HB 4261 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

State management: funds; public safety and violence prevention fund; create. Amends title & sec. 2 of 2000 PA 489 (MCL 12.252) & adds secs. 11a & 11b. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4260'25

HB 4261 creates the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund within Michigan's trust fund system. It establishes the fund using money from the general sales tax (Section 25 of 1933 PA 167), donations, and investment earnings, with funds permanently staying in the account instead of lapsing to the general fund. Starting September 30, 2026, the state treasurer will distribute the fund’s revenues: 2% to health services for community violence intervention grants, 2% to crime victim funds, and the remainder based on each city/village/township’s violent crime rate (with a 5% reduction for areas not meeting crime reduction targets). This directly affects local governments receiving funds, the Department of Health and Human Services (administering grants), and crime victim programs.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Mar 18, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by the House → Substitute (H-1) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to simplify the distribution formula for crime victim funds by removing language about proportional allocation based on violent crime rates. The changes also update internal tracking codes and formatting while keeping the core funding mechanism intact.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on crime victim fund allocations, but the specific calculation method for distributing funds to cities, villages, and townships was simplified.

REQUIREMENT

Removed complex language requiring distributions to be proportional to each jurisdiction's average share of statewide violent crimes.

Deleted provisions that would reduce funding by 5% for jurisdictions where violent crime rates did not decrease by at least 5% from a base level.

TECHNICAL

Changed references from 'each county on behalf of each township' to 'a county on behalf of each township' for consistency.

Updated internal document tracking codes and formatting identifiers throughout the bill text.

House Introduced Bill → As Passed by the House · 8 edits · Apr 22, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand the scope of the Michigan Trust Fund Act to include investment and expenditure provisions, grant programs, and powers for state officials. The most significant change is the addition of new sections creating a Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund with specific distribution rules, restrictions on fund use, and reporting requirements to track outcomes and prevent misuse of funds.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from creating funds and allocating revenues to also include investment, expenditure, grant program administration, and specific powers and duties for state officials and local governmental entities.

SCOPE

Added language to the title and section 2 preamble to include investment, expenditure, grant program administration, and powers/duties for state officials and local entities.

FISCAL

Created a new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund (Section 11a) with specific funding sources including sales tax deposits, donations, and investment earnings.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 11b establishing distribution rules for the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund starting September 30, 2026, with specific percentages and conditions.

Modified distribution criteria to include a 5% violent crime reduction requirement for cities, villages, and townships, with escalating penalties (5% then 10% per year) if crime rates don't decrease.

Added restrictions prohibiting use of funds for tactical vehicles over 15,000 pounds, facial recognition technology, or chemical weapons.

ENFORCEMENT

Added mandatory annual reporting requirements for the Department of Health and Human Services and recipient cities/villages/townships/counties to track grant usage and crime clearance rates.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Base crime level', 'Chemical weapon', 'Clearance rate', 'Existing recurring resources', and 'Facial recognition technology' to clarify fund usage restrictions.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund distributions from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026, with specific implementation periods through 2028 and beyond.

Floor votes · House Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 29, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #60 Yeas 104 Nays 4 Excused 0 Not Voting 2

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

substitute (H-2) adopted

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

substitute (H-1) adopted

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation with substitute (H-1)

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Government Operations

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Alabas Farhat

lower

1 primary · 40 co-sponsors