Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Bills to Keep Vulnerable Michiganders Safe and Strengthen Michigan’s Public Safety Infrastructure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 23, 2026  

Contact: press@michigan.gov  

Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Bills to Keep Vulnerable Michiganders Safe and Strengthen Michigan’s Public Safety Infrastructure

Continuing to build on Governor Whitmer’s record of making Michigan a safer and stronger state

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan bills to strengthen public safety and protect Michiganders across the state. These bills will expand on emergency alerts for missing children with special needs and vulnerable adults, helping get critical information to the public faster when someone goes missing. They also strengthen protections for children and older adults by improving how abuse and exploitation are identified and addressed. The pieces of legislation also support first responders who serve, by providing 26 days of paid military leave time, strengthen security at critical infrastructure like the Mackinac Bridge, and honor those who have served their communities through memorial highway and bridge designations.  

“Every Michigander deserves to feel safe in their community, and we have a responsibility to look out for those who need our help the most,” said Governor Whitmer. “Keeping people safe means being ready for what comes next and making sure the people and communities we count on have the support they need. I’m proud to sign these bipartisan bills, which continue the work we’ve done to make Michigan a safer and stronger state.” 

Protecting Children, Seniors, and Vulnerable Adults 

House Bill 4517 and 4518, sponsored by state Representative Jerry Neyer (R-Shepard) and state Representative Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), known as Rowan’s Act, expands Michigan’s Amber Alert system to help quickly alert the public when a missing child with special needs or any child believed to be in danger goes missing. The bills also protect broadcasters that share alerts exactly as provided by Michigan State Police and establish a fund to support the state’s Amber Alert System.  

“No parent should ever be told that their child doesn’t qualify for an emergency alert because of a gap in the law. Rowan’s Act was born from the unimaginable loss of my six-year-old son, Rowan Morey, and from the belief that no other family should have to endure what ours has,” said Brandi Morey-Pols, Founder & CEO, The Rowan Project. “Today, Michigan is making history by choosing to protect children before tragedy happens, and I am deeply grateful to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for signing this legislation into law. This moment would not have been possible without extraordinary bipartisan leadership and every legislator who put politics aside to stand together for Michigan’s children. Rowan should still be here. While no law can bring him back, his legacy will help protect children and give families hope when every second matters. My prayer is that Rowan’s Act becomes more than a Michigan law—it becomes a model for the nation. If even one child comes home safely because of what was accomplished here today, then Rowan’s life will continue changing the world.” 

Senate Bill 456, sponsored by state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), creates a statewide Silver Alert system to quickly notify the public when a senior or vulnerable adult goes missing. The system would allow Michigan State Police to send emergency alerts directly to cell phones, helping communities respond more quickly and bring missing loved ones home safely. 

Senate Bill 585, sponsored by state Senator Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), amends the Estates and Protected Individuals Code to require courts to review a recent appraisal before approving the sale of a protected person’s home or property, ensuring vulnerable adults receive a fair value when their property is sold. This bill is a recommendation from the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force. 

Senate Bill 586, sponsored by state Senator Ruth Johnson (R-Holly), amends the Estates and Protected Individuals Code to strengthen protections for incapacitated individuals when a guardian wants to move them to a new residence, requiring court approval in most cases and adds safeguards to help ensure any moves are in the individual’s best interest. This bill is a recommendation from the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force. 

Senate Bill 418, sponsored by state Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), renames the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board as the Children Trust Michigan Board and updates its structure and oversight. The bill strengthens the state’s support for community-based programs that help prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens, while reducing administrative burden 

Senate Bill 421 and House Bill 4805, 4808, sponsored by state Senator John Cherry (D-Flint) and state Representative Bryan Posthumus (R-Cannon Township), update state law to support the work of the Children Trust Michigan Board and its efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. The bills update the Michigan Vehicle Code to reflect the boards new name, allow the board to meet remotely when needed, and increases the amount of funding available for grants to local child abuse and neglect programs.  

