Prior to the committee vote, the bill package received compelling testimony from prosecutors and victims’ advocates across Michigan. Prosecutors from Eaton, Calhoun, and Kalamazoo counties spelled out the real-life consequences of the Supreme Court’s decisions: emboldened offenders, undermined public safety, and devastated families forced to relive their trauma. Law enforcement made it clear: the state needs tools to keep dangerous individuals off the street, and this legislation delivers. The bills were developed in close consultation with those on the front lines, ensuring Michigan stands with victims, not violent criminals.

Today, the House Judiciary Committee delivered decisive, bipartisan action by unanimously reporting out House Bill 4396, sponsored by Representative Sarah Lightner. HB 4396 creates a robust “data use agreement” framework under the Juvenile Diversion Act, allowing qualified researchers to access anonymized juvenile diversion records for critical policy studies—while safeguarding personal privacy at every step.