Wisconsin

Overview of Wisconsin law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

Law

SB369/AB369: Passed and signed into law on December 6, 2023. Expands the state’s current Safe Haven law to permit municipalities to install baby boxes at hospitals, fire stations, and law enforcement agency buildings. Law is not yet online.

Legislation

See appropriate Legislative Year page for details on each bill.) 2025 is here; links to other years on that page.

2023

• SB369/AB369: Expands the state’s current Safe Haven law to permit municipalities to install baby boxes at hospitals, fire stations, and law enforcement agency buildings.

Hearings/Testimony/Letters

Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Collection of Submitted Testimony September 21, 2023

News and Commentary

2025

• Howard FIre Rescue adds Safe Haven Baby Box, Howard Press Times, January 9, 2025
• INTERVIEW: First Safe Haven Baby Box in NE Wisconsin to open Saturday in Howard. WBAY-TV, January 15, 2025
• A Lifesaving Legacy, WVCY-FM, February 24 2025

2024

• Two moms looking to save babies” lives with baby box, WAOW-TV, February 22, 2024
• Wisconsin’s first Safe Haven Baby Box being installed in Whitewater, Adams Publishing Group, March 24, 2024
• Elkhorn community raises $15,500 for Safe Haven baby box, WTMJ-TV, March 28, 2024
• Donation received for Installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box in Racine, WGTD-TV, April 9, 2024
• City of Reedsburg to bless Safe Haven Baby Box, WKOW-TV, June 7, 2024
• “Heroic but heartbreaking”: Safe Haven Baby Box opens in Reedsburg, WKOW-TV, June 4, 2024
• Reedsburg gets Wisconsin’s first Safe Haven Baby Box, Wisconsin News, June 18. 2024 (possible paywall)
• Elkhorn adds Wisconsin’s second baby box for anonymous newborn surrender, WTMJ-TV, November 24, 2024
• Wisconsin’s third Safe Haven Bab yBox opens in Racine, WICN-TV, December 10, 2024

2023

• Council member fights to bring Safe Haven Baby Box to Chippewa Falls, LaCross Tribune, March 15 2023
• Chippewa Falls city council approves “Safe Haven ” ordinance, LaCross Tribune, April 24, 2023
• Rep Schutt: Introduces legislation to enhance Safe Haven law, WISPolitics, June 28, 2023
• Schutt continues push for expansion of safe haven laws, WCLO-AM, August 7, 2023
• Kitchens co-authors safe haven baby box bill, Door County Daily News, October 30, 2023
• Rep Schutt: Safe Haven “baby box” bills heads to the Governor,WisPoitics, November 14, 2023
• Gov. Tony Evers set to approve safe haven “baby boxes” expanding ways to give up unwanted newborns, Wisconsin State Journal, December 5, 2023
• Bipartisan bill allows parents to give up unwanted newborns in baby boxes.” Wisconsin Public Radio, December 6, 2023
• Distressed parents can now surrender newborns anonymously in Wisconsin Here’what you need to know, Milwaukee , December 11, 2023
• Communities consider Baby Box option for surrendering babies, Beloit Daily News, December 21, 2023

2021

• Advocate suggests Baby Box addition to WI Safe Haven Law, WJFW-TV, January 13, 2021

2019

• Safe Haven Baby Boxes could be coming to Wisconsin, WSAW-TV,  April 15, 2019 
• Safe Haven Baby Boxes could come to Wisconsin, WAOW-TV, April 16, 2019

Updated: January 25, 2025