“The passage of SB 418, SB 421, HB 4805, and HB 4808 is a powerful reminder that the best way to protect children is to prevent harm before it occurs,” said Suzanne Greenberg, Executive Director, Children Trust Michigan.  “These bipartisan reforms strengthen Michigan’s child protection system while advancing a prevention-first approach—one that helps identify concerns earlier, supports families, and creates stronger safeguards for children across our state. Children Trust Michigan is deeply grateful to Governor Whitmer for her steadfast commitment to Michigan’s children and families, to the members of the Legislature for their bipartisan leadership, and to the bills’ sponsors for championing these important reforms. Together, they have helped move Michigan closer to a future where every child can grow up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment. Prevention works, and today’s action demonstrates our state’s commitment to making child well-being a priority.” 

Military First Responder Paid Leave 

House Bill 5232 and 5233, sponsored by state Representative Matt Koleszar (D-Northville) and state Representative Ron Robinson (R-Utica),  support first responders who also serve in the military or National Guard by providing full-time police officers and firefighters with at least 26 days of paid military leave each year and allowing local governments to make up the difference if military pay is less than their regular salary, ensuring first responders can serve their country without having to use vacation time or lose income.  

Protecting the Mackinac Bridge 

Senate Bill 71, sponsored by state Senator John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs), amends the Michigan Penal Code to designate the nonpublic areas of the Mackinac Bridge as a protected key facility making trespassing into secured areas of the bridge a felony, strengthening security and safety at the bridge while protecting lawful assembly and peaceful protest.  

“On behalf of the Mackinac Bridge Authority and the department, I want to thank Sen. Damoose for his perseverance on this bill, which affords greater protections to what many would say is our state’s most iconic structure,” said Michigan Department of Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich. “Next year, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its opening, and we want to ensure there are many more celebrations to come.” 

Additional Bills 

House Bill 5995, sponsored by state Representative Jay DeBoyer (R-Macomb), amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to prevent points from being added to a driver’s record for certain traffic violations captured by automated cameras, including speeding in a work zone or passing a stopped school bus. Vehicle owners will still be responsible for paying any associated fines, but the violation would not add points to their driving record. 

House Bill 4471, sponsored by state Representative Mike Harris (R-Waterford), allows retired county employees to return to work in county sheriff’s or prosecutor's offices without losing their pension benefits, helping counties fill open positions by allowing them to bring experienced retirees back to work.  

House Bill 4189, sponsored by state Representative Jason Woolford (R-Howell), designates the South Grand Avenue bridge over I-96 in Fowlerville as the “LCpl Michael W. Hanks Memorial Bridge” to honor the life and service of the local veteran, signage with be placed by the Michigan Department of Transportation and Livingston County Road Commission, with the costs covered by private funding.  

House Bill 4100, sponsored by state Representative William Bruck (R-Erie), designates the portion of M-50 in Monroe County from South Raisinville Road to Herr Road as the “Animal Control Officer Darrian Young Memorial Highway” to honor Darrian Young’s service. Signage recognizing the designation to be installed using private funds, at no cost to the state.  

Keeping Communities Safe  

In her eighth and final balanced, bipartisan budget, Governor Whitmer takes action to keep families and communities safe. The FY27 budget includes: 

• $1.6 billion to sustain revenue sharing to help counties, cities, villages, and townships ensure public safety and improve the quality of life for residents. Statutory revenue sharing has increased by more than 31% since the Governor took office.   

• $123.1 million for offender success services, programming, and education to foster offenders’ personal success, contribute to a safer prison environment, and maintain successful reintegration into the community. Since 2019, support for education, skilled trades, and career readiness programs for prisoners has resulted in over 40,000 program completions, greatly contributing to the state’s record low recidivism rates and reduced offender populations.   

• $50 million to fund public safety revenue sharing grants to counties, cities, villages, and townships to enhance public safety and prevent violent crime.   

• $1.9 million to maintain the Victim Support Program, which supports victims early in their interactions with the criminal justice system while also building partnerships with community organizations in support of victim advocacy. The Victim Support Program has served more than 4,600 individuals since the program began in 2020.   

• $1.7 million to support the OK2Say student safety program, which allows people to confidentially report potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools.   

Veteran and National Guard Support  

• $80.1 million to operate Michigan’s veteran homes, which provide comprehensive care for veterans and eligible family members   

• $11 million to the Michigan National Guard Member Benefit Fund, which expands existing resources for the National Guard Tuition Assistance Program to include support for the new childcare and health care programs supporting National Guard members.   

• $4.2 million in support of county veteran service grants, strengthening local veteran services and ensuring equitable access to benefits across Michigan.   

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