Michigan Senate Passes Anti-Terrorism Bill After Synagogue Attack, Sends Legislation to House for Consideration

Senate Bill 502 Strengthens Michigan Anti-Terrorism Law With Intent Requirement

The Michigan Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 502 on March 19, 2026, updating the state's anti-terrorism statute to include an intent requirement for prosecuting terroristic threats. The legislation now heads to the Michigan House of Representatives for further consideration.

The bill comes in the wake of the March 12, 2026 attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, which the FBI classified as an act of terrorism inspired by Hezbollah. The attack occurred at one of the largest synagogues in Michigan and the country.

With hate crimes, antisemitism, and extremist threats on the rise, we must do everything we can to keep our communities safe. My bill would strengthen the state's ability to respond to threats of terrorism, which is more important now than ever, said state Senator Sue Shink, D-Northfield Township, who sponsors the legislation.

What Senate Bill 502 Does

Senate Bill 502 would amend the Michigan Anti-Terrorism Act to specify that a person who threatened to commit an act of terrorism can only be charged if they knowingly or recklessly made a terrorist threat, rather than based solely on how their statements were perceived.

The current law relied on a "reasonable person" standard for defining threats, which Michigan judges raised constitutional concerns about following federal Supreme Court rulings. The new legislation clarifies that individuals can only be charged if they:

• Knowingly make a terrorist threat, or
• Recklessly disregard the possibility that their speech would be perceived as a threat, or
• Knowingly make a false report

The bill would give prosecutors another avenue to pursue felony charges punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both.

Michigan Attorney General Pushes for Passage

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has been a vocal advocate for Senate Bill 502, emphasizing the importance of updating anti-terrorism laws following the synagogue attack.

Michigan's existing anti-terrorism law has saved lives and has been instrumental in prosecuting threats against schools, law enforcement, judicial officers and elected officials on both sides of the aisle, Nessel said in a statement. We cannot allow divided government to weaken our ability to respond to threats of terrorism, and I implore the House of Representatives to pass this bill urgently into law.

Nessel noted that the proposed bill would amend the current statute to address the Supreme Court ruling that changed the standard for proving a true threat. It would provide prosecutors with clearer tools to handle cases involving terroristic threats.

Jewish Lawmakers Call for Action and Funding

Following the attack, Jewish state officials called for both legislative reforms and increased security funding for Michigan's Jewish community. State Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, and Democratic state Reps. Noah Arbit and Samantha Steckloff represented Jewish lawmakers at a press conference in Detroit on March 16.

Steckloff, who represents West Bloomfield, announced she would seek budget funding for Jewish facility security through a legislatively directed spending item. She plans to request enough money to pay for security training for every Jewish congregation, school and community center in Michigan.

The Jewish community is incredibly small, but has a disproportionate target on our backs, Moss said at the press conference. So it really needs a lot of support from outside of the Jewish community to say we can't tolerate this problem either.

The Temple Israel Attack

On March 12, 2026, a lone gunman drove his car through the front doors of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township. The attacker, identified as 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized citizen born in Lebanon, was the only casualty of the attack.

Federal officials said Ghazali had been watching and sharing significant amounts of pro-Hezbollah content online leading up to the incident. They say he ramped up planning for the attack, buying an AR-15-style rifle and searching for large gatherings of Israelis after the Israel Defense Forces killed his brothers.

There's no legal difference whether a Hezbollah commander called this man and said go do this attack or whether this man consumed Hezbollah propaganda and heeded the call within the propaganda to go do an attack, said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon during a press conference.

Next Steps for the Legislation

Senate Bill 502 now needs to pass the Michigan House of Representatives before it can reach Governor Gretchen Whitmer's desk. House Republicans have not yet indicated their position on the legislation.

House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the bill. The legislation faces potential hurdles in the House, where Republicans have expressed concerns about free speech protections.

Broader Impact on West Michigan

The Temple Israel attack in West Bloomfield highlights the growing concern about antisemitism and hate crimes across Michigan. The attack occurred in Oakland County, but the implications extend to West Michigan communities that have Jewish populations, including Detroit, Farmington Hills, and Ann Arbor.

Jewish organizations in West Michigan have been working with state officials to secure additional funding for security measures at synagogues, schools, and community centers. The Michigan Jewish Federation received $4 million last year for community safety measures, but state officials say more funding is needed.

Criminal Defense and Civil Liberties Groups Raise Concerns

The Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan and the ACLU of Michigan raised concerns about the state's current anti-terrorism law and earlier versions of Senate Bill 502.

Liz Balck, a policy strategist with the ACLU of Michigan, pushed lawmakers to clarify what reckless disregard means in the bill. She emphasized the importance of protecting free speech rights.

Prosecutors have to prove that the defendant really, consciously, disregarded that risk to communicate threatening violence versus just saying something in a joking manner, an inappropriate context, or hyperbole, Balck said.

What House Republicans Say

House Speaker Matt Hall has not yet responded to requests for comment on Senate Bill 502. The House has shown resistance to some of Whitmer's agenda items, and Republicans have raised concerns about what they view as overreach by the administration.

The House Judiciary Committee, which would likely consider the bill, has included members who have questioned the balance between protecting public safety and protecting free speech rights.

Looking Ahead

Senate Bill 502 represents one of several pieces of legislation related to hate crimes and terrorism that have emerged following the Temple Israel attack. Other proposals include creating an Office of Hate Crime and Extremist Violence Prevention within Michigan's executive branch and requiring school districts to adopt antisemitism training programs.

The success of Senate Bill 502 in the Senate demonstrates bipartisan support for strengthening anti-terrorism laws. However, its fate in the House remains uncertain, with potential delays that could push final passage into the next legislative session.