Summary — HB 4506 (2025): Sentencing — life without parole for offenders aged 18–20
Status: Defeated (Roll Call #173 — Yeas 55, Nays 43, Excused 0, Not Voting 12). Introduced March 12, 2025 by Rep. Sarah Lightner; committee and floor activity occurred through July 24, 2025.
Purpose / intent
HB 4506 would create a statutory process allowing prosecutors to seek imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) for defendants who were 18–20 years old at the time they committed certain offenses. The bill largely mirrors the individualized sentencing and resentencing procedures Michigan currently requires for juveniles under Miller v. Alabama and the Michigan Supreme Court’s Parks decision, extending similar procedural rules to young adult offenders.
Key provisions
- Applies to defendants who were 18, 19, or 20 years old (substitute H‑1) at the time of offense (the original introduced version applied to 19–20 year olds).
- Prosecutor may file a motion seeking LWOP:
- For new convictions: within 42 days after conviction.
- For prior convictions (existing cases): within 360 days after the bill’s effective date.
- Defendant must file a response within 14 days of notice.
- Court must hold a hearing and consider Miller v. Alabama factors (and may consider the defendant’s prison record and other relevant criteria). The judge must state on the record the aggravating/mitigating factors and reasons for the sentence.
- Victims retain the right to appear and give oral impact statements under the William Van Regenmorter Crime Victim’s Rights Act.
- If the court declines LWOP, the judge must impose a lengthy term of years:
- Introduced version: maximum not less than 80 years; minimum 35–50 years.
- Substitute H‑1: maximum not less than 60 years; minimum 25–40 years.
- If multiple death-related offenses arise from the same transaction, substitute H‑1 requires those terms be consecutive.
- Resentencing hearings prioritized: (1) defendants who have served 25+ years, (2) cases with prosecutorial motion for LWOP, (3) all others. Defendants resentenced receive credit for time already served.
Offenses covered
Eligible offenses include (by statute references): certain drug adulteration/poisoning causing death, willful poisoning, first‑degree murder (MCL 750.316), certain terrorism or explosives offenses (Chapter XXXIII), specified penal code sections (750.16, 750.18, 750.436(2)(e), 750.543f), and any other offense involving death for which parole eligibility is expressly denied by law.
Who would be affected
- Defendants convicted of the enumerated offenses who were ages 18–20 at the time of the offense (both future convictions and specified prior convictions if prosecutors timely move).
- Prosecutors (new motion deadlines and procedural obligations).
- Trial and appellate courts (new hearing and written-record requirements).
- Victims and victims’ families (explicit right to impact statements).
- Correctional system (potential for additional LWOP sentences; resentencing caseload).
Procedural/timeline notes
- Prosecutorial filing deadlines: 42 days after conviction for new cases; 360 days after effective date for existing convictions.
- Defendant response: 14 days.
- Priority scheduling for resentencing hearings as specified.
- The bill was considered in committee and on the floor; a substitute (H‑1) was adopted and later the measure was defeated on the House floor (July 24, 2025).
Context / legal background
The bill builds on Michigan and U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence (Miller v. Alabama; Montgomery; People v. Parks) that requires individualized sentencing for young offenders when LWOP is a possible sentence. HB 4506 sought to extend similar individualized procedures to young adults aged roughly 18–20.
Note: HB 4507 and HB 4508 were companion bills to update related statutory cross‑references and would not take effect unless HB 4506 were enacted.
