Criminal Justice

passed · Michigan · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 463: Tobacco: other; minors that purchase, possess, or use tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products; sunset criminal penalties and civil sanctions for. Amends sec. 2 of 1915 PA 31 (MCL 722.642).

SB 463 removes criminal penalties and civil fines for minors (under 18) who purchase, possess, or use tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products. The bill eliminates existing legal consequences for these minor offenses, shifting focus away from punishment. It directly affects underage individuals by ending enforcement of penalties under current law (MCL 722.642). The key provision is a "sunset" of these penalties, meaning they would no longer apply once the bill takes effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves criminal penalties for minors' tobacco use, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform principles by shifting focus from punishment to prevention.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Juvenile Justice

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passed · Michigan · Senate Dec 10, 2025

SB 612: Civil procedure: service of process; cost for service of process for personal protection orders; eliminate. Amends sec. 2950a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.2950a) & adds secs. 2950d & 2950p. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0611'25, HB 5120'25

SB 612 eliminates the requirement for victims to pay costs when courts deliver personal protection orders. It directly affects individuals seeking court-issued protection from domestic violence or abuse. The bill removes a financial barrier by changing court procedures so victims no longer cover the expenses for serving these protective orders. This is a procedural change to Michigan's civil court rules, shifting the cost responsibility from victims to the court system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates victim costs for protection orders in domestic violence cases, removing financial barriers to access court-issued protection, aligning with criminal justice reform by enhancing victim access to justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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passed · Michigan · Senate Jan 30, 2025

SR 6: A resolution condemning the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, including the assault on the courageous members of the Capitol Police, and denouncing the use of presidential pardon power to absolve those who participated in the dangerous and anti-democratic riots.

This Senate resolution (SR 6) formally condemns the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and specifically denounces President Trump's 2025 pardons of 1,500 individuals involved in the riots, including those convicted of assaulting police officers. It highlights the 140+ law enforcement injuries sustained during the attack and cites police unions' criticism of the pardons as undermining accountability. The resolution serves as a symbolic statement expressing disapproval to federal leaders, not a policy change. It directly addresses the federal executive branch's use of pardon power regarding Capitol riot participants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill denounces pardons of Capitol rioters as undermining police accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform that promotes accountability for violent crimes against law enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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passed · Michigan · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SB 24: Juveniles: juvenile justice services; certain information sharing for research purposes in juvenile justice cases; allow. Amends sec. 9 of 1988 PA 13 (MCL 722.829).

SB 24 amends Michigan's Juvenile Diversion Act to allow researchers to access certain juvenile justice records for research purposes, while strictly protecting minors' privacy. It requires researchers to obtain a data use agreement with the state court administrative office, which must include safeguards against public disclosure of personally identifiable information like names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. The bill prohibits using these records for any purpose other than research, with violations punishable by fines or up to 180 days in jail. This directly affects researchers, courts, and the state court administrative office, ensuring research access does not compromise minor confidentiality or interfere with diversion decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables research on juvenile justice records with privacy safeguards, supporting evidence-based reforms in criminal justice systems and rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates strict data privacy safeguards for juvenile justice research records, explicitly protecting personally identifiable information per data privacy policy indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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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 JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends constitution to ban forced labor in sentencing, eliminating a civil rights violation and advancing criminal justice reform by removing constitutional exception for involuntary servitude.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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signed · Michigan · Senate Jul 29, 2026

SB 81: Courts: other; Michigan indigent defense commission act; expand duties to include indigent defense of youth. Amends title & secs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21 & 23 of 2013 PA 93 (MCL 780.983 et seq.) & adds sec. 14.

SB 81 expands Michigan's Indigent Defense Commission's duties to include providing effective legal representation for indigent youth (those under 18 facing juvenile court cases). The bill amends the existing law to require the Commission to establish minimum standards for youth defense services, ensuring they meet constitutional requirements for "effective assistance of counsel." It specifically defines "youth" and clarifies that indigent criminal defense services for youth must begin at their initial court appearance. This change directly affects juvenile defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, ensuring they receive legally required representation under the same standards applied to adults.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands indigent defense for youth to meet constitutional 'effective assistance of counsel' standards, strengthening defendant rights in juvenile justice.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

passed · Michigan · Senate May 21, 2025

SR 53: A resolution to recognize May 2025 as Treatment Court Month.

This resolution formally recognizes May 2025 as Treatment Court Month. It is a symbolic measure by the Senate to acknowledge the role and work of treatment courts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRecognizes treatment courts, which reduce recidivism through rehabilitation - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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passed · Michigan · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 170: Appropriations: judiciary; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Creates appropriation act.

SB 170 is a budget bill that allocates $393.39 million in state funds to support Michigan's judiciary for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly funds court operations, including the Supreme Court ($102.8 million), Court of Appeals ($27.7 million), and judicial salaries for approximately 591 judges across all courts. Key provisions include funding for court administration, problem-solving courts, technology systems, and specialized programs like foster care review and drug treatment courts. The bill specifies exact amounts for each judicial branch and program without changing existing laws or creating new policies. This is a routine funding measure for the state's court system, not a substantive policy change.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $393M to judiciary funding court operations and public services, directly advancing state budget appropriations for essential government functions.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds problem-solving courts and drug treatment programs, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Judges

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passed · Michigan · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 169: Appropriations: department of corrections; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Creates appropriation act.

This bill allocates $2.25 billion in state funding for Michigan's Department of Corrections for fiscal year 2025-2026. It covers administrative costs (including staff salaries and pensions), inmate reentry programs (like education and job training), parole services, and facility operations (including body-worn cameras and housing). The funding directly supports 13,207 correctional staff positions and services for inmates, such as vocational programs and transitional housing. It does not create new programs but provides budgetary support for existing department functions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2.25B for corrections department operations, staff, and inmate programs, directly funding public services per appropriation act.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds inmate reentry, vocational programs, and staff - directly supports rehabilitation and recidivism reduction per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 4, 2025

HB 4533: Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for crime of assaulting or battering or endangering a health care professional; provide for. Amends sec. 16d, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.16d). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4532'25

HB 4533 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to specifically address crimes involving assaults, battering, or endangering healthcare professionals. The bill directly affects healthcare workers who are victims of such attacks, as well as courts that determine sentences for offenders. It establishes new, separate sentencing guidelines under MCL 777.16d for these offenses, ensuring they are treated with appropriate severity distinct from general assault charges. This change creates a clear policy mechanism for judges to apply consistent, elevated penalties when healthcare workers are targeted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates specific sentencing guidelines for assaults on healthcare workers, ensuring appropriate penalties and enhancing protection within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends sentencing guidelines to specifically protect healthcare professionals from assault, strengthening legal safeguards for medical workers within healthcare delivery systems.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes stricter sentencing for assaults against healthcare workers, directly protecting workplace safety for a specific worker group. This aligns with Labor & Employment's workplace safety focus by enhancing protection for victims of wor...80% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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