This bill amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to increase penalties for traffic violations occurring in work zones, school zones, and school bus zones. It mandates that fines for moving violations in these areas be doubled and elevates offenses causing injury or death to misdemeanors or felonies, respectively. Additionally, the legislation adjusts sentencing guidelines for fleeing and eluding police, making penalties more severe based on factors like prior convictions and the severity of the outcome. The changes also clarify definitions for emergency scenes and school bus zones to ensure consistent application of these stricter rules.
This bill prohibits licensed concealed pistol carriers from bringing firearms into specific state buildings and certain public venues, including schools, hospitals, sports arenas, and places of worship. It also bans portable electro-muscular disruption devices in these same locations, with exceptions for parking areas and certain law enforcement personnel. The legislation applies to all licensed individuals except retired police officers, security contractors, private investigators, and other designated law enforcement roles who are permitted to carry weapons on these premises. Violations result in civil fines, license suspensions, or criminal penalties depending on whether it is a first, second, or subsequent offense.
HB 5527 amends Michigan's penal code to increase penalties for assaulting public officials while they are performing their duties, such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Penalties range from up to 2 years in prison for basic assault to up to 20 years for causing death, based on the severity of harm (e.g., bodily injury requiring medical care or serious impairment of body function). The bill also adds a provision clarifying that attending a protest is protected under the First Amendment and does not by itself violate disorderly conduct laws.
SB 388 increases penalties for drivers who fail to exercise caution around blind pedestrians using approved travel aids like canes, dog guides, or white walkers. It amends Michigan law to raise misdemeanor fines for violating crosswalk safety rules from $25-$200 to $100-$500, with higher penalties for injuries ($1,000 fine) or deaths ($7,500 fine, up to 10 years in prison). The bill clarifies that blind pedestrians not using aids retain full pedestrian rights and cannot be deemed negligent for not using them. It also establishes procedures for reporting violations to police and requires prosecutors to inform blind pedestrians of case outcomes. The law directly affects drivers near crosswalks and blind pedestrians using specified travel aids.
HB 4941 prohibits Michigan law enforcement agencies - including the state police, city, village, township, and county police - from entering into, modifying, or renewing agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under federal Section 287(g) of the immigration law. These agreements currently allow local officers to enforce federal immigration laws. The bill defines "immigration enforcement agreement" as such federal partnerships and takes effect immediately upon passage, barring any new or renewed arrangements. It directly affects all local and state law enforcement entities in Michigan by restricting their ability to collaborate on federal immigration enforcement.
HB 4174 modifies Michigan's juvenile justice code to establish a presumption that self-incriminating statements made by juveniles during police interrogations are admissible in court if obtained through deceptive practices (e.g., false promises of leniency or misleading statements about evidence). The bill directly affects juveniles under 18 facing delinquency proceedings and law enforcement officers who may use deceptive tactics during interrogations. Keyly, it amends the Probate Code to add Section 17e, shifting the standard so such statements are presumed admissible unless the court finds the deception was "unreasonably coercive." This changes current practice by making it harder to exclude statements obtained through deception, impacting how juvenile confessions are handled in court.
SB 342 amends Michigan's 2006 law on law enforcement disclosures by clarifying the definition of "involuntary statement." It specifies that a statement by a law enforcement officer is *not* considered involuntary if the officer knowingly and intentionally provided false or misleading information about a material fact. This change directly affects how courts evaluate police testimony regarding material facts, ensuring intentional falsehoods are excluded from the "involuntary statement" exception. The bill modifies Section 1 of 2006 PA 563 (MCL 15.391), with no new requirements or penalties added.
HB 4738 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to increase penalties for harming specific working animals used by law enforcement. The bill directly affects individuals who kill or cause serious physical harm to police dogs, police horses, or search and rescue dogs. It would modify existing sentencing guidelines (MCL 777.16b) to establish stricter penalties for these offenses, treating them as more severe crimes. This change would apply to all such incidents occurring in Michigan, with sentencing adjustments to reflect the heightened risk to public safety and law enforcement operations. The bill was introduced on July 15, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
This bill's title incorrectly references water supply, but the actual text amends Michigan's law restricting disclosure of law enforcement statements (2006 PA 563). It defines "involuntary statement" as information compelled by a law enforcement agency through threats of job loss or sanctions. The bill would protect such compelled statements from disclosure, applying to officers employed by state police, county agencies, cities, universities, and other specified entities. This directly affects law enforcement officers and agencies by limiting how their compelled statements can be used in legal proceedings.
SB 203 creates new sentencing guidelines for individuals who intentionally make false reports to law enforcement about serious emergencies (like active threats or crimes) to summon police to a residence. It directly affects people who deliberately lie to trigger emergency responses, such as false reports of violence or danger at someone's home. The bill amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines (MCL 777.16t) to specify enhanced penalties for this specific offense. This adds a clear legal consequence for misusing emergency services, aiming to deter false reports that waste police resources and cause unnecessary fear.
