Alaska Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Safe Haven Baby Boxes

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed a bill on September 9, 2026, legalizing Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state. These boxes are designed to prevent parents from abandoning their newborns in unsafe conditions. They are temperature-controlled incubators installed in the exterior walls of fire stations, police stations, and hospitals, allowing at-risk mothers to safely and legally place their newborns inside. Once a baby is placed in the box, the outside door locks, giving the mother time to leave before an alarm alerts first responders or hospital staff inside. The baby is then taken to a hospital for a wellness check and is typically placed into state custody for adoption. In Alaska, infants can be surrendered to baby boxes, hospitals, fire stations, and police stations within 21 days of birth. The bill was sponsored by state Senator Rob Myers and state Representative Frank Tomaszewski. State Representative Sarah Vance stated that the bill aims to provide a safe option for mothers in crisis, emphasizing that no newborn should be abandoned outside. Monica Kelsey, founder of the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization, noted that Alaska is the 27th state to permit the use of baby boxes for infant surrenders, claiming that over 300 babies have been saved through their program. The organization also operates a confidential National Safe Haven Hotline, 1-866-99BABY1, offering counseling and information about safe surrenders.