State Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) speaking on the House Floor on Dec. 10, 2024, in the Michigan State Capitol Building in Lansing.
LANSING, Mich., Dec. 11, 2024 — Every House Democrat voted to take historic action to support, protect and empower survivors of human trafficking in Michigan. House Bills 5836-47, 5849-54 and 5864 expand legal protections for individuals harmed by human trafficking and provide pathways for survivors to clear their criminal records. Across the aisle, nearly every House Republican voted against the bipartisan package.
The package ensures Michigan is a safe state for survivors of human trafficking to rebuild their lives. House Bill 5836, sponsored by state Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi), and House Bill 5837, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth), collectively provide expungement and create an affirmative defense for survivors who committed an offense as a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking.
“Combating the horror that is human trafficking requires firm bipartisan action, and that’s what this package accomplishes,” said Breen, chair of the House Judiciary Committee. “I am proud to work with my colleagues on this historic legislation to expand expungement eligibility for survivors and put predators behind bars. Today, we’ve made a monumental step toward building a legal system that puts survivors and their right to heal first — serving true justice for victims of human trafficking.”
“Survivors of human trafficking need a justice system that empowers them to clear their record, heal from their trauma and build back their life,” Koleszar said. “These bills ensure Michigan’s courts offer that support. I am grateful to our members for taking action to ensure our legal system punishes perpetrators, never victims.”
House Bill 5840, sponsored by state Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming), requires expert witnesses in human trafficking cases to possess specialized knowledge, training or education in victim experiences and services related to human trafficking. The legislation also prohibits courts from admitting into evidence the opinions of expert witnesses on the credibility of any other witness or the victim.
“Survivors of human trafficking deserve justice and a legal path that rightfully acknowledges their trauma,” Fitzgerald said. “Pursuing justice can be a difficult experience for survivors, and it is imperative that we have a legal system that respects survivors of human trafficking. My bill ensures no victim’s account can be discredited by another expert witness, ultimately supporting survivors in their pursuit of justice.”
The package updates definitions in Michigan law to penalize those facilitating commercial sexual activity while providing protections for victims of human trafficking. House Bill 5841, sponsored by state Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren), and House Bill 5842, sponsored by state Rep. Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit), update Michigan’s penal code and DNA identification profile system to explicitly hold perpetrators of human trafficking accountable.
“The time is now to tackle human trafficking head-on, keep perpetrators accountable and protect survivors,” Xiong said. “From our Penal Code to the Youth Rehabilitation Act, my colleagues and I have worked meticulously to build a package that updates Michigan’s laws to protect survivors first and foremost.”
“Justice is more than just hunting down perpetrators — we cannot leave survivors behind,” Carter said. “We must lend survivors of human trafficking a hand in their fight to heal and regain their livelihood. I am proud to see our package pass the House today, and I will keep fighting alongside my colleagues to see that justice is served for all victims.”
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