Criminal Justice (Firearms)

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.

HB 5164 modifies Michigan law to regulate transporting firearms and certain air guns in moving vehicles. It prohibits carrying a firearm (other than a pistol) or a pneumatic gun expelling metal BBs/pellets over .177 caliber in a moving vehicle unless the weapon is unloaded and stored in one of four ways: disassembled, in a case, in the trunk, or inaccessible from inside the vehicle. Violating this would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $100 fine. The bill directly affects drivers transporting these items in vehicles while operating them, with no exception for pistols.

HB 4139 removes references to "extreme risk protection orders" from Michigan's firearm licensing requirements. Specifically, it amends sections of the state's firearms law (MCL 28.422, 28.422b, 28.425b, and 28.428) by deleting the provision that previously required applicants to disclose if they were subject to such orders. This change directly affects individuals applying for firearm licenses, as they will no longer need to certify whether they are under an extreme risk protection order. The bill does not repeal extreme risk protection orders themselves but modifies the licensing process to exclude this specific requirement. The change reflects the repeal of the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act as noted in the bill's title.

HB 4690 mandates fixed prison sentences for certain violent or gun-related crimes by amending Michigan's sentencing law (MCL 750.479a). It directly affects defendants convicted of these specific offenses, as judges must now impose predetermined terms instead of exercising discretion. The key provision requires minimum sentence lengths for these cases, removing judicial flexibility in sentencing. This policy change applies to new convictions under the amended law.

HB 5079 increases penalties for individuals who disarm a law enforcement officer using force or cause injury to the officer during such an incident. It amends existing law (MCL 750.479b) to raise criminal penalties for these specific acts against police. The bill directly affects people who physically interfere with officers' weapons, making the offense a more serious crime. This change applies to any situation where an officer is disarmed through force or injured while resisting disarming.

This bill amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to specifically increase penalties for individuals who take a police officer's firearm by force or cause injury to the officer during such an incident. It directly affects people convicted of assaulting officers to seize their weapons, making this a more severe offense under state law. The key change adds these circumstances as a factor for judges to consider when determining sentences, requiring harsher penalties for disarming officers through violence or causing harm. The amendment modifies Section 16x of the Code of Criminal Procedure (MCL 777.16x) to reflect these updated sentencing standards.