Criminal Justice (Human Trafficking) in Michigan

in committee · Michigan · House Mar 5, 2026

HR 258: A resolution calling on Congress to investigate all of the individuals implicated in the Epstein files and compel them to testify under oath.

This House resolution calls on Congress to investigate individuals linked to Jeffrey Epstein and require them to testify under oath. It directly affects high-profile figures across technology, finance, real estate, and government who have been implicated in Epstein's criminal network. The resolution asserts that current Department of Justice actions have failed to protect survivors or fully disclose information, citing concerns over redacted names and unredacted photos of victims. It seeks to use congressional authority to compel testimony from those who participated in or covered up Epstein's crimes. The measure was introduced in March 2026 and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · Michigan · House Dec 16, 2025

HB 5355: Housing: other; Michigan fair chance access to housing act; create. Creates new act.

HB 5355, the "Michigan Fair Chance Access to Housing Act," prohibits landlords from requiring or considering an applicant's criminal record during initial rental screening. Landlords must issue a conditional offer after checking income, credit, or rental history, then may only consider specific serious offenses (like arson, human trafficking, or sex offenses requiring registration) or recent felonies within 3 years after a conditional offer is made. Landlords must disclose if they consider criminal records and allow applicants to submit evidence of rehabilitation or mitigating factors before denying housing. This bill directly affects landlords across Michigan and rental applicants with criminal records, aiming to reduce barriers to housing based solely on past convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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 Justice ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5011: Juveniles: criminal procedure; expunction of crimes resulting from being a victim of human trafficking; expand. Amends sec. 18e, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.18e).

HB 5011 would allow juveniles who were victims of human trafficking to have related criminal records sealed. It amends Michigan’s existing expungement law (MCL 712A.18e) to specifically include offenses committed while a juvenile was a trafficking victim, removing a barrier that previously prevented sealing such records. The bill applies to juveniles with up to one felony-level offense or three misdemeanor-level offenses directly tied to trafficking, as defined under current law. This change would enable victims to clear records that might otherwise hinder education, employment, or housing opportunities.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice

in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5012: Crimes: human trafficking; safe harbor protection for minors who are victims of sex and labor trafficking; modify certain requirements. Amends sec. 451 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.451).

HB 5012 creates a legal presumption that minors under 18 charged with offenses related to sex or labor trafficking (such as commercial sexual exploitation) were coerced by traffickers, requiring prosecutors to prove otherwise to override this presumption. It mandates law enforcement to report suspected trafficking involving minors to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services within 24 hours, triggering an investigation to determine if the minor is in danger of harm. The state must then petition the court to place the minor under protective services under specific dependency laws. This bill directly affects minors who are trafficking victims and shifts their legal handling from criminal prosecution toward victim support services.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5013: Criminal procedure: trial; qualifications of expert witnesses in human trafficking cases; modify. Amends sec. 462g of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.462g).

HB 5013 modifies Michigan's criminal procedure law (MCL 750.462g) to clarify rules for expert testimony in human trafficking prosecutions. It allows qualified experts - such as those with specialized training in criminal justice, behavioral sciences, or victim services - to testify about typical victim behaviors and responses in trafficking cases. The bill also prohibits such experts from commenting on witness credibility and protects victims by ensuring truthful testimony cannot be used against them in criminal cases (except for perjury). This directly affects courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and victims in human trafficking trials.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5009: Criminal procedure: expunction; criminal convictions that may be set aside on grounds of being a victim of human trafficking; expand. Amends sec. 1 of 1965 PA 213 (MCL 780.621).

HB 5009 expands Michigan's expungement law to allow individuals convicted of offenses under MCL 750.448-450 (related to human trafficking crimes) to have those convictions set aside if they committed the offense as a direct result of being a human trafficking victim. This applies to people who were trafficked victims at the time of the offense, while still requiring applicants to meet the existing limits under the law (e.g., no more than 3 total felony convictions). The bill amends MCL 780.621 to add this exception, ensuring trafficking victims can seek relief without exceeding standard eligibility thresholds. It directly affects survivors of human trafficking who have convictions for specific offenses tied to their victimization.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5016: Crimes: prostitution; offenses of and references to prostitute and prostitution; modify in the Michigan penal code. Amends secs. 13, 159g, 167, 411j, 448, 449, 450, 451, 451a, 451c, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462 & 520m of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.13 et seq.) & repeals sec. 449a of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.449a). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5017'25, HB 5018'25, HB 5019'25, HB 5015'25, HB 5014'25, HB 5028'25, HB 5020'25, HB 5021'25, HB 5027'25, HB 5022'25, HB 5023'25, HB 5024'25, HB 5025'25, HB 5026'25

HB 5016 updates Michigan's penal code by replacing outdated terms like "prostitute" and "prostitution" with modern, less stigmatizing language such as "person engaged in commercial sexual activity." It specifically amends Section 167 to remove "common prostitute" from the definition of a disorderly person, changing the language to focus on conduct rather than labeling individuals. This bill directly affects how the law refers to and potentially prosecutes individuals involved in commercial sexual activity under current statutes. The changes aim to align terminology with contemporary legal standards without altering the underlying criminal penalties for related offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · Michigan · House Apr 15, 2025

HJR I: Crimes: other; exception to prohibition on slavery; eliminate. Amends sec. 9, art. I of the state constitution.

This bill proposes amending Michigan's state constitution to remove the exception allowing involuntary servitude as punishment for crime. It would change Article I, Section 9 to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude "in all cases," eliminating the current constitutional allowance for forced labor in criminal sentencing. The change directly affects Michigan's criminal justice system by banning a legal basis for forced labor under state law. This constitutional amendment, if approved by voters, would make Michigan the first state to fully abolish this exception in its constitution. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5010: Criminal procedure: defenses; affirmative defense that individual committed a crime because the individual was a victim of human trafficking; establish. Amends 1927 PA 175 (MCL 760.1 - 777.69) by adding sec. 21e to ch. VIII.

This bill creates a legal defense for individuals charged with crimes who were victims of human trafficking. It allows defendants to argue that their criminal act was a direct result of being trafficked, applying to both felony and misdemeanor charges under Michigan law. To use this defense, the defendant must prove it by a "preponderance of evidence" (more likely than not). The bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to include this provision, directly affecting trafficking victims facing criminal charges for acts committed under coercion.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

All criminal justice bills