STATEHOUSE (Feb. 10, 2026) – Fishers-area lawmakers announced they are working to expand Indiana's Amber Alert system and bolster protections for young Hoosiers following the tragic death of Fishers teen Hailey Buzbee.
House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers), State Rep. Chris Jeter (R-Fishers), State Sen. Kyle Walker (R-Lawrence) and State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) gathered alongside Hailey's parents on Monday to discuss these legislative efforts.
"Our Fishers community is mourning the terrible loss of Hailey Buzbee, and our hearts are with her family," Huston said. "We thank our law enforcement partners and the city of Fishers for wrapping their arms around Hailey's family. We're acting urgently to close loopholes in Indiana's alert system to give law enforcement the tools they need and to better protect kids online."
Jeter highlighted an amendment to House Bill 1303 that would expand the definition of a missing child to include a “high-risk missing person,” allowing law enforcement to act more quickly and with greater coordination in cases involving heightened safety concerns.
"This is an immediate step we can take to give law enforcement greater discretion in high-risk missing child cases," Jeter said. "But this is part of a much larger effort to modernize Indiana’s child welfare and endangerment laws so they reflect the realities of social media and online activity that impact young people today."
The amendment was added into HB 1303 during a Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee hearing this morning. The bill passed unanimously out of committee.
"The loss of Hailey Buzbee is truly heartbreaking, and my condolences continue to be with her family, friends and our Fishers community," Walker said. "We're working together in both the Senate and House and with our law enforcement partners to strengthen protections and help prevent a similar tragedy from occurring."
Legislators are also considering strengthened social media protections for Hoosier children and teens. The House Education Committee heard an amendment to Senate Bill 199 to continue this conversation.
"Hailey's tragedy has affected me viscerally as the mother of a 17-year-old girl," Garcia Wilburn said. "We need to do all we can to make sure that this does not happen to one more Hoosier child or family. To do that, we must give law enforcement all the possible tools in the toolbox to stop predators and rescue children in unsafe situations. I'm thankful that the Fishers delegation has come together in unity to update our Amber Alert system and honor Hailey's life. Beyond the lasting love that will be carried with her family and friends, Hailey's legacy will also be helping to keep other children safe."
Hailey's father Beau Buzbee echoed support for legislative action to close loopholes in the law and protect Indiana's youth.
"There's no higher priority than the safety of our children," Buzbee said. "The changes we make together will be rooted in the love Hailey brought into the world during her time with us."
Lawmakers are working closely with law enforcement partners and the Fishers community as these conversations continue.
You can learn more about Hailey's Law petition here.
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House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) represents
House District 37, which includes a portion of Hamilton County.
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State Rep. Chris Jeter (R-Fishers) represents House District 88,
which includes portions of Hamilton, Hancock, Madison and Marion counties.
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State Sen. Kyle Walker (R-Lawrence) represents Senate District 31,
which includes portions of Hamilton and Marion counties.
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State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) represents House District 32,
which includes portions of Hamilton and Marion counties.
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