Committee advances bill to list Mackinac Bridge as a penal-code 'key facility'

The Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Committee advanced House Bill 4,470 after testimony from Representative Preston that the Mackinac Bridge should be designated a "key facility" under the Michigan penal code.

Preston told the panel that while many types of infrastructure already carry the key‑facility designation, the statute did not explicitly name the bridge. He cited a high‑profile 2020 trespass incident in which prosecutors were unable to prevail because the bridge was not explicitly included in the statute and argued the change would restore a meaningful deterrent.

"This bill will restore that deterrence and eliminate the oversight under Michigan law that left this critical infrastructure off the list of key facilities," Preston said, adding the bridge’s importance to the Upper Peninsula’s economy and cross‑border commerce.

Members questioned practical implications, including whether the designation would require fencing or change access rules. Preston and other supporters said the bill targets the act of trespass and its penalties rather than imposing new physical barriers, noting pedestrians ordinarily are not permitted except during specific bridge walk events or in emergencies.

Representative Preston moved to report the bill with recommendation. The clerk called the roll and the committee recorded a unanimous vote; the transcript’s tally text is garbled in one line but the context and preceding vote pattern indicate the committee advanced the bill by recorded unanimous vote.

The committee recessed briefly after the vote and then resumed for the next agenda items. No amendments to HB 4,470 were recorded on the committee floor during the hearing.