Bill
HB 6144
MSP must destroy all firearms from municipal buyback programs and prohibit resale of any firearms or parts, preventing ghost-gun parts; effective April 2, 2025.
Title: Law enforcement: other; destruction of weapons; require for buyback programs.
Statute amended: 1935 PA 59 (MCL 28.1–28.16) — adds section 5a.
Sponsor: Rep. Felicia Brabec (with multiple co-sponsors)
Enacted: Approved by Governor Jan 22, 2025; Filed with Secretary of State Jan 22, 2025.
Effective date: April 2, 2025. (Act No. 265, Public Acts of 2024)
Purpose
- Require the Michigan State Police (MSP) to permanently destroy firearms acquired through municipal gun buyback programs and prohibit resale of those firearms or their parts. The intent responds to concerns that selling parts from buyback firearms can facilitate creation of unserialized “ghost guns.”
Key provisions
- MSP disposition requirement: Beginning on the act’s effective date, the department must dispose of all firearms purchased by a municipality under a gun buyback program and turned over to MSP.
- Destruction standard: MSP must destroy those firearms and ensure all parts of each firearm are destroyed (i.e., no retaining and resale of parts).
- Resale prohibition: MSP is expressly prohibited from reselling any firearm acquired under a buyback program.
- Definition: “Firearm” is defined broadly as any weapon that will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.
Who is affected
- Municipalities that run gun buyback programs (their surrendered/purchased firearms must be destroyed if turned over to MSP).
- Michigan State Police — responsible for handling and ensuring complete destruction of buyback firearms.
- Private firms that previously processed law enforcement firearms for parts resale — they may no longer receive buyback firearms from MSP for partial destruction and parts sale.
- Public safety stakeholders and communities concerned about diversion of parts into the secondary market.
Background and context
- The change codifies practices MSP adopted after 2023–24 controversy over firms that destroyed only firearm receivers while selling remaining parts, raising ghost‑gun concerns. MSP had paused prior disposal arrangements and shifted to full-destruction methods.
Fiscal impact
- House Fiscal Agency: HB 6144 would have no fiscal impact on the state or local units of government.
Procedural timeline (selected)
- Introduced Nov 14, 2024; Passed House Dec 12, 2024; Passed Senate Dec 20, 2024; Enrolled and presented to Governor Dec 23, 2024; Approved and filed Jan 22, 2025; Effective April 2, 2025.
Related legislation
- Companion bills (HB 6145 and HB 6146) proposed similar destruction-only requirements for forfeited/seized firearms under other statutes.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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