties that will go into effect on March 17, where chair of committees will alternate for each hearing. Age limit: 7 days or less; State Appropriations: No; ICWA Protections: Yes; OBC Access: Yes. Minnesota Legislative Session: Ferbuary 17-May 18, 2026. . Crossover Deadline:: None

Sponsors: Rep Paul Novotny (R) | Rep John Huot (D) | Rep John Burkel (R)

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc

Actions:

March 5, 2025: Introduced; Referred to House Health, Finance, and Policy Committee
March 17,2025: Hearing in House Health, Finance, and Policy Committee’ Laid over to clean- up language to clarify rural locations status
May 19, 2025: No action. Did not move in special session negotiations. Carry-over to 2026.

Companion Bill SF2282 – carried over from 2025

Sponsor: Sen Eric Lucero

Actions:

March 26, 2025: Introduced: Referred to Senate Health and Human Services Committee
May 19, 2025: No action. Did not move in special session negotiations. Carry-over to 2026

NEBRASKA

LB 214 Legislative Page – carried over from 2025

LB 214 Summary: Re-hash of last’s year’s bill that passed but with baby abandonment boxes amended out. Amends the Nebraska Safe Haven law to authorize installation of baby abandonment boxes located at fire stations, hospitals staffed 24/7. Authorizes local government entities to fund boxes. Age Limit: 9o days or less. State Appropriations: $15.000 to funds grants for installation of boxes, but no for purchase. Authorizes local government entities to fund boxes. ICWA Protections: No. OBC Access: Restricted; depending on date of birth, but birthparent consent is required. Adoptive parent consent required for those born before July 20, 2002. NOTE: Nebraska has unicameral legislature. Nebraska Legislative Session: January 7-April 17 2026, Crossover Deadline: None (Unicam)

Sponsor: Sen Rick Holdcroft

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Voices for Children in Nebraska, Nebraska Family Allialnce, Nebraska Right to Life, Susan B Anthony Pro-Life for America

Actions:

January 14, 2025: Introduced
January 16,, 2025: Referred to Health and Human Services Committe
March 6, 2025: Hearing Health and Human Services Commitee’ No action
May 30, 2025: Dead/. Sine Die. Carried over to 2026 session
January 8, 2026: Filed

NEW YORK

S7904 Legislative Page – carried over from 2025

SO7904 Summary: Amends New York’s Safe Haven law to authorize the installation of baby abandonment boxes at a facility staffed 24/7 including but not limited to hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and emergency medical service facilities. Age Limit: 30 days old or less. State Appropriations: No. ICWA Protections: No. OBC Access: Yes with no restrictions or conditions. New York Legislative Session: January 7-June 4, 2026. Crossover Deadline: None

Sponsor: Sen Steven T Chan (R)

Support: Safe Haven Baby Boxes

Actions:

May 13, 2025: Introduced; Referred to Senate Children and Families Committee

A8649 Legislative Page Companion to S7904 (above)

Sponsor: Jaime Williams (D)

Actions:

May 22, 2025: Introduced; Referred to Assembly Children and Families Committee

NORTH CAROLINA

SB 91 Legislative Page – carried over from 2025

SB 91 Summary: Amends the North Carolina Safe Haven law to authorize installation of baby abandonment boxes located at ERs, fire stations, and law enforcement facilities; specs for boxes, including annual state-inspection of the box. North Carolina is a Home Rule state and 2 boxes are installed there without state law. .Age Limit: 30 days or less. State Appropriations: No, but language seems open for possibility. April 15 2025: Amended to public and private funding. ICWA Protections: No. OBC Access: No. North Carolina Legislative Session: April 21-August 3, 2026. Crossover Deadline: April 30, 2026

Sponsor: Sen Carl Ford (R), Sen Ted Alexander (R).

Support:

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, Saving Our Sisters, National Association of Adoptees, and Parents, Michigan Adoption Rights Coalition. NOTE: Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc opposes because the bill requires 24/7 staffing which force the removal of 2 boxes in the state placed under Home Rule.

Actions:

February 12, 2025: Filed
February 13, 2025: 1st Reading; Referred to Senate Rules & Operations Committee
March 20 2024: Withdrawn from Senate Rules & Operations Committee; Referred to Senate Health Care Committee; If passed favorable in that committee it will be re-referred to Rules & Operations Committee
May 8, 2025: Failed to meet crossover deadline . Carried over to 2026

Companion Bill HB139

Sponsor: Rep Jennifer Balkom (R), Rep Ray Pickett (R), Rep Larry Potts (R), Rep Bill Ward (R)

Actions:

February 17, 2025: Filed
February 18, 2025: 1st reading in House; referred to House Judiciary II Committee; if favorable to House Health Committee, then to House Rules and Operations Committee
April 15, 2025: Hearing in House Judiciary II Committee; Sub Bill passed favorable. Re-referred to House Health Committee
April 29, 2025: Hearing in House Health Committee; Passed Favorable; Re-referred to House Rules, Calendar, Operations of the House Committees
May 1, 2025: House 2nd and 3rd readings: Do Pass 75-33; Sent to Senate
May 5, 2025: Referred to Senate Rules and Operations Committee; Passed 1st reading
July 31, 2025: No action taken. Carried over to 2025

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VIRGINIA

HB542 Legislative Page

HB542 Summary: Provision of abortion; informed written consent; newborn safety devices. Requires the physician or advanced practice registered nurse authorized to perform an abortion, induction, or termination to provide certain written information regarding newborn safety devices for the purposes of effectuating a pregnant woman’s informed written consent prior to the abortion. Virginia’s SHBB law went into effect July 1, 2022. It has 1 box. Virginia Legislative Session: January 14-March 14, 2026. Crossover Deadline: Feruary 17, 2026

Sponsors: Del Karen Hamilton (R)

Support:

Oppose: Bastard Nation

Action:

January 13, 2026: Prefiled

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Passed

Carried Over

Dead

Updated: January 13, 2026