MEMBERS:
SEN. SUE SHINK, MAJORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. PAUL WOJNO
SEN. JEFF IRWIN
SEN. SYLVIA SANTANA
SEN. JIM RUNESTAD, MINORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. RUTH JOHNSON
THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS,
JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY
SENATOR STEPHANIE CHANG
CHAIR
4100 BINSFELD OFFICE BUILDING
P.O. BOX 30036
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7536
PHONE: (517) 373-7346
FAX: (517) 373-9320
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
February 29, 2024
A meeting of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety was scheduled for Thursday,
February 15, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., in the 1200 Room of the Binsfeld Office Building.
The agenda summary is as follows:
1. Reported SB 657 (Sen. Polehanki) with recommendation.
2. Reported SB 658 (Sen. Wojno) with recommendation.
3. Testimony regarding HB 5148 (Rep. Grant).
4. Testimony regarding HB 5149 (Rep. Outman).
The Chair called the meeting to order at 12:34 p.m. She instructed the Clerk to call the roll. At that time, the
following members were present: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Irwin, Santana, Runestad and Johnson, a
quorum was present.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Shink to adopt the meeting minutes from February 15, 2024. Without
objection, the minutes were adopted.
The Chair brought up SB’s 657 and 658.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB’s 657 and 658:
Ann Griffin, American Humane Society – Support
Belinda Fitzpatrick, Self - Oppose
The Chair entertained a motion by Santana to report SB 657 to the floor with recommendation that it pass. The
vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Runestad and Johnson
Nays: None
Pass: Sen.(s) Irwin, and Santana
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Santana to report SB 658 to the floor with recommendation that it pass. The
vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Runestad and Johnson
Nays: None
Pass: Sen.(s) Irwin, and Santana
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair brought up HB’s 5148 and 5149.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding HB’s 5148 and 5149:
Rebecca Mastee, Michigan Catholic Conference – Oppose
Stephanie Bush, Catholic Charities of West Michigan – Oppose
Katie Page Sander, MI Federation for Child & Families – Support
Genevieve Marnon, Right to Life Michigan – Oppose
Lisa Johnston, Self – Oppose
Jennifer Grahek, Family Law Section, MI Adoption Subcommittee – Oppose
The cards were read of those individuals not wishing to present testimony regarding HB’s 5148 and 5149:
Jess Averill, MI Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention & Treatment Board – Oppose
Daryl Royal MI Searching Facebook Group – Support
Valerie Lemieux, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Dr. Rebekah Hansen, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Laura Oversat, MI Adoptee Advocates of Michigan – Support
Lorraine Dusky, First Mother Forum – Support
Richard Hill, Self – Support
Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys – Support
Richard Uhrlaub, Coalition for Transparency in Adoption – Support
Gretchen Weible, Self – Support
Elise Lewis, Louisiana Coalition for Adoption Reform - Support
There being no further business before the committee, the Chair moved to adjourn the committee. Without
objection, the committee was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Date adopted by committee: 03/07/24