Criminal Justice

in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 753: Crimes: other; citations to the motor vehicle sales finance act in the Michigan penal code; revise. Amends secs. 219e & 219f of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.219e & 750.219f). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0739'25

SB 753 amends Michigan's penal code to prohibit preparing or submitting loan applications in another person's name without authorization, or possessing related instruments obtained through such violations. It creates felony penalties (up to 4 years in prison or $2,500 fines) for non-financial actors who commit these acts. The bill specifically exempts financial institutions (including those licensed under the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act) and their employees when acting within regulatory boundaries, such as reporting suspected fraud to authorities. These changes directly affect individuals committing loan application fraud while providing clear protections for regulated financial entities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates felony penalties for unauthorized loan applications, expanding criminalization without reform focus, aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Michigan · House Dec 31, 2025

HB 5424: Law enforcement: funds; allowable uses for fee revenue related to salvage vehicle inspection; modify. Amends sec. 217c of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.217c).

HB 5424 amends Michigan's vehicle code (MCL 257.217c) to change how law enforcement agencies can use revenue collected from fees for salvage vehicle inspections. Currently, these fees must be spent on specific purposes like vehicle inspections or law enforcement operations, but the bill modifies the allowable uses. This directly affects local police departments and sheriff's offices that collect these fees. The change would allow them to allocate the revenue toward additional law enforcement needs beyond the current restrictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends fee revenue rules to allow broader law enforcement funding allocation, directly supporting resource availability for police operations per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Michigan · House Dec 23, 2025

HB 5421: Employment security: benefits; disqualification from receiving benefits when leaving employment; create exception for victim of stalking. Amends secs. 29 & 29a of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.29 & 421.29a).

HB 5421 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to create a new exception allowing victims of stalking to qualify for benefits if they leave employment due to stalking. Currently, an exception exists for domestic violence victims under Section 29(a)(iv), but this bill replaces "domestic violence" with "stalking" in that provision. The change means individuals who leave jobs to escape stalking would no longer be disqualified from benefits, directly affecting stalking victims who might otherwise lose unemployment eligibility. This policy update modifies the disqualification rule without altering other existing provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends unemployment law to include stalking victims in benefit eligibility, protecting victims' rights under criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment benefits eligibility for stalking victims, protecting workers fleeing workplace safety threats under employment security law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Unemployment

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 737: Corrections: parole; certain parole terms; amend. Amends sec. 34 of 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791. 234).

SB 737 changes parole eligibility rules for Michigan prisoners serving life sentences who do not fall under automatic exclusion (e.g., murder convictions). It requires these prisoners to serve 10 years (for crimes committed before October 1, 1992) or 15 years (for crimes on or after that date) before becoming eligible for parole consideration. The bill also adds new procedures: annual parole board interviews after 10 years, file reviews at 15 years and every 5 years thereafter, and mandatory public hearings with parole board. These changes apply to life-sentence prisoners not covered by existing exceptions in Section 34(6) of Michigan’s Corrections Code.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates 10-15 year minimums before parole eligibility for life-sentence prisoners, restricting parole access and adding procedural hurdles, aligning with 'restricts parole' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Dec 16, 2025

SB 738: Housing: other; Michigan fair chance access to housing act; create. Creates new act.

SB 738, the "Michigan Fair Chance Access to Housing Act," prohibits landlords from asking about or denying rental applications based solely on an applicant's criminal record before issuing a conditional offer. It directly affects renters with criminal histories and requires landlords to provide written notice about criminal record screening before collecting application fees. Key provisions include banning pre-offer inquiries into criminal history (except for federal requirements), allowing landlords to consider only specific serious offenses (like arson, human trafficking, or recent sex offenses requiring registration) after a conditional offer, and mandating an individualized assessment with mitigating evidence for denials. Landlords must also disclose if criminal records are part of their screening process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits pre-offer criminal record inquiries in housing, reducing barriers for renters with records and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination by banning pre-offer criminal record inquiries, protecting tenants with criminal histories per bill's explicit prohibitions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Michigan · House Dec 23, 2025

HB 5409: Crime victims: compensation; crime victim compensation for certain pet expenses; provide for. Amends sec. 11 of 1976 PA 223 (MCL 18.361).

HB 5409 amends Michigan's Crime Victim Compensation Act to include temporary pet boarding costs as an eligible expense for victims relocating due to a crime. The bill adds subsection (l) to section 11, allowing up to $2,500 per claimant for pet boarding when immediate relocation is necessary for safety or well-being. This directly affects crime victims who own pets and must move quickly after a crime, expanding existing coverage that previously excluded pet-related costs. The change does not alter the $45,000 total award limit or other compensation categories. The bill was introduced in December 2025 and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands crime victim compensation to include pet boarding costs, enhancing support for victims directly impacted by crime within the justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SB 121: Weapons: firearms; enforcement of federal limitation on firearms; prohibit. Creates new act.

SB 121 prohibits Michigan state and local government employees from enforcing specific federal firearm regulations, including those requiring registration of firearms or ammunition, imposing firearm-specific taxes, banning possession, or ordering confiscation. It makes such federal laws unenforceable within Michigan and imposes $10,000 fines per violation on state employees who enforce them or political subdivisions that employ such individuals. The bill also allows individuals harmed by these enforcement attempts to seek court injunctions and recover attorney fees. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, and employees who might otherwise comply with federal firearm rules. The bill is currently pending in the Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety committee.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill prohibits enforcement of federal firearm laws (a criminal justice policy), restricting federal oversight and weakening firearm regulation enforcement within Michigan.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Michigan · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 580: Traffic control: driver license; issuance of a restricted license; modify. Amends sec. 304 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.304).

SB 580 modifies Michigan's rules for issuing restricted driver's licenses to individuals suspended due to DUI convictions. It requires installing an ignition interlock device and completing a specialty court program before eligibility, limiting driving to work, treatment, school, or essential appointments. The restricted license remains valid for at least one year, during which any alcohol use could trigger further suspension. This applies to those with two DUI convictions or one DUI plus prior related offenses under Michigan law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires ignition interlock and specialty court for DUI offenders, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through structured program access.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill strengthens transportation safety by requiring ignition interlocks and restricted driving for DUI offenders, aligning with safety-focused transportation policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 10, 2025

SB 388: Disabilities: other; penalties for certain violations to provision in use of travel aids by blind persons act; increase. Amends sec. 1a, 2 & 3 of 1937 PA 10 (MCL 752.51a et seq.).

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for traffic violations harming blind pedestrians, raising fines and prison terms. This aligns with 'oppose' indicator of increasing mandatory sentences.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 26, 2025

HB 4671: Crimes: abortion; abortion; prohibit. Amends 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.1 - 750.568) by adding secs. 89a & 322a & repeals sec. 322 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.322).

HB 4671 amends Michigan's penal code to establish criminal liability for injury or death of an unborn child under assault and homicide laws, defining "unborn child" as a living human being from fertilization. The bill adds exceptions allowing medical procedures that unintentionally harm or kill a fetus when performed to save the mother's life, preserve the fetus's health, or during a spontaneous miscarriage. It applies existing legal defenses (like duress) and presumptions to cases involving fetal injury or death, treating the unborn child as equivalent to a born individual for prosecution purposes. This bill directly affects medical providers and individuals whose actions may cause fetal harm during medical treatment, as it clarifies when such actions could be prosecuted under criminal law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminal liability for abortion-related harm under assault/homicide laws, increasing penalties for medical procedures affecting fetus (with limited exceptions).95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareCriminalizes abortion procedures (except life-saving cases), restricting access to reproductive healthcare services per bill's criminal liability provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Women's Health

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