Whitmer signs bills ending gay panic defense, driver responsibility fee

(Michigan Advance) While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer fielded questions about speculation that she’ll be joining Kamala Harris as her vice presidential pick on the 2024 ballot, she signed Michigan’s $23.4B education budget into law Tuesday, as well as 39 other bills.

“Today, I was proud to sign 39 bills that will make a real difference in people’s lives and deliver on a range of bipartisan priorities,” Whitmer said in a news release “From raising wages for clean energy workers to bolstering Michigan’s infrastructure; improving the criminal justice system to investing in our schools, today’s legislation will build on our strong economic momentum and move Michigan forward.”

Among the bills signed was HB 4718, which bans the “gay panic” or “trans panic” legal defense. The defense allows defendants to argue that discovering a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity justifies assault and even killing the victim. ...............(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2024/07/24/whitmer-signs-bills-ending-gay-panic-defense-driver-responsibility-fee/