Indiana Lawmakers Push for More Transparency in Child Death Cases

New legislation would require the Department of Child Services to release more details about its handling of child abuse investigations involving fatalities or near-fatalities.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Indiana lawmakers are advancing a bill that would mandate the Department of Child Services (DCS) to complete public summaries outlining how the agency responded to abuse reports in cases involving child fatalities or near fatalities. The legislation would also allow DCS to provide basic information to the media about such cases and require the agency to give lawmakers unredacted reports on how it and the courts handled abuse allegations.

Why it matters

The proposed law aims to increase transparency and accountability when children die after prior contact with the child welfare system. Currently, DCS is limited in how it can respond to incorrect public information about its investigations, which the bill's author says the measure is intended to address.

The details

House Bill 1257 would require DCS to respond to media inquiries within 10 days, providing details like the child's age, gender, and any prior DCS involvement. The bill would also mandate in-person contact with alleged victims before DCS can close an abuse or neglect assessment or dismiss a juvenile court case. A related measure, House Bill 1036, was also approved by the committee.

  • The Senate Family and Children Services Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 1257 on Monday.
  • House Bill 1257 previously passed the Indiana House unanimously and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

The players

Julie McGuire

Republican Representative from Indianapolis and the author of House Bill 1257.

Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS)

The state agency that investigates child abuse and neglect cases, which would be subject to the new reporting requirements under the proposed legislation.

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What they’re saying

“The measure is aimed at increasing transparency and accountability when children die after prior contact with the child welfare system.”

— Julie McGuire, Representative (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

What’s next

House Bill 1257 now moves to the full Indiana Senate for consideration after passing the Senate Family and Children Services Committee unanimously.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation seeks to provide more public disclosure and oversight of the Indiana Department of Child Services' handling of child abuse investigations involving fatalities or near-fatalities, with the goal of improving transparency and accountability around the child welfare system's response to these tragic cases.