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HB 4612

Family law: marriage and divorce; certain references in provision for name change upon solemnization; make gender neutral. Amends title & sec. 1 of 1905 PA 299 (MCL 552.391). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 25 co-sponsors

Michigan bill replaces gendered language in marriage/divorce law with gender-neutral terms to ensure equal application to all couples regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

bill electronically reproduced 06/10/2025
#civilrights:sexualorientationdiscrimination #familylaw:marriageanddivorce
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Bill Summary · HB 4612

Legislative bill overview

HB 4612 amends Michigan's 1905 marriage and divorce law (PA 299) to replace gendered language with gender-neutral terms in provisions governing name changes upon marriage. The bill is tied to a constitutional resolution (HJR F'25), suggesting potential alignment with broader constitutional language updates.

Why is this important

Michigan's marriage law currently uses gendered pronouns and references that don't account for same-sex marriages or non-binary individuals. Updating this language ensures the law applies equally to all couples and reflects current legal recognition of diverse family structures. This is largely a technical modernization, though it signals the state's approach to inclusive legal language.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of changes: Critics may question whether this is necessary "social engineering" or simply outdated statutory housekeeping that should have been done decades ago
  • Constitutional tie-bar implications: The connection to HJR F'25 raises questions about what broader constitutional changes are intended, which some may view as overreach
  • Implementation questions: Unclear how retroactively this applies to existing marriage records or whether individuals can request name-change corrections under this new framework

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

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