{"id":9145,"date":"2025-10-16T09:11:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T13:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/chang\/?p=9145"},"modified":"2025-10-16T09:11:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T13:11:15","slug":"opioid-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/chang\/2025\/10\/16\/opioid-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Committee Passes Bipartisan Bills to Address Michigan\u2019s Opioid Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety favorably reports legislation to combat drug-related crime, boost public safety
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<\/i>LANSING, Mich. (Oct. 16, 2025) \u2014 Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety passed bipartisan legislation spearheaded by Sens. Stephanie Chang<\/b> (D-Detroit), Sarah Anthony<\/b> (D-Lansing), and Roger Victory<\/b> (R-Hudsonville) to deliver balanced, fair, and serious solutions to the opioid public health crisis facing Michigan.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s laws must reflect today\u2019s realities, and what we know now as lawmakers and as a society about opioids and addiction has changed enormously <\/i>in the past decade,\u201d said Sen. Chang<\/b>, Chair of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety. \u201cWe are one step closer to right-sizing how our criminal justice system handles drug-related crimes \u2014 both in addressing the seriousness of fentanyl and creating more appropriate sentences for less deadly substances. By doing so, we move towards solving Michigan\u2019s opioid crisis and building a state that is safer for all. I am grateful to former colleagues David LaGrand and Graham Filler, as well as Senators Sarah Anthony and Roger Victory, for their valued partnership on this balanced, bipartisan legislation, and am thrilled to see it move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

To address the opioid epidemic in Michigan through effective solutions and appropriate, proportional sentencing policies, Senate Bills 430<\/a><\/u><\/span>–432<\/a><\/u><\/span> would reform and right-size how the state\u2019s criminal justice system responds to a variety of drug-related crimes. By creating proportional penalties for drug crimes, such as increasing punishments involving the illegal manufacture, sale, delivery, or possession of fentanyl, heroin, carfentanil, and other opioids, while instituting more appropriate sentences for less dangerous substances, this legislation aims to protect Michiganders from the irreparable harm caused by opioids from continuing. They would also make critical updates to our law based on current science and reality.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe opioid epidemic remains one of Michigan\u2019s most urgent public health challenges,\u201d said Sen. Anthony<\/b>. \u201cThis legislative package provides another critical tool in our effort to respond with policies grounded in science, compassion, and evidence-based strategies. I\u2019ve seen the impact of this crisis across our communities and have prioritized this work since my time in the House. I\u2019m proud to work alongside colleagues from both parties to advance these reforms and ensure we\u2019re using every resource available to confront this crisis head-on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFentanyl and other opioids continue to devastate families and communities around the state, underscoring the need to tackle this crisis head-on through a swift and smart approach,\u201d said Sen. Victory<\/b>. \u201cThrough creating proportional penalties for drug-related crimes and entrusting the knowledge and expertise of our judges to impose fair sentences, we can make real progress in getting these dangerous drugs off our streets and keep our kids and communities safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am proud of our legislators for bringing our drug laws into alignment with good policy,\u201d said David LaGrand<\/b>, Mayor of Grand Rapids and former State Representative. \u201cOur drug laws should reflect an evaluation of the harm caused by the drug, not legacy penalties that don’t help our law enforcement agencies focus on making our communities safer.”<\/p>\n

\u201cSafe & Just Michigan applauds this bipartisan effort to rebalance Michigan’s drug sentencing laws in response to public concern about fentanyl without resort to failed, one-size-fits-all policies like mandatory minimum sentences,\u201d said John Cooper<\/b>, Executive Director of Safe & Just Michigan. \u201cTo end the opioid epidemic, we need to learn from past mistakes, not repeat them.\u201d<\/p>\n

These bills build on the previous efforts of Senate Democrats to address Michigan\u2019s opioid crisis through a package of comprehensive legislation introduced earlier this summer<\/a><\/u><\/span>. They now head to the Senate floor for consideration.\u00a0<\/div>\n

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Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety favorably reports legislation to combat drug-related crime, boost public safety LANSING, Mich. 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