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HB 4616

Family law: marriage and divorce; certain references in the revised statutes of 1846 of marriage and the solemnization thereof; make gender neutral. Amends secs. 2, 3 & 9 of 1846 RS 83 (MCL 551.2 et seq.) & repeals secs. 1 & 4 of 1846 RS 83 (MCL 551.1 & 551.4). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julie Brixie and 24 co-sponsors

Michigan bill removes gendered language from 1846 marriage statutes, making family law references gender-neutral for same-sex and opposite-sex couples alike.

bill electronically reproduced 06/10/2025
#civilrights:sexualorientationdiscrimination #familylaw:marriageanddivorce
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Bill Summary · HB 4616

Legislative bill overview

HB 4616 updates Michigan's 1846 marriage statutes to use gender-neutral language throughout the law. The bill amends sections 2, 3, and 9 of the 1846 Revised Statutes regarding marriage and its solemnization, while repealing sections 1 and 4. This is a tie-bar bill, meaning it's linked to a companion constitutional resolution (HJR F'25).

Why is this important

Michigan's foundational family law still contains language from 1846 that uses gendered terms like "husband" and "wife" in legally binding definitions. Modernizing this language affects how marriage rights and responsibilities are legally interpreted and applied to same-sex couples and may have implications for how marriage is defined in the state constitution if the companion resolution passes.

Potential points of contention

  • The tie-bar connection to HJR F'25 suggests a constitutional amendment may be involved; the scope and nature of that constitutional change is not specified in the bill summary alone
  • Conservative groups may argue that modernizing statutory language represents a substantive change to marriage law beyond mere terminology updates
  • Questions about whether repealing sections 1 and 4 (the oldest sections) removes protections or definitions that should be retained in some form

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

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