LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan lawmakers are pushing to advance the Rowan Act, a proposal designed to expand how alerts are issued when children go missing – especially in cases that don’t meet the strict criteria for an AMBER Alert. Supporters are urging the Michigan Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety to move the legislation forward without delay.
The legislation is named in memory of six-year-old Rowan Milford Morey, whose life was tragically taken in August 2024 during a failed custody exchange in Isabella County that led to a murder-suicide. The legislation is aimed to close critical gaps that can delay public awareness in urgent situations.
MORE NEWS: UP Lawmakers Push for State Veterans Cemetery to Keep Local Heroes Close to Home
State Representative Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), who is a co-sponsor of the bill along with Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd), says in a press release, “Rowan’s mother repeatedly sought help from law enforcement when her son was not returned as scheduled, yet current law prevented an Amber Alert from being issued because the situation did not meet a narrow definition of abduction.”
Brandi Morey-Pols, Rowan’s mom, is a constituent of Rep. Rigas and is a “powerful advocate for these reforms” according to the lawmaker who says, “These bills give law enforcement the critical flexibility they need to act when a child is believed to be in danger, while preserving the integrity of the Amber Alert system.”
How one case shaped a nationwide alert system.
The AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert was named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl who was kidnapped and murdered in Arlington, Texas in 1996. After her case, local broadcasters and law enforcement teamed up to create a rapid alert system to notify the public when a child is abducted.
The alert operates as a state-by-state system with national coordination. Each state sets and enforces its own criteria and activation process. In Michigan, AMBER Alert criteria are set by the Michigan State Police and are fairly strict. To issue an alert, law enforcement must first confirm that an abduction has occurred involving a child under 18. They must also believe the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death. Finally, there must be enough descriptive information – such as details about the child, suspect, or vehicle – that can be shared with the public to help safely recover the child.
Filling the alert gap.
Supporters of the Rowan Act say that strict criteria leaves many families in limbo when a child disappears under suspicious – but not fully verified – circumstances. The new legislation would allow law enforcement to issue broader alerts more quickly, increasing visibility and potentially speeding up recoveries.
House Bill 4518 (the Rowan Act) amends the Michigan AMBER Alert Act to allow activation when law enforcement determines, following a preliminary investigation, that a missing child (particularly one
MORE NEWS: Bra Dispute Sparks Big Payout: Lansing Writes Six-Figure Check
with special needs) is believed to be in danger. House Bill 4517 updates the Child Abduction Broadcast Act to expand dissemination of alerts through modern channels, including social media. Both bills passed the Michigan House with strong bipartisan support in September 2025.
Why it matters.
Every minute counts in missing child cases. Advocates argue that earlier alerts mean more eyes watching, more tips coming in, and a better chance of bringing kids home safely. Lawmakers backing the bill say it’s about giving police more flexibility instead of forcing them to wait until strict criteria are met.
What’s next.
The Rowan Act is currently under consideration in the Democrat-controlled Michigan Senate. If passed, it could reshape how missing child cases are handled statewide – turning what critics call a rigid system into one that responds faster when every second counts.
