Indiana House backs bill shielding parents from child-welfare probes over age-appropriate independence

The Indiana House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 1035 with a 12-1 vote, aiming to clarify that allowing children age-appropriate independence should not trigger DCS investigations or criminal charges unless recklessness endangers the child, creating an affirmative defense in neglect cases; supporters say it reduces unnecessary government involvement while preserving safety, though one Democrat expressed concerns about raising the intervention threshold; the bill moves to the full House.