Michigan Governor Signs 19 Bills to Enhance School Safety, Combat Gun Violence

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed 19 bipartisan bills Wednesday aimed at improving school safety, reducing gun violence, and expanding protections against hate crimes and sexual violence. The legislation, accompanied by an executive order, establishes a new School Safety and Mental Health Commission to address the diverse needs of students and educators.

“Michiganders should feel safe whether they’re watching a movie at home or heading into the classroom,” said Whitmer during the signing ceremony. “These commonsense bills build on my administration’s commitment to protecting families and communities.” The governor highlighted her administration’s $1.6 billion investment in public safety programs over six balanced budgets.

Among the key measures is a bill requiring the distribution of safe firearm storage information to parents of students. State Representative Julie Brixie (D-Okemos), a co-sponsor, emphasized the urgency of the issue, noting that 150,000 Michigan children live in homes with unsecured firearms. Nationally, more than 70% of school shootings involve firearms taken from family members.

Another bill mandates the destruction of firearms collected through buyback programs. Colonel James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police, stated, “This legislation ensures that all parts of firearms are destroyed, maintaining our commitment to public safety.”

The legislation also introduces standardized emergency response terminology for schools, aiming to improve safety during crises. Additionally, the new School Safety and Mental Health Commission will focus on reducing youth suicide rates and improving mental health outcomes.

Governor Whitmer’s executive order ensures diverse representation on the commission, including educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement. The commission will also address hate crimes, with bills expanding protections and amending sentencing guidelines.

Other measures include extending the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases and creating criminal penalties for sextortion, a form of blackmail involving explicit images. State Representative John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) highlighted the importance of these bills in addressing modern forms of crime.

The package also supports community violence intervention programs, allowing Medicaid to cover related services, and establishes a behavior threat assessment team to monitor and address concerning student behavior.

Governor Whitmer concluded, “These bills represent a comprehensive approach to keeping Michiganders safe, from our schools to our neighborhoods. Together, we’re making a real difference in people’s lives.”