Wisconsin expands safe haven law to protect more newborns

Wisconsin officials have expanded the state’s safe haven law, giving parents more time to surrender newborn babies safely.

Gov. Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 237 into law last week. The legislation increases the time a parent can legally surrender an infant from 72 hours after birth to 30 days. The measure is now known as the 2025 Wisconsin Act 94.

Under Wisconsin’s safe haven policy, a parent can leave a newborn at certain locations – such as hospitals and fire departments – or with emergency responders, without facing criminal charges. The goal is to ensure infants are immediately protected and placed in safe care rather than abandoned.

Supporters say expanding the surrender window provides parents in difficult situations with additional time to choose life for their child instead of acting out of panic or desperation.

“We applaud the expansion of Wisconsin’s Safe Haven law,” said Heather Weininger, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life.

“Safe Haven laws provide a compassionate option in moments of crisis,” she added. “By extending this window to 30 days, Wisconsin is strengthening protections for vulnerable infants and giving parents more time to choose a safe and loving future for their child.”

The measure also includes several administrative updates tied to safe haven procedures. Officials must offer informational materials explaining parents’ rights, including that they may remain anonymous when surrendering a child and that providing identifying information is voluntary.

The law also clarifies how safe haven procedures apply when authorities think the child is Native American. In those cases, a tribal agent from the child’s tribe may be informed as part of the custody process.

Pro-life advocates have supported safe haven policies for decades as a practical way to protect newborns while offering parents a humane alternative during moments of crisis.

Texas enacted the first safe haven law in 1999. At the time, then-Gov. George W. Bush signed the measure known as the “Baby Moses” law. By 2008, every state had adopted some form of safe haven policy.

Pro-life organizations say more than 5,000 babies nationwide have been rescued through safe haven programs since the policies began spreading across the country.

Rather than treating a crisis pregnancy as a dead end, advocates say safe haven laws provide another option that allows a child the chance to grow up in a safe and loving home.

The National Safe Haven Alliance operates a hotline for parents who may be considering surrendering a newborn: 888-510-BABY (2229).