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HB 5528

Crimes: disorderly conduct; criteria for inciting a riot; clarify. Amends secs. 1 & 2 of 1968 PA 302 (MCL 752.541 & 752.542).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Noah Arbit and 20 co-sponsors

Michigan bill clarifies legal standards for charging disorderly conduct and riot incitement, affecting protest regulation and free speech protections.

bill electronically reproduced 02/18/2026
#crimes:disorderlyconduct
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Bill Summary · HB 5528

Legislative bill overview

HB 5528 amends Michigan's disorderly conduct and riot-incitement statutes (MCL 752.541 & 752.542) to clarify the legal criteria for what constitutes inciting a riot. The bill modifies language in the 1968 Public Act 302 to provide clearer definitions and standards for law enforcement and courts when evaluating disorderly conduct charges related to riot incitement.

Why is this important

The clarification of riot-incitement criteria directly affects when individuals can be charged with serious criminal offenses and influences police enforcement practices during protests and civil unrest. This touches on the balance between protecting public safety and preserving First Amendment protections for speech and assembly, which has become increasingly contentious nationwide.

Potential points of contention

  • Free speech vs. public safety: Depending on how criteria are tightened or loosened, the bill could either protect legitimate protest speech or be seen as enabling dangerous incitement
  • Enforcement subjectivity: Clarifying language still requires police and prosecutors to interpret "incitement," which may result in inconsistent application across different jurisdictions or communities
  • Specificity of language: Whether the amended criteria provide enough objective standards to prevent selective prosecution or overly broad enforcement against political opposition

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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