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HB 4619

Family law: marriage and divorce; certain references in the provision related to marriage license; make gender neutral. Amends sec. 1 of 1887 PA 128 (MCL 551.101). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julie Brixie and 25 co-sponsors

Michigan bill replaces gendered language with gender-neutral terms in 1887 marriage license statute to clarify legal application for all couples.

bill electronically reproduced 06/10/2025
#civilrights:sexualorientationdiscrimination #familylaw:marriageanddivorce
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Bill Summary · HB 4619

Legislative bill overview

HB 4619 amends Michigan's 1887 marriage law (MCL 551.101) to replace gendered language with gender-neutral terminology in provisions governing marriage licenses. The bill is tied to a constitutional resolution (HJR F'25), suggesting it may be part of broader language modernization efforts in Michigan family law statutes.

Why is this important

Marriage laws with gendered language can create practical confusion and potential legal complications for same-sex couples and non-binary individuals seeking marriage licenses. Updating statutory language to be gender-neutral ensures clearer legal application and removes outdated presumptions about who can marry whom, which Michigan law already permits but the statute language may not clearly reflect.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of changes: Whether this is a minor technical update or signals broader redefinition of marriage-related terminology that some stakeholders may view as substantive rather than clarifying
  • Constitutional resolution tie-bar: The linkage to HJR F'25 is unexplained in available materials; unclear what the resolution proposes and whether it expands beyond language neutrality
  • Implementation questions: How gender-neutral language will function in practice across related statutes, forms, and administrative procedures that may still contain gendered terms

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

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