WeVote
Log In

Bill

WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 4666

Legislative bill overview

HB 4666 removes outdated and offensive racial language from Michigan's insurance code by eliminating references to "colored" persons in Section 2082 of the 1956 Public Act 218. This is a technical cleanup bill that modernizes statutory language to reflect current terminology and values.

Why is this important

While this appears to be a minor technical change, it removes language that is widely considered derogatory and reflects discriminatory-era legislation. Cleaning outdated racial terminology from active statutes sends a clear policy signal and ensures Michigan's legal code reflects contemporary standards and respect for all residents.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of change: Critics might question whether this is a sufficient or merely symbolic fix if discriminatory provisions remain elsewhere in insurance law or related statutes
  • Unintended consequences: Any modification to insurance code language carries theoretical risk of unintended interpretation changes, though the bill reportedly passed committee without amendments, suggesting technical soundness
  • Incompleteness: Questions may arise about whether other Michigan statutes contain similar outdated terminology that should be addressed systematically rather than piecemeal

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

Sign in to ask a question.