INDIANAPOLIS (WEVV) — Gov. Mike Braun ceremonially signed two bills into law Wednesday aimed at increasing online safety for minors and toughening penalties for those who possess or distribute child sexual abuse material.
The legislative package, consisting of House Enrolled Act 1408 and House Enrolled Act 1303, was inspired in part by the death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee. The Fishers teenager vanished in January 2026 after being lured from her home by an online predator she met through gaming platforms and encrypted messaging apps. Her remains were later discovered in Ohio.
“We are taking decisive action to empower parents and protect Hoosier children from online predators,” Braun said during the ceremony, where he was joined by Buzbee’s parents. “These laws put stronger protections around children online, give parents more control, and strengthen Indiana’s ability to crack down on predators.”
HEA 1408 establishes new requirements for social media platforms operating in Indiana. Under the law, platforms must obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing users under 16 to create accounts. The legislation also restricts direct messaging and search visibility for adolescent accounts and limits algorithm-driven recommendations. The Indiana Attorney General’s office will oversee enforcement.
The second bill, HEA 1303, focuses on criminal justice reforms. It elevates penalties for crimes involving child sexual abuse material and creates a new offense for the distribution of such content. In a direct response to the Buzbee case, the law also expands the state’s Silver Alert system to include missing children who do not otherwise qualify for an Amber Alert, closing a gap that families say hindered initial search efforts for Hailey.
The signing follows a sharp rise in reported online crimes against children. Last year, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received 29,635 cyber tips, a 38% increase from the previous year. So far in 2026, the task force has already logged nearly 7,000 tips.
“We are losing the fight to protect our children,” said Beau Buzbee, Hailey’s father, during previous testimony. “The internet and social media are the predators’ playgrounds, and it’s on this front that we must fight.”
In response to the rising volume of threats, the state recently expanded the task force by 50 officers, bringing the total to 520 personnel statewide.
