A New Bill Could Finally Close a Tragic Loophole in Michigan’s Amber Alert System

We've all gotten an Amber Alert on our phone or seen them pop up on a highway sign.

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The AMBER Alert System was created in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children.

AMBER stands for America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response.

It was created as a legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bike in Texas, and then brutally murdered.

Last year a West Michigan mother wanted an Amber Alert to be issued when her son Rowan was taken by his biological father, but because he was taken by his biological father the law didn't allow for an Alert to be issued.

Sadly Rowan was killed by his father in a murder-suicide.

Brandi Morey-Pols, and her husband founded The Rowan Project, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about filicide — the act of a parent killing their own child — and pushing for systemic reforms.

Their hard work is gaining steam in the Michigan Legislator.

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The Rowan Act is a proposed set of bills (House Bills 4517 and 4518) that aim to modernize and expand Michigan's Amber Alert system.

The bill passed the house with a 104-1 vote, give lawmakers abstained from voting.

The bill now moves onto the Michigan Senate and if passed there would be brought to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her signature to make it law.