Michigan House Bill HB4617

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/10/25
• Refer: 6/10/25

Caption

Property tax: special assessments; certain references in act providing for deferment of special assessments on certain homesteads; make gender neutral. Amends sec. 4 of 1976 PA 225 (MCL 211.764). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

Summary

HB 4617 amends section 4 of the Michigan law governing deferment of special assessments on homestead property to make the statutory language gender neutral and update wording for clarity. The bill replaces references such as “husband and wife” with “a married couple,” changes “person” to “individual,” and makes other conforming edits to terms like “must” and “provided” throughout the application and affidavit provisions. The underlying deferment program itself is not changed; owners may still apply to defer payment of special assessments on a homestead by filing an affidavit with the local assessing officer. The bill preserves the existing procedural requirements for obtaining