School Safety Package Clears House

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/14/2025) Schools’ safety plans and drills would be subject to different requirements under a bipartisan package the House passed Wednesday.

The package expands the OK2SAY anonymous tipline program, requires school resource officers to provide safety training to school staff, adds one mandatory lockdown drill per year and asks schools to update their safety plans every three years.

Additionally, one lockdown drill per year would have to take place in between classes and another has to take place during lunch, recess or another time when students are outside the classroom.

Democrat Reps. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint) and Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills) are sponsors of bills in the package.

Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) sponsors a bill that requires the Michigan State Police (MSP) to provide OK2SAY tips to the school. In a floor speech, she said a student in her district committed suicide after tips went ignored that could have led to life-saving intervention.

Rep. Mike Harris (R-Clarkston) said when parents send their kids to school or when staff leave for work in the morning, they expect to return home safely at the end of the day.

“Let’s continue finding ways to support students and keep them safe,” Harris said.

Rep. Donni Steele (R-Lake Orion) said the bill package was set into motion following the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School, which she attended and where she met her husband. Her bill would have schools print the OK2SAY phone number on student IDs.

Rep. Rylee Linting (R-Wyandotte) said as the Legislature’s most recent product of Michigan’s public school system, she has felt firsthand the situation students find themselves in.

HB 4222, HB 4226, HB 4223 and HB 4315 all passed with more than 80 votes.

HB 4258, HB 4259 and HB 4229 all passed with 100 or more votes and HB 4225 passed 99-7.

HB 4227 was not voted on and will be sent to the House Rules Committee since members have questions about how it would be implemented. That bill requires school districts to employ an emergency and safety manager and a mental health coordinator, only if the state budget allocates the funding this year.

The House also passed HB 4392 , which is a nearly $42 million Capital Outlay supplemental that would be used for land acquisition and developmental projects funded by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. It passed 104-2 with Reps. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) and Joseph Fox (R-Fremont) voting no.

Since the House won’t be meeting tomorrow, three bills on second reading were also voted on.

Borton's Bird Feeder Bill Flies Out Of House

Rep. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord)’s bird feeder bill that allows individuals to use bird feeders if elk and white-tailed deer can’t access it was taken up.

“I rise today with a heart full of pride for the bird feeders out back and the joy they provide. The DNR says, ‘that’s bait!’ as they bust through the door, while poachers run wild and fines hit the poor. A grandma with seeds? A kid watching birds? They call it a crime, I call it absurd. House Bill 4350 fixes the mess, just feeding the birds, nothing more, nothing less. Vote yes for the feeders, the birds and their songs, and tell the DNR: Back off, get off our lawns,” Borton said.

HB 4350 passed, 82-24, after his floor speech received an ovation.

Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn)’s HB 4090 passed, 104-2. The bill approves the transfer of the Detroit Detention Center from the state to the Detroit Police Department.

Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson)’ HB 4201 removes pensions for state corrections workers from being taxed under the state income tax. The bill passed, 102-4.