Lawmakers in Lansing heard emotional testimony this week as the Joshua Conant Act came before the Michigan House Committee on Regulatory Reform.
The proposed legislation stems from a 2023 incident in which Joshua Conant died while being restrained by security staff outside a downtown Port Huron bar. If passed, House bills 5060 and 5061 would establish statewide training requirements for bouncers, focusing on preventing positional asphyxiation, mirroring a Port Huron ordinance passed earlier this year.
Dozens of supporters from Port Huron and surrounding areas traveled by chartered bus Thursday, filling the committee room in matching purple shirts featuring Conant’s photo and a hashtag backing the legislation.
Port Huron city officials were also in attendance, including City Manager James Freed and Mayor Pro-Tem Sherry Archibald, joining family members and local advocates in support of the bills. Conant’s mother, Sandy Shultz, and his uncle, Mark Sanderson, offered heartfelt remarks before the committee.
The committee has not yet taken action on the proposed legislation, though several members voiced support. Others noted that the measures may need to be strengthened to provide better protections for both bar patrons and security personnel.
Photo courtesy of Jen Brown
