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HB1389 • 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 Parental Rights
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Shane Lindauer
Last action
2026-02-26
Official status
Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The specific remedies available for people who sue are not detailed in the official bill text.

Law to Protect Religious Beliefs in Adoption and Foster Care

This law stops government agencies from discriminating against people with religious beliefs in adoption and foster care unless it's necessary for an important reason, but allows them to consider religion when placing children.

What This Bill Does

  • It says that government groups cannot treat someone unfairly because of their sincerely held religious belief in adoption or foster care situations unless there is a compelling government interest and the least restrictive means are used.
  • It lets government groups think about whether a child or their parent shares the same religion as someone who wants to adopt or take care of them when deciding where to place the child.
  • It allows people to sue government agencies if they feel they were treated unfairly because of their religious beliefs in adoption or foster care matters.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People involved in adoption and foster care processes
  • Government agencies that handle adoptions and foster care

Terms To Know

sincerely held religious belief
A deeply personal and genuine religious belief.
compelling government interest
An extremely important reason that the government needs to do something.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what specific remedies are available for people who sue.
  • It is unclear how this law will be applied in real situations.

Amendments

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

HB1389.02.COMH.AMS03

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Tyler Johnson

Filed

Plain English: This amendment does not provide specific changes to the bill and is filed for committee consideration.

  • The official text of the amendment does not specify any concrete changes, making it impossible to describe its effects.
HB1389.02.COMH.AMH001

Filed House Bill (S) • Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn

Failed

Plain English: This amendment aims to modify the Indiana Code regarding family law and juvenile law, but does not provide specific details on what changes it intends to make.

  • The amendment seeks to change parts of the Indiana Code related to family and juvenile laws, but the exact nature of these changes is not specified in the provided text.
  • The official amendment text does not include detailed information about the specific changes proposed, making it difficult to explain concrete modifications.
HB1389.02.COMH.AMH002

Filed House Bill (S) • Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn

X

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to allow certain individuals who are not legal guardians or parents to have more rights in family and juvenile court cases.

  • Allows non-guardians or non-parents to participate in specific family law proceedings under certain conditions.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on the exact conditions or types of participation allowed, making it unclear how this will be implemented in practice.
HB1389.02.COMH.AMH003

Filed House Bill (S) • Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn

X

Plain English: This amendment changes how Indiana handles certain family law cases involving children.

  • The amendment modifies the Indiana Code to adjust procedures for handling specific types of family law and juvenile cases involving children.
  • The official text does not provide detailed specifics about which parts of the Indiana Code are being changed or what exact modifications will be made, making it hard to explain further concrete changes.
HB1389.02.COMH.AMH004

Filed House Bill (S) • Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn

Failed

Plain English: This amendment aims to modify the Indiana Code regarding family law and juvenile law, but does not provide specific details on what changes it intends to make.

  • The amendment seeks to change parts of the Indiana Code related to family and juvenile laws, but the exact nature of these changes is not specified in the provided text.
  • The official amendment text does not include detailed information about the specific changes or additions it proposes to make to the Indiana Code.
HB1389.02.COMH.AMH005

Filed House Bill (S) • Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn

Failed

Plain English: This amendment aims to modify the Indiana Code regarding family law and juvenile law, but does not provide specific details on what changes it intends to make.

  • The amendment seeks to change parts of the Indiana Code related to family and juvenile laws, but the exact nature of these changes is not specified in the provided text.
  • The official amendment text does not include detailed information about the specific changes or additions it proposes to make to the Indiana Code.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-02-26 House

    Public Law 43

  3. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  5. 2026-02-23 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  6. 2026-02-19 House

    House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 300: yeas 84, nays 12

  7. 2026-02-19 House

    Motion to concur filed

  8. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Returned to the House with amendments

  9. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 194: yeas 44, nays 0

  10. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  11. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Senator Donato added as third sponsor

  12. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Senators Gaskill, Alexander added as cosponsors

  13. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  14. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senator Walker G added as second sponsor

  15. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senator Buchanan added as cosponsor

  16. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senators Deery, Byrne, Brown L added as cosponsors

  17. 2026-02-05 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary

  18. 2026-02-03 House

    Referred to the Senate

  19. 2026-02-02 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 196: yeas 69, nays 29

  20. 2026-02-02 House

    Senate sponsor: Senator Johnson T

  21. 2026-01-29 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  22. 2026-01-29 House

    Amendment #2 (Garcia Wilburn) failed; Roll Call 158: yeas 26, nays 63

  23. 2026-01-29 House

    Amendment #3 (Garcia Wilburn) failed; Roll Call 159: yeas 29, nays 62

  24. 2026-01-27 House

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  25. 2026-01-13 House

    Representatives Jeter, DeVon, Heaton added as coauthors

  26. 2026-01-08 House

    Authored by Representative Lindauer

  27. 2026-01-08 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

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

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.

Adoption and foster care matters.

Prohibits a governmental entity from discriminating against a person in adoption and foster care matters based on the person's sincerely held religious belief, unless the discriminatory act as applied to the person is required to advance a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of advancing the interest. Specifies that a governmental entity may consider whether a person involved in adoption or foster care matters shares the same religion or faith tradition as a child or the child's parent when considering placement of a child. Allows a person to bring a cause of action against a governmental entity for discriminating against the person, or raise a violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, and allows for certain remedies. Provides that there is a two year statute of limitation for a discrimination claim.