Michigan school tip line law

Does Michigan require a school tip line?

Yes, on the state. To the extent funds are appropriated, the Michigan Department of State Police must set up a program to take reports from the public about potential self-harm and potential harm or criminal acts aimed at students, school employees or schools. The program must include a hotline available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In the law, the hotline is a statewide toll-free number and/or other means of communication that sends voice, text, photo and other messages to the department. The department may promote the program on its website. The State Police program page says tips can be sent 24/7 by app, online, email, text or phone. The act's original sunset date was repealed.

What must schools do?

At least twice a year, each school's governing body must give the State Police emergency contact information for at least one school official who can receive hotline information at all times.

Who is covered?

The act covers public, private, denominational and parochial schools from developmental kindergarten through grade 12.

How are tips routed and answered?

The program must review every hotline submission and send reports, with any threat analysis, to local law enforcement and school officials. The department must make sure program staff are trained. Hotline information suggesting a psychiatric emergency must be referred immediately to the county's community mental health crisis line. A hotline report counts as a report to a law enforcement agency, and the department must keep it for at least 1 year. The State Police program page says trained OK2SAY technicians forward tips to the right responding agency or organization. It also says school staff and law enforcement are asked to complete an Outcome Report to close a tip.

Are tips confidential?

Hotline reports are confidential and exempt from Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. Intentionally disclosing confidential hotline information is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. Agencies may share tip information in the course of their duties, but not information that would identify the person who made the report. If a report leads to no referral, or no action is warranted, the subject's name must be removed (expunged) from program records.

What about false reports?

A prosecutor who has reason to believe a report was falsely made may ask the court to disclose it, including identifying information. Michigan's general false-report crime, which is not specific to tips, makes it a crime to intentionally make a false report of a crime to a police agency or other authorized government employee or contractor. Because a hotline report counts as a report to law enforcement, this law can reach a false OK2SAY tip. A false report of a misdemeanor is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. A false report of a felony is a felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, or both; penalties rise, up to 15 years, if the response injures or kills someone.

Does the state report on tips?

The department must prepare an annual report, filed by July 31. The report must include how many hotline reports were forwarded to local law enforcement and school officials.

How is it funded?

The act creates a student safety fund in the state treasury. Fund money may be spent, when appropriated, on the costs of running the hotline. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, the budget appropriates $250,000 from the student safety fund within the State Police's law enforcement services section. The State Police said on July 24, 2026 that the FY 2027 budget includes $1.7 million to support OK2SAY.

Are there recent bills?

HB 4258 of 2025, as passed by the House, would require the department to notify the school, local law enforcement and other agencies within 24 hours of a tip that names a school or location. HB 4258 passed the House with immediate effect and has not been enacted; its last action is referral to the Senate Committee on Education on May 20, 2025. HB 4225 of 2025, as passed by the House, would require OK2SAY contact information on certain student ID cards beginning July 1, 2026. Under that bill, nonpublic schools would only be encouraged to add it. HB 4229 of 2025, as passed by the House, would have the Office of School Safety compile quarterly reports of OK2SAY tips for the School Safety and Mental Health Commission. HB 4259 of 2025, as passed by the House, would add a definition of "tip" to the Student Safety Act.