State Rep. Mike Harris on Tuesday led the Michigan House of Representatives in approving his bipartisan plan to support public safety and reduce violence in Michigan communities.

Harris, who served 26 years in local law enforcement, touted the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund, which will dedicate annual funding to local governments for expanding law enforcement and violence intervention efforts at a time when many Michigan communities are struggling with persistent, widespread violent crime.

“Public safety is the most fundamental promise any government can make to its people. Without safe communities, nothing else works,” said Harris, R-Waterford. “The Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund is a serious, targeted response to the violent crime crisis that is raging in Michigan communities. Our bipartisan plan will dedicate funding every year to making our state safer. It will increase support for local law enforcement officers combating crime, and it will boost local teams of citizens working to intervene before situations ever turn violent.

“This is a bipartisan solution to a very real problem. The public safety trust fund plan is focused. It’s accountable. And it’s built around the core responsibility of government — to protect its people. Let’s do the right thing to protect Michigan residents from violence. Let’s invest in safer communities and a stronger Michigan.”

Four of the 20 most violent cities in the nation are in Michigan, according to recent FBI data. Statewide, violent crime from 2019 to 2023 is 7% higher than the preceding five years, and homicides are up 17%.

House Bills 4260 and 4261 would create the trust fund and deposit $115 million of annual sales tax revenues into it. The plan would distribute $72 million to cities, villages, and townships based on their share of statewide violent crime. The plan requires local governments to use the resources to increase support for public safety and violence intervention efforts.

The plan also sets aside $40 million for county sheriff’s offices, distributed according to the size of each county’s police force. Additionally, $1.5 million would go to the Crime Victim’s Rights Fund to support victims and their families, while another $1.5 million would be available as grants for community violence intervention initiatives.

HBs 4260 and 4261 passed the House by overwhelmingly bipartisan votes of 104-4. They now proceed to the Senate for consideration.