Michigan – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of bipartisan bills aimed at strengthening public safety, protecting vulnerable residents, and supporting first responders across the state.
The legislation expands emergency alert systems for missing children with special needs and vulnerable adults, improves protections against abuse and exploitation, provides additional paid military leave for police officers and firefighters, strengthens security at the Mackinac Bridge, and honors community members 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,” Whitmer said. “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.”
One of the key measures signed by Whitmer, known as Rowan’s Act, expands Michigan’s Amber Alert system to include missing children with special needs and children believed to be in danger.
House Bills 4517 and 4518, sponsored by state Reps. Jerry Neyer and Angela Rigas, also provide protections for broadcasters that share alerts exactly as issued by Michigan State Police and establish a fund to support the state’s Amber Alert system.
The legislation was named after Rowan Morey, a 6-year-old child whose death helped inspire efforts to close gaps in emergency alert eligibility.
The governor also signed Senate Bill 456, which creates a statewide Silver Alert system designed to quickly notify the public when a senior citizen or vulnerable adult goes missing.
Under the new system, Michigan State Police will be able to send emergency alerts directly to cell phones, helping communities respond more quickly during missing-person cases.
Additional legislation signed by Whitmer strengthens protections for vulnerable adults. Senate Bills 585 and 586 add safeguards involving the sale of protected individuals’ property and decisions to move incapacitated individuals to new residences.
The bills were recommendations from the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force and are designed to help ensure decisions involving vulnerable adults are made in their best interests.
Whitmer also signed measures supporting child abuse prevention efforts by renaming and restructuring the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board as the Children Trust Michigan Board.
The legislation updates the board’s oversight, expands support for community-based prevention programs, and increases funding available for local child abuse and neglect prevention efforts.
The governor also approved legislation supporting first responders who serve in the military or National Guard.
House Bills 5232 and 5233 provide full-time police officers and firefighters with at least 26 days of paid military leave each year. The measures also allow local governments to cover differences between military pay and an employee’s regular salary, ensuring first responders can serve without losing income or using vacation time.
Another bill signed by Whitmer strengthens security at the Mackinac Bridge by designating nonpublic areas of the bridge as a protected key facility. Senate Bill 71 makes trespassing into secured areas of the bridge a felony while maintaining protections for lawful assembly and peaceful protest.
The governor also signed several additional bills, including legislation addressing automated traffic camera violations, allowing retired county employees to return to sheriff’s offices or prosecutor offices without losing pension benefits, and designating memorial highways and bridges honoring veterans and public servants.
The measures include naming the South Grand Avenue bridge over I-96 in Fowlerville the “LCpl Michael W. Hanks Memorial Bridge” and designating a portion of M-50 in Monroe County as the “Animal Control Officer Darrian Young Memorial Highway.”
Whitmer said the new laws build on Michigan’s broader public safety investments, including funding included in the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget.
The budget includes $1.6 billion in revenue sharing to support local governments, $50 million in public safety grants, $123.1 million for offender success programs, and continued funding for victim support and student safety initiatives.
The state also allocated funding for veterans and National Guard members, including support for Michigan veteran homes, National Guard benefits, and county veteran service programs.
Officials said the bipartisan legislation is intended to improve emergency response, protect vulnerable residents, and provide additional resources to communities and those who serve them.
