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House approves Rowan Act package to broaden AMBER Alert authority and modernize notifications
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Summary
The House passed two bills expanding Michigan State Police discretion to issue AMBER Alerts and modernizing how alerts are distributed; lawmakers cited the 2024 death of 6-year-old Rowan Morey as impetus.
The Michigan House of Representatives passed two related bills aimed at expanding AMBER Alert authority and modernizing dissemination: House Bill 4517 and House Bill 4518, a package supporters called the Rowan Act. Both bills passed by large margins on final passage and the House ordered immediate effect.
Representative Nyer, sponsor of HB4517, described the bills as a response to the 2024 death of 6-year-old Rowan Morey. Nyer said limitations in state law prevented an earlier activation of emergency systems after a custody exchange failed; Rowan was missing for 52 hours and later found dead with his biological father in Isabella County on Aug. 21, 2024. Nyer said the Rowan Act would allow the Michigan State Police to issue an AMBER Alert when officers believe a child is in danger in circumstances that fall outside the traditional abduction definition, including delayed returns in custody disputes and high-risk cases involving children with special needs.
Representative Regas, who co-sponsored and spoke to the package, said the legislation also modernizes how alerts are shared by authorizing law-enforcement use of social media and other digital platforms so information reaches the public quickly. “When a child is in danger, every second counts,” Regas said, urging support for the package.
The House voted on each bill by record roll-call. The clerk announced final passage of HB4517 with 104 aye votes and 1 nay; HB4518 was recorded as passing with 104 ayes and 1 nay. For both bills the majority floor leader moved and the House ordered immediate effect.
Supporters framed the bills as giving law enforcement additional discretion and modern tools to locate children in danger. The debate cited a specific tragic case as the motivating example; sponsors said the bills are intended to cover situations — such as custody disputes and delayed returns — that existing AMBER Alert criteria do not always encompass. No floor amendments to the measures were recorded during third reading on the floor.
