This week, one of my constituents, Dr. Kelley LaBonty, Director of the Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG), gave powerful testimony before the Government Weaponization Committee, which I sit on. She claims the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office targeted her and her nonprofit with repeated investigations and charges—because she publicly criticized the state’s handling of a deer starvation crisis in 2018.

LaBonty said she had worked with the late Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson on a plan to help emaciated deer in the area, but the DNR blocked the proposal. Shortly after, her organization faced aggressive inspections, threats of losing its wildlife rehab license, and criminal charges.

Her attorney, Celeste Dunn, pointed to a pattern of retaliatory conduct—armed officers parked outside her property, unannounced inspections based on questionable tips (like a Facebook post), and even a now-dismissed charge involving a bald eagle that was never actually in DAWG’s possession. A judge eventually ruled in DAWG’s favor in the permit revocation case, saying there was no documented basis for many of the state’s actions.

This hearing wasn’t about assigning guilt or innocence. As the Chair made clear, the focus is on whether the state is using its power to silence dissent, which would violate Constitutional rights.

LaBonty’s case highlights the potential misuse of regulatory authority and has raised broader questions about whether government agencies are being held accountable when they target citizens who speak out. My office will continue to fight against all forms of State Department weaponization against Michigan residents.

Most Recent Votes and Reasons

HB 4222 – Sharpening the Safety Blueprint
Passed 80–26 – YES
This bill enhances school safety plans by requiring clearer coordination with law enforcement, better communication protocols for parents, and defined emergency roles for school staff. Think of it like tightening the bolts on a seatbelt—easy to overlook, but critical when it matters most.

HB 4226 – One More Lockdown Drill
Passed 81–25 – YES
Boosts the number of required lockdown drills from three to four annually. The logic is simple: one more round of preparation could mean the difference between panic and protection in a real crisis. You can never over-prepare when lives are at stake.

HB 4225 – State Hotline on Student IDs
Passed 99–7 – NO
This bill mandates that the OK2Say hotline be printed on every student ID card. While the goal is safety, I voted no because it sidelines local control. School leaders—not Lansing—should decide the best way to route tips, especially when school counselors or resource officers may be more responsive than a distant state call center. It also raises concerns about how tip data is collected and stored when shared with the state.

HB 4258 & 4259 – Safety Tips Must Reach Schools
Passed 101–5 and 100–6 – YES
When a student safety concern is sent to the Michigan State Police, it should be shared with the school quickly. These bills require MSP to forward tips within 24 hours to a designated staff member. The second bill ensures public transparency about how those tips are handled.

HB 4229 – Sunlight on School Threat Reports
Passed 101–5 – YES
Requires the MSP to report publicly on how it processes school-related safety tips. It’s not enough to collect data—parents and schools deserve to know that something’s being done with it. Sunshine builds trust and sharpens accountability.

HB 4223 & HB4315 – State-Mandated Training for All School Staff With No Clear Price Tag
HB4223 Passed 85–21 – NO; HB4315 Passed 82–24 – NO
This bill would force every school employee to complete a training curriculum created by the Office of School Safety. I opposed it because local schools already use trusted programs like ALICE or third-party trainers. Lansing shouldn’t dictate how local educators prepare—and it shouldn’t do so without a clear price tag.

HB 4392 – Opening the Outdoors
Passed 104–2 – YES
This legislation ensures that Michigan’s Natural Resources Trust Fund continues to follow the constitutional requirement that a portion of funds be used to expand access to trails, parks, and green spaces—for this generation and the next.

HB 4118 – Stop Sending Homeowners the Bill for State Property
Passed 104–2 – YES
Before this bill, homeowners near state-owned DNR land were sometimes assessed for drainage upgrades that benefited public property. I supported shifting that cost back where it belongs: to the state that owns the land.

HB 4090 – Transfers Ownership of the Correctional City Back to Detroit
Passed 104–2 – YES
This bill will restore local control by putting a Correctional Facility operated by the state back in the hands of the City of Detroit. This move aims to streamline operations by allowing the city to manage the facility directly, ensuring taxpayers do not have to pay for the maintenance and operation of a dormant facility.

HB 4201 – Another Tax Code Patch? No Thanks.
Passed 102–4 – NO
This creates a retirement income tax carve-out just for corrections officers. While I respect the profession, I voted no because our tax code needs systemic reform—not more special exemptions that make it harder to understand and less fair overall.

HBs 4104 & 4309 – Let the Doctors Practice
Passed 104–2 and 103–3 – YES
Michigan joined national licensure compacts for physicians and therapists. That means qualified health care professionals from other states can start working here without jumping through duplicate hoops. It’s a smart move to help solve our workforce shortage and improve access to care.

HB 4076 – Say What’s in the Package
Passed 102–7 – YES
As lab-grown meat hits grocery shelves, this bill requires it to be labeled as such. Consumers deserve transparency—plain and simple. You should always know what’s in your food.

HB 4276 – Gas Stations and Common Sense
Passed 106–0 – YES
This bill removes a burdensome rule that gas stations must carry $250,000 in inventory to qualify for alcohol sales. That standard made it nearly impossible for small or rural stations to participate. This reform lets the little guys compete.

SB 99 & SB 100 – Fix the Financial Disclosure Mess
Passed 104–2 and 105–1 – YES
New personal financial disclosure laws took effect this year—but the state’s online system rolled out full of glitches and bugs. These bills simply extend the filing deadline to mid-June. I supported them to make sure lawmakers have time to submit accurate and secure filings—not rush through a broken process.

HR 91 – Keep Line 5 Running
Passed 58–48 – YES
This resolution urges continued operation of the Line 5 pipeline, a vital source of propane and fuel for much of Michigan—especially the Upper Peninsula. I voted yes because energy affordability and security are on the line. Shutting it down would hurt households and small businesses across the state.

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Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. Please feel free to share this with anyone you’d like to help stay informed. If you have any questions, comments, or event/meeting requests please call me at 517-373-0839 and/or email me at JoshSchriver@House.MI.gov.

In God We Trust,

Representative Josh Schriver