Bill
HB 4517
Expands Michigan's Child Abduction Act to allow MSP-provided missing/AMBER alerts to be broadcast via radio, TV, and social media, with station immunity, contingent on HB4518.
Status: Passed House (9/4/2025); referred to Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety (9/9/2025). Introduced: March 12, 2025 (filed); as passed: May 21, 2025. Tie-bar: Requires enactment of HB 4518 for effect.
What the bill does (purpose)
- Expands and modernizes Michigan’s Child Abduction Broadcast Act (2002 PA 713) by:
- Renaming it the “Child Abduction and Missing Child Broadcast Act.”
- Allowing radio and television stations to broadcast information not only about child abductions but also about reports of missing children that are provided by the Michigan State Police (MSP) under the Michigan AMBER Alert Act.
- Specifically authorizing dissemination by social media and “any manner designed to assist in the location of the abducted or missing child or apprehension of any suspect.”
Key provisions / statutory changes
- Amends the Act’s title and sections 1, 2, and 5 (MCL 28.761, 28.762, 28.765).
- Section 2 (as passed): Radio/television stations receiving information from MSP under the Michigan AMBER Alert Act (2002 PA 712, MCL 28.751–28.755) may broadcast that information in any manner (explicitly including social media).
- Section 5 (as passed): Provides civil liability immunity for a radio or television station that accurately broadcasts information concerning a child abduction or a missing child obtained from MSP.
- Enacting clause: HB 4517 does not take effect unless HB 4518 is enacted (tie-bar).
Relation to HB 4518
- HB 4518 (the “Rowan Act” in committee analysis) would amend the Michigan AMBER Alert Act to require MSP policies to activate the AMBER plan for certain missing children (including children with special needs and cases MSP believes pose danger after preliminary investigation). HB 4517 depends on HB 4518 to operate as intended.
Who is affected
- Radio and television broadcasters and the social media dissemination of AMBER/missing-child alerts.
- Michigan State Police and local law enforcement (increased scope for alerts).
- Missing children and families (potentially broader and more rapid public notification).
- Minimal/no fiscal impact on local governments; MSP may face nominal increased costs for more frequent activations (costs expected absorbable within existing appropriations but not precisely estimable).
Fiscal and procedural notes
- House Fiscal Agency: potential nominal fiscal impact on MSP; no fiscal impact on local units.
- The bill passed the House with immediate effect language but remains conditioned on enactment of HB 4518.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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