By GARRETT BERGQUIST
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
House Speaker Todd Huston on Monday announced that new social media rules and expanded AMBER Alert criteria are in play for state legislators following a Fishers teenager’s death.
The steps mark the first actions by state lawmakers following the death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee. Buzbee left home in early January after communicating with someone she met through an online gaming platform. She was later found dead in Perry County, Ohio. A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with her disappearance but nobody has been criminally charged in relation to her death.
Accompanied by Hailey’s parents and by all of the state lawmakers who represent Fishers, Huston, who is also from Fishers, said lawmakers are working to insert language into a bill that would require social media companies to set up adolescent accounts for anyone under age 16. Those accounts would have to allow parents to access them to monitor and set limits on their use. In addition, adolescent accounts could not have features including continuously loading content, livestreaming or autoplay.
Hailey’s father, Beau, urged the House Education Committee on Monday morning to adopt the language. He said it’s not perfect but now is the time to act.
“Please do not let this opportunity slip away. To do so would be a disservice to the people you serve. There is no higher priority than the safety of our children in this state,” he said.
Hailey’s case did not fit the requirements for an AMBER Alert, which are set by state law, so lawmakers also are considering expanding who is eligible for one. State law already defines a high-risk missing person. This category includes people who have disappeared under circumstances considered inherently dangerous, who have been abducted by a stranger, or who have been missing for longer than 30 days.
Jeter
Huston
Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, told News 8 last week based on his conversations with police, investigators knew early on Hailey was missing under adverse circumstances. An amendment that has been filed for a bill concerning child sexual abuse material would make any high-risk missing person under age 18 eligible for an AMBER Alert.
It’s too late in the session for lawmakers to file new legislation, so both measures are being added to existing bills as amendments in committee. Huston said floor votes are possible as early as next week.
Huston told reporters he and other lawmakers are talking to education officials about whether further changes are needed to health class curricula to address online grooming awareness. In addition, he said it’s possible lawmakers will discuss further changes to the statewide alert system through a summer study committee.
The legislative session is scheduled to wrap up at the end of February, after which lawmakers will not meet again to consider legislation until the beginning of the 2027 legislative session next January, barring any special sessions.
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/politics/indiana-lawmakers-push-first-changes-following-hailey-buzbees-death.
