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SB 20

Housing: landlord and tenants; cross-reference to the revised statutes of 1846; remove. Amends sec. 6 of 1978 PA 454 (MCL 554.636). TIE BAR WITH: SB 21'25, SB 19'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sarah Anthony

SB 20 removes outdated 1846 Revised Statutes cross-reference from Michigan landlord-tenant law to modernize housing regulations and reduce legal ambiguity.

PLACED ON ORDER OF THIRD READING
#housing:landlordandtenants
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Bill Summary · SB 20

Legislative bill overview

SB 20 removes an outdated cross-reference to the 1846 Revised Statutes from Michigan's landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.636, part of the 1978 Housing Law). This is a technical cleanup bill that eliminates reference to colonial-era legal text that is no longer applicable to modern rental housing regulations.

Why is this important

Removing dead legal references prevents confusion for landlords, tenants, and courts interpreting housing law. Outdated cross-references can create ambiguity about which rules actually apply and may lead to inconsistent enforcement or litigation over interpretation.

Potential points of contention

  • Lack of specificity in available text: The bill summary provides minimal detail about what substantive law actually changes, making it difficult to assess potential unintended consequences
  • Tie-bar dependencies: The bill is tied to SB 19 and SB 21, meaning its passage depends on those bills also passing—unclear what those bills contain or whether they're related
  • Potential hidden implications: If the 1846 reference served as a fallback provision for specific scenarios, removing it could create gaps in coverage without the bill explaining what replaces it

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

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