2021 House Bill 4632 / 2022 Public Act 87

Lessen restriction on seized property forfeitures

Introduced in the House

April 14, 2021

Introduced by Rep. Alex Garza (D-12)

To create an exception to a <a href="https://www.michiganvotes.org/2019-SB-2">2019 law</a> that prohibited government “civil asset forfeitures,” which are takings of property that may be associated with a suspected drug-related crime, unless the individual is actually convicted or accepts a plea bargain. That only applies to police seizures of property worth $50,000 or more, and the bill would lower this to $20,000 for property seized by public airport authority police.

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

May 11, 2021

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

May 26, 2021

Amendment offered by Rep. Tenisha Yancey (D-1)

To require the authority that takes the property to pay the owners legal expenses if a subsequent lawsuit reverses the taking.

The amendment failed by voice vote

June 3, 2021

Passed in the House 80 to 30 (details)

Received in the Senate

June 8, 2021

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

June 30, 2021

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

May 18, 2022

Passed in the Senate 24 to 13 (details)

To create an exception to a <a href="https://www.michiganvotes.org/2019-SB-2">2019 law</a> that prohibited government “civil asset forfeitures,” which are takings of property that may be associated with a suspected drug-related crime, unless the individual is actually convicted or accepts a plea bargain. That only applies to police seizures of property worth $50,000 or more, and the bill would lower this to $20,000 for property seized by public airport authority police.

Signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

May 26, 2022