2025 House Bill 5163

Children: child abuse or child neglect; exceptions to the definition of child neglect; provide.

A bill to amend 1975 PA 238, entitled “Child protection law,” by amending section 2 (MCL 722.622), as amended by 2022 PA 67.

Official record

AI Analysis – Experimental

House Bill No. 5163 (Serenity's Law) amends Michigan's Child Protection Law to clarify definitions of child abuse and neglect, particularly regarding parental medical decision-making, and updates statutory language to improve guidance for child welfare cases.

Introduced in the House

Oct. 29, 2025

Introduced by Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-35) and 14 co-sponsors

Co-sponsored by Reps. Jamie Thompson (R-28), Jaime Greene (R-65), Joseph Pavlov (R-64), Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R-34), Joseph Fox (R-101), Angela Rigas (R-79), Pat Outman (R-91), Jason Woolford (R-50), Rachelle Smit (R-43), Jimmie Wilson (D-32), Timothy Beson (R-96), Brad Paquette (R-37), Phil Green (R-67) and Gina Johnsen (R-78)

Referred to the Committee on Families and Veterans

June 23, 2026

Reported with substitute H-1