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HB 6156

Crimes: other; adultery law; repeal. Repeals secs. 29, 30, 31 & 32 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.29 et seq.).

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Emily Dievendorf and 3 co-sponsors

Repeals Michigan Penal Code sections that criminalized adultery, removing history of adultery-related offenses and eliminating related criminal charges.

bill electronically reproduced 11/26/2024
#crimes:other #crimes:penalties
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 6156

Summary of HB 6156 (Michigan)

Purpose and intent

  • Repeal four provisions of the Michigan Penal Code (1931 PA 328) that historically criminalized adultery and related conduct.
  • Specifically repeals Sections 29–32 of the Penal Code, codified as MCL 750.29 through 750.32.
  • Outcome: Adultery-related offenses would no longer be crimes under state law.

Key provisions

  • Enacting section 1: Repeals Sections 29, 30, 31, and 32 of the Michigan Penal Code (1931 PA 328), i.e., MCL 750.29–750.32.
  • The bill does not create new offenses or penalties; it simply removes the existing criminal statutes governing adultery and related acts.

Who/what is affected

  • Individuals who might have faced criminal charges under MCL 750.29–750.32 (historical adultery-related offenses).
  • Prosecutors, defense attorneys, and courts would no longer have these sections as sources of criminal charges or potential penalties.
  • Other areas of law (e.g., civil remedies, family law) are not addressed by the bill and would remain governed by their existing statutes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: November 26, 2024, by Representatives Dievendorf, Rheingans, Edwards, and Price.
  • Initial steps: Read a first time and referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice.
  • Electronically reproduced: November 26, 2024.
  • Subsequent action: January 22, 2025, referred to the Joint Committee on Judiciary.
  • Status: Pending further committee consideration; no floor action documented in the provided materials.

Background and context

  • The bill’s title indicates its focus on “Crimes: other; adultery law; repeal,” targeting archaic provisions that criminalized adultery.
  • The formal legislative text is concise: it repeals Sections 29–32 of the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.29–750.32) with no supplemental changes.

Potential impact

  • Legal clarity and modernization: Removes archaic criminal penalties, aligning Michigan law with contemporary views on adultery as a civil rather than criminal matter.
  • Enforcement effects: No longer possible to charge individuals under MCL 750.29–750.32; may reduce burdens on judiciary and law enforcement related to these offenses.
  • Financial impact: Not specified in the provided materials; typically, repealing criminal statutes has minor direct fiscal effects unless accompanied by broader reform.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to how similar offenses have been treated in neighboring states or provide historical context on Michigan’s adultery statutes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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