Committee adopts amendment and lays over bill to allow safe-baby boxes at fire stations

The Health Finance and Policy Committee on Monday, March 17 adopted an amendment to and laid over House File 1903, which would broaden Minnesota's safe-haven statute to allow installation of infant safe-surrender "baby boxes" in sites including staffed fire stations and hospitals.

House File 1903 was introduced by Representative Novotny with the chair moving the bill before the committee with the intent to lay it over. The committee adopted the A-1 amendment to "get the bill in the shape" the author requested; the amendment was approved by voice vote and the chair laid the bill over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

The bill's author and supporters told the committee the change would provide an anonymous option to surrender newborns in compliance with Minnesota's existing safe-haven law. Nicole Hoffman, a board member of the Elk River Fire Foundation, said the boxes are a way to offer anonymity and to reduce unsafe abandonment. "This bill will most definitely provide for the additional option of complete anonymity for these parents," Hoffman said. She described instances, she said, in which parents who sought surrender options were deterred by fear of recognition.

Carly Mayotte, also representing the Elk River Fire Foundation, told the committee her group would fund installation and maintenance through local fundraising and that devices could be monitored at staffed facilities. Representative Novotny said some fire stations (he cited Elk River Station 1 as an example) are listed by the Department of Public Safety as safe-haven locations but current statutory language does not expressly authorize a mechanical surrender device at those sites.

Committee members asked about the scale of the problem and whether the devices allow for any medical or demographic information to accompany a surrender. Hoffman referred members to a 02/05/2025 Duluth Police Department report for a local surrender incident and said the state Department of Public Safety lists roughly "492 locations" as safe-haven sites in Minnesota. She added the devices often include informational packets that may be completed and left anonymously by the parent.

Representative Hewitt and other members pressed about medical-history collection and whether anonymity would hinder care; Hoffman said the packet inside many devices allows parents to provide as much or as little information as they wish and that the program's operators have procedures to get the newborn immediate medical attention.

The committee did not take a final vote to pass the bill out of committee; the chair laid HF 1903 over as amended for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Votes at a glance: the committee approved adoption of the A-1 amendment by voice vote (aye/nay called; no roll-call tally recorded) and laid the bill over for possible omnibus inclusion.