A Look at Safe Haven Baby Box Legislation Across the U.S.

by Jeff Johnston | April 8, 2026 | Life

All 50 states have Safe Haven laws that help prevent infant abandonment by allowing a mother to safely surrender her child while remaining anonymous. Now, many states are expanding those laws to protect even more newborns.

Texas was the first state to pass a Safe Haven law, also known as the Baby Moses law, in 1999, as the Charlotte Lozier Institute recently reported. The pro-life research organization explained the impetus for the legislation:

In 1999 alone, Texas had 13 incidents of child abandonment with three of them resulting in the infants’ deaths. Sadly, until the advent of the Baby Moses Law, there was no protocol in the United States to prevent infant abandonment. While the Texas legislature originally sought to prevent infant abandonment in its own state with this law, it inspired safe haven legislation throughout the country.

The Institute added:

Texas’s law originated from the biblical story of baby Moses, who, as an infant, was left in a basket on the banks of the Nile River. His mother did this to save her son from infanticide at the hands of the Egyptians, who had been commanded by their Pharoah to kill all the firstborn sons of the Jewish people.

Thus, Texas drew biblical inspiration for the title of its law, in part, to highlight the great sacrifice that a mother makes in deciding to relinquish her child at a safe haven.

Texas’ law allows parents to relinquish their infant, up to 60 days old, at designated safe places, like hospitals, fire stations or emergency medical services stations – without facing child abandonment charges.

Every state in the nation followed Texas’ lead and passed similar laws, with varying requirements for where the baby could be dropped off and the age of the child. The Charlotte Lozier Institute said that 5,068 infants have been saved by these laws as of October 2025.

With many states expanding their laws, most often with bipartisan support, here’s an update of recently passed or currently proposed legislation.

Alaska allows the surrender of infants younger than 21 days to individuals like doctors, peace officers and fire fighters. To save even more lives, the state Senate advanced a bill to allow for the use of “infant safety devices,” also known as “baby boxes.” Senate Bill 09 would allow the climate-controlled, secure incubators at hospitals, emergency rooms, health clinics, police and fire departments.

Arizona Senate Bill 1253 adds a provision to its current Safe Haven law that allows a mother to surrender her newborn to the hospital directly after birth – without first being discharged and then returning with the infant. SB 1253 passed the Senate 26-1-3 and is currently moving through the House of Representatives.

California is considering two laws that would help parents unable to care for their newborn. According to California Family Council, “AB 1628 extends the time frame women can surrender their baby from 72 hours to 30 days, allowing women more time to contemplate their decision.”

The Focus on the Family ally described the second bill:

AB 2073 authorizes the use of regulated infant safety devices … at designated Safe Surrender sites. These devices offer an additional safe, anonymous option for parents who may be unwilling to make the direct face-to-face surrender. Baby boxes have been installed across more than20 states.

Both measures are in the early stages of consideration by the California Legislature.

The Colorado General Assembly passed HB26-1024 with unanimous approval in the House (65-0) and in the Senate (35-0). The bill expands the time during which a parent may surrender their child from 72 hours to 30 days. It also requires the state’s Department of Human Services to adopt a process for either parent to reunify with the child at a later date. The legislation has gone to Governor Jared Polis for signing.

The Georgia Legislature passed House Bill 350, a measure which authorizes “newborn safety devices,” at medical facilities, fire and police stations, and ambulance services. The bill was named the Eliza Jane Warner Act, in honor of a newborn who died after abandonment by her mother in 2019. The Act passed the House with a vote of 164-4 and the Senate with a vote of 49-1. It has gone to Governor Brian Kemp for signing.

Louisiana’s House Bill 476 aims to increase awareness of its Safe Haven Law by requiring public secondary schools to post flyers about the law in restrooms. The bill has moved on to its third reading in the House, and, if passed, would move on to the Senate.

Baby box legislation was introduced into the Nebraska Legislature in 2025. Legislative Bill 214 advanced from the Health and Human Services Committee and is awaiting debate by the full legislature (Nebraska has a single-chamber legislature).

Nebraska Family Alliance, a Focus on the Family-allied pro-life organization, supports the measure, saying it “strengthens Nebraska’s Safe Haven law by authorizing the installation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, padded, temper-controlled devices with motion sensors and dual-alarm systems, at fire stations for safe and anonymous surrender of a newborn infant ninety days old or younger.”

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed Wisconsin Act 94 into law on March 13, increasing the time in which a parent can anonymously surrender an infant from 72 hours to 30 days.

Christianity teaches that human life has value and dignity because men and women are made in the image of God. The early church carried this belief from Judaism and declared that abortion, abandonment and infanticide were grievous sins.

From the church’s very beginnings, Christians labored to protect life and bring an end to practices that devalued and destroyed preborn and newborn lives. Safe Haven and Baby Box laws carry on that tradition, and the Daily Citizen applauds the expansion of those laws in many states.

To engage more with pro-life, pro-family measures in your state, connect with your state-based family policy council.

If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and want to learn more about your options, you can visit My Choice Network.

Related articles and resources:

Become an Option Ultrasound Life Advocate

Christianity and Cultural Change

Dealing With Unplanned Pregnancy

Firefighter Adopts Newborn He Rescued From Safe Haven Baby Box: ‘She Is Very Loved’

The Great Christian Tradition of Protecting Preborn Babies and Opposing Abortion

I Am Pro-Life

I’m Pregnant, Now What?

The History of Christianity and Abortion

My Choice Network