Proposed Michigan Law Would Let Bullied Students Switch Schools

One year after a West Michigan family lost their daughter to relentless bullying, Michigan lawmakers are considering a change that could give kids an escape hatch when school becomes unsafe.

Natalia Moore was 12 years old. She lived in Middleville. She loved her family, her friends, and hockey. She played for teams like the Wyandotte Warriors and was described by her mom, Mira Fuentes, as bright, compassionate, and full of joy. The kind of kid you imagine growing up and doing big things.

Instead, on January 26, 2025, Natalia died by suicide.

Her mother says Natalia endured months of severe bullying while attending Thornapple Kellogg Middle School. But the bullying didn’t stop. And eventually, neither did the pain. If that sounds like every other bullying story you’ve ever heard, that’s kind of the point.

Representative Angela Rigas, who represents Middleville, has spoken publicly about Natalia and about another former student who also took his own life. That is why she introduced what’s now being called the Natalia Moore Law.

Under the proposed law, Michigan schools would be required to accept transfer students from outside their district if there is verified bullying and documented failed attempts to resolve it. Schools would not be allowed to deny the transfer because of truancy, and academic records would have to be shared within seven days.

Tuition fees would also be waived so families are not punished financially for trying to protect their child. And if schools fail to comply, they could face civil liability.

Right now, districts are required to have bullying policies. Investigations. Discipline. Procedures. But this bill acknowledges something parents already know. Sometimes the environment itself is the problem.

This would be the first law of its kind in Michigan, and while no law can undo what happened to Natalia Moore, this one could mean that another kid gets the help they need in time.