SB 52 Indiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Grandparent visitation.

SB 52 (Grandparent visitation) is a procedural bill that directs the legislative council to assign specific topics related to grandparent visitation rights to a study committee. It does not create new law or directly affect individuals; instead, it initiates a formal review process. The bill passed the House unanimously (45-0) on January 22, 2026, and was sponsored by Representative Jeter. It remains pending referral to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Jan 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 8, 2025 Last action Jan 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Senate Bill (S) → Senate Bill (H) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten from a substantive law change to a study recommendation. The original version would have established new grandparent visitation rights and procedures, but the amended version now only asks the legislature to create a study committee to examine whether such rights should be expanded in the future.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from enacting immediate grandparent visitation rights to deferring action until a study committee can evaluate the issue during the 2026 legislative interim.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed provisions that would have allowed grandparents with a history of meaningful contact to seek court-ordered visitation rights.

REQUIREMENT

Deleted requirements for parents to submit confidential statements about grandparent visitation concerns and court procedures for reviewing those statements.

Added a requirement for the legislative council to assign a study committee to examine grandparent visitation rights during the 2026 interim.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027, when the study recommendation expires.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 22, 2026

How they voted

44–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 48

Jan 22, 2026

D Democratic9

9 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican39

35 Yea 4

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third reading: passed; Roll Call 47: yeas 45, nays 0

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor