Action Needed in Indiana for Reasonable Childhood Independence

Several years ago, we had the privilege of weighing in on a model bill being drafted by lawyers at Let Grow to protect “reasonable childhood independence.” This model preserves the right of parents to decide when their children are ready to take a walk or play at a nearby park, without being accused of neglect. We are proud to have championed this model at the American Legislative Exchange Counsel and to host it on our website.

Today, a bill based on that model is coming to Indiana and it needs your help.

The following is a message from Let Grow’s legal consultant, Diane Redleaf, about the bill’s upcoming introduction in the House Judiciary Committee. Please take a moment to weigh in for the sake of parents and children in the Hoosier State.

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We are excited to let you know that “Permissible supervised activity” legislation, HB 1035, sponsored by Rep. Jake Teshka (R.), Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D.). and Rep. Ryan Lauer (R.) will be heard in the Indiana House Judiciary Committee on January 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (Room 156B). The bill being heard is HB 1035 and you can review its language here.

Let Grow has been working closely with the sponsors and with other allies in Indiana [including the Parental Rights Foundation] to support the effort to eliminate the threat of criminal and child neglect charges against parents who let their children engage in ordinary, normal, and age-appropriate independent activities. The language of Indiana’s legislation is very similar to Georgia and Florida laws that passed in 2025. If Indiana passes this law, it will be the 12th state to join the childhood independence movement.

We are asking friends and supporters to please contact Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Chris Jeter (R.) to let him know that you support this legislation. He can be reached at H88@iga.in.gov or by phone at 317-232-9769 or 1-800-382-9841. An email or call should indicate where you live in Indiana, any special background you have (including being a parent or grandparent to children in Indiana or a professional background that you have that makes you particularly concerned about children’s independence), and an indication that you support the bill. You can add a personal reason why this is important to you in just a line or two if you wish.

You can also contact your own representative (if they are on the Judiciary Committee). You can go here to find the name of your representative and how to contact them. This link has the names of the Judiciary Committee members.

If you wish to testify in-person in support of the bill, you must submit this form on the day of the hearing. You can also email our sponsors to find out more information about in-person testimony. To submit written testimony, please email it to Chair Jeter and cc Rep. Teshka at and myself at diane@letgrow.org.

You can watch the livestream here.

You can read yesterday’s IndyStar op-ed by Rep. Teshka and Rep Garcia Wilburn here.

Thank you for your support in getting Indiana to be the next state to pass a reasonable childhood independence law.

Sincerely,

Diane Redleaf

Legal Consultant to Let Grow