Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed my legislation, known as “Lauren’s Law,” to help increase the number of registered organ donors in Michigan.

More than 120,000 men, women and children nationwide currently need a life-saving organ transplant, including more than 3,500 people here in our state. Another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes, and an average of 21 people die each day awaiting an available organ.

While about half of Michigan adults are currently registered as organ donors, it’s not enough to meet the need. Lauren’s Law will ensure that we are doing everything possible to give the gift of life to those in need of an organ transplant.

Public Act 451 of 2016 requires the secretary of state’s office to inquire whether someone wishes to be added to the Michigan anatomical gift donor registry when the individual applies for a driver’s license.

It is named “Lauren’s Law” after Lauren Shields, who, at 9, was placed on life support while waiting for a heart transplant, which she eventually received. She became the public face of organ donation in New York and helped pass a similar law there.

I want to thank John Grinnell, a southwest Michigan resident and kidney transplant recipient, for getting me involved in this issue. Because of his initiative, we will hopefully one day have enough registered donors to end the waiting list in Michigan for life-saving organs.

To help raise awareness about organ donation, Sen. Morris Hood III, D-Detroit, and I sponsored Senate Resolution 14 to declare Valentine’s Day as Organ Donor Registry Day.

I was proud to see the Senate come together in a bipartisan effort to spread awareness of our state’s organ donor registry and let people understand how they can help.

Becoming an organ donor might just be the most impactful thing in someone else’s life that any of us ever do. It is easy to do and could save lives.

For information about organ donation or to sign up to become a donor, residents may visit the Gift of Life Michigan website at GiftofLifeMichigan.org.

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents southwest Michigan.