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 15, 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. Testimony regarding HB 5148 (Rep. Grant).
1. Testimony regarding HB 5149 (Rep. Outman).
2. Reported HB 4522 (Rep. Breen) with recommendation.
3. Reported HB 4523 (S-1) (Rep. Hope) with recommendation.
4. Reported HB 4524 (Rep. Andrews) with recommendation.
5. Reported HB 4525 (S-1) (Rep. Filler) with recommendation.
6. Testimony regarding SB 657 (Sen. Polehanki).
7. Testimony regarding SB 658 (Sen. Wojno).
The Chair called the meeting to order at 12:07 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 and Runestad, a quorum
was present.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Wojno to adopt the meeting minutes from February 1, 2024. Without
objection, the minutes were adopted.
The Chair brought up HB’s 5148 and 5149, and invited Rep.(s) Grand and Outman to summarize the bills.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding HB’s 5148 and 5149:
Gregory D. Luce, Adoptee Rights Law Center – Support
Ned Andree, NED – Support
Brooke Van Prooyen, Blodgett – St. John’s Program Manager – Support
Tiana Hawver, Filmmaker “Reconnecting the Dots” – Support
Johanna Kononen & Heath Lowry, MI Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence – Oppose
Megan Reynolds, MI Poverty Law Program – Oppose
Merissa Kovach, ACLU of MI – Oppose
David Bellamy & Stephanie Busch, Catholic Charities West MI - Oppose
Due to time constraints, the following individuals were unable to present testimony regarding HB’s 5148 and
5149:
Genevieve Marnon, Right to Life of Michigan – Oppose
The following testimony cards were submitted regarding HB’s 5148 and 5149:
Sara Easterly, Adoptee Voices Org. - Support
Lisa Johnston, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
The Adoptive Family Support Network – Support
Jillian Blair, MI Adoptee Collaborative – Support
Honorable Roberta B Beavers, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Monica Sparks, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Pamela Lynn, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Jessica Tyson, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Dr. Liz DeBetta, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Dr. Emily Helder, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
American Academy of Adoption – Support
Michelle Kuffer, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Arbor Circle, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Teresa Weatherall Neal, 616 Educational Consultant – Support
Noorain Khan, MI Adoptee Rights – Support
Capitol Coalition for Adoptee Rights – Support
Kim Gates, Kent County Democratic Party – Support
Richard Hill, MI Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Hands Across the Water Adoption Professionals – Support
Concerned United Birthparents Inc. – Support
Bastard Nation; The Adoptee Rights Organization – Support
David Otzman, Self – Support
Saving Our Sisters – Support
Adoption & Foster Family Coalition of New York – Support
Adoptee Rights Law Center – Minneapolis MN – Support
Detroit Historical Society – Support
Adoptee Advocates of Michigan – Support
Elana Rugh, Detroit Historical Society – Support
Nicole Taylor, Self – Support
Daryl Royal, Self – Support
Louisiana Coalition for Adoption Reform – Support
Catholic Mothers for Truth & Transparency – Support
New York Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Katie Bozek, Transitions Therapy – Support
New England Adoptee Rights Coalition – Support
Mothers for Open Records Everywhere – Suport
National Center on Adoption & Permanency – Support
Tree Town Therapy – Support
Sarah Williams, Self – Support
Jess Averill, MI Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention & Treatment Board – Oppose
Rebecca Mastee, MI Catholic Conference – Oppose
Valerie Lemieux, Adoptee Advocates of MI – Support
Erica VanEe, Michigan Adoptee Collaborative – Support
The Chair brought up HB’s 4522 – 4525, and invited Rep. Breen to summarize the (S-1) versions of HB’s 4523
and 4525.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding HB’s 4522-4525:
Kate Hude, MI Association of Treatment Court Professionals – Support
The following testimony cards were submitted regarding HB’s 4522 – 4525:
Megan Reynolds, MI Poverty Law Program – Support HB 4522
Heath B. Lowry, MI Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence – Support HB’s 4523 & 4525
Jess Averill, MI Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention & Treatment Board – Neutral HB’s 4523 & 4525
Nathan Triplett, State Bar of Michigan – Support
Trevor VanDyke, State Court Administrative Office, MI Supreme Court - Support
Sen. Runestad offered an (S-1) to HB 4522, and summarized the (S-1).
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Runestad to adopt the (S-1) version of HB 4522. The vote was as
follows:
Yeas: Sen. Runestad
Nays: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Irwin and Santana
The motion failed and the (S-1) was not adopted.
The Chair entertained a motion by Shink to report HB 4522 to the floor with recommendation that it pass. The
vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Irwin, and Santana
Nays: Sen. Runestad
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Wojno to adopt the (S-1) version of HB 4523. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Irwin and Santana
Nays: Sen. Runestad
The motion prevailed and the (S-1) was adopted.
The Chair entertained a motion by Irwin to report HB 4523 (S-1) to the floor with recommendation that it pass.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Irwin, and Santana
Nays: Sen. Runestad
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Santana to report HB 4524 to the floor with recommendation that it pass.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Irwin, and Santana
Nays: Sen. Runestad
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Shink to adopt the (S-1) version of HB 4525. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Irwin and Santana
Nays: Sen. Runestad
The motion prevailed and the (S-1) was adopted.
The Chair entertained a motion by Wojno to report HB 4525 (S-1) to the floor with recommendation that it pass.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Chang, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno, Irwin, and Santana
Nays: Sen. Runestad
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair brought up SB’s 657 and 658, and invited Sen.(s) Polehanki and Wojno to summarize the bills.
Due to time constraints, the following individuals were unable to present testimony regarding SB’s 657 and
658:
Ann Griffin, Michigan Humane – Support
Belinda Fitzpatrick, Self – Oppose
The following testimony cards were submitted regarding SB’s 657 and 658:
Linda Levalley West, Friends of Berrien County Animal Control – Support
Cory Kelley, Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit – Support
Amanda Tillotson, Humane Animal Treatment Society – Support
Elise Ramsey, Little Traverse Bay Humane Society – Support
Beatrice Friedlander, Attorneys for Animals – Support
Blake Goodman, Humane Society of the U. S. – Support
Chief Jeff Randazz, Macomb County Animal Control – Support
Lydia Sattler, Jackson County Animal Shelter - Support
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Runestad, to excuse absent members from the meeting. Without
objection, Sen. Johnson was excused from the meeting.
There being no further business before the committee, the Chair moved to adjourn the committee. Without
objection, the committee was adjourned at 1:32 p.m.
Date adopted by committee: 02/29/24