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HB1264 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.

Children
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Ryan Lauer
Last action
2026-01-27
Official status
House Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the nature of 'certain requirements' for providing additional information upon request.

Bill for Public Child Fatality Information

This bill requires the Indiana Department of Child Services to disclose public information about child deaths or near-deaths, and allows them to provide additional details upon request.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Child Services to disclose certain information regarding child fatalities or near fatalities to the public.
  • Allows the Department to provide additional information regarding cases of child fatalities or near fatalities upon request, subject to certain requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Indiana Department of Child Services
  • People who want information about child deaths or near-deaths

Terms To Know

Department of Child Services (DCS)
A government agency that helps protect children from abuse and neglect.
Near fatalities
Cases where a child almost dies because of abuse or neglect.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify exactly what information must be shared with the public.
  • It is unclear under what conditions additional details can be provided to those requesting more information about cases.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1264.01.INTR.AMH01

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Ryan Lauer

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules about when and how information can be shared with federal agencies in family law cases.

  • Adds restrictions on sharing certain types of information with federal entities in family law proceedings.
  • The exact details of what information cannot be shared are not specified, making it unclear which specific data is protected.
  • It's uncertain how this amendment will interact with existing state and federal laws regarding information sharing.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-27 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Family and Children Services

  2. 2026-01-23 House

    Referred to the Senate

  3. 2026-01-22 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 77: yeas 92, nays 0

  4. 2026-01-22 House

    Senate sponsor: Senator Johnson T

  5. 2026-01-22 House

    Representative DeVon added as coauthor

  6. 2026-01-22 House

    Representative Goss-Reaves removed as coauthor

  7. 2026-01-20 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  8. 2026-01-20 House

    Representatives Goss-Reaves, Jackson C, McGuire added as coauthors

  9. 2026-01-14 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  10. 2026-01-06 House

    Authored by Representative Lauer

  11. 2026-01-06 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.
Child fatality information.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.

Child fatality information.

Provides that the department of child services (department) shall disclose to the public certain information regarding child fatalities or near fatalities. Provides that, upon request, the department may provide additional information regarding cases of child fatalities or near fatalities subject to certain requirements. Makes technical and conforming changes.