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HB 5951

Law enforcement: other; law enforcement use of a chemical agent or kinetic energy projectile in certain situations; restrict. Creates new act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julie Brixie and 10 co-sponsors

The bill restricts police to only use chemical agents or kinetic energy projectiles to disperse protests under trained, objectively reasonable threats to life or serious injury, an

bill electronically reproduced 05/12/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 5951

Summary of HB 5951 (2025-2026) – Michigan

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to restrict the use of chemical agents and kinetic energy projectiles (KEPs) by law enforcement to disperse assemblies, protests, or demonstrations.
  • It sets conditions under which such devices may be used and creates reporting requirements for law enforcement agencies after use.

Key definitions

  • Chemical agent: Substances that rapidly cause sensory irritation or disabling effects and dissipate after exposure, including pepper spray/pepper balls, chloroacetophenone tear gas, and 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile gas.
  • Kinetic energy projectile (KEP): Less-lethal projectiles designed to injure via kinetic energy, such as rubber/plastic bullets, beanbag rounds, or foam-tipped rounds.
  • Law enforcement agency/officer: Defined per Michigan standards (as in the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act).

Main provisions

  • Prohibition on general use (Sec. 2):

    • Absent specific circumstances, officers may not use chemical agents or KEPs to disperse an assembly, protest, or demonstration.

  • Allowed use (Sec. 3):

    • Use of chemical agents or KEPs is permissible only if:
    • The officer is trained in the use, and
    • The use is the objectively reasonable means to defend against a threat to life or serious bodily injury to a person, including officers.

  • Reporting requirements (Sec. 4):

    • Within 60 days after a use under Sec. 3, a law enforcement agency must submit a report to the Michigan State Police Department including:
    • Description of the assembly/protest, estimated crowd size, and number of officers present.
    • Type of chemical agent or KEP used.
    • Number of rounds used.
    • Whether anyone was injured as a result.
    • The rationale for the use, including de-escalation measures, protocols, and other tension-reduction efforts.
    • Agencies may request an additional 30-day extension to submit.
    • Agencies must publish the report on their own websites.

Compliance and oversight

  • The bill places emphasis on accountability and transparency by mandating post-incident reporting to the state police and public availability of the reports.
  • Training transparency is implied in Sec. 3, tying permissible use to officer training.

Persons and entities affected

  • Law enforcement agencies across Michigan (state and local) would be subject to the prohibitions, allowances, and reporting requirements.
  • Law enforcement officers could be constrained by new training and use-of-force standards.
  • The public would gain access to incident reports via agency websites, contributing to public oversight.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date not explicitly stated in the text excerpt; implementation would require the act to take effect as provided in the bill or upon enactment.
  • Reporting requirement timeline: initial report due within 60 days of use; possible 30-day extension.
  • Public-facing disclosure via agency websites to accompany the internal reporting.

Notable considerations

  • The bill emphasizes “objectively reasonable” use to counter a threat to life or serious bodily harm, which can be interpreted relative to situational context and de-escalation efforts.
  • The wide definition of chemical agents and KEPs includes commonly used crowd-control tools, potentially expanding or clarifying the scope of permissible use and reporting.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, journalists, or community groups) or compare it with current Michigan law on crowd control and use-of-force.

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

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