Providing additional sites and devices for newborn safe surrender
SB 8 expands safe surrender options for newborns by allowing parents to leave infants safely at additional locations like hospitals, fire stations, or designated facilities, and through new surrender devices (e.g., secure drop boxes). It directly affects parents seeking to surrender newborns without legal repercussions. The law adds specific sites and devices to existing safe surrender protocols, ensuring more accessible and anonymous options. Signed into law by the governor on March 26, 2025, it became effective August 8, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Feb 12, 2025
Signed Aug 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
sb8 h jud am _1 adopted.htm
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sb8 h jud amt _1 adopted.htm
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4 edits
MODERATE
The bill text was significantly revised to clarify and expand the scope of safe-surrender sites. The original text included detailed provisions for newborn safety devices and specific surrender procedures, while the revised version focuses primarily on expanding which entities can be designated as safe-surrender sites and clarifying the bill's title to reflect these changes.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include emergency medical service facilities, police departments, 911 call centers, and sheriff's detachments as safe-surrender sites, in addition to hospitals and health care facilities.
SCOPE
The bill title was rewritten to clearly state that the legislation expands safe-surrender site eligibility to include emergency medical service facilities, police departments, 911 call centers, and sheriff's detachments.
The revised title explicitly clarifies that the bill allows these additional entities to take possession of children and perform necessary protective acts.
REQUIREMENT
Detailed provisions regarding newborn safety devices, including alarm system specifications, testing requirements, and device installation criteria were removed from the text.
DEFINITION
Specific definitions for newborn safety devices and detailed surrender procedures were removed, simplifying the bill text.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 17, 2025
How they voted
31–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 33
Feb 24, 2025
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
38
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Mar 27, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/26/2025 - House Journal
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/26/2025
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 128)
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 93)
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Introduced
Amendment reported by the Clerk
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
With amendments, do pass
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
To House Judiciary
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 19)
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
To Health and Human Resources
upper
1 primary · 7 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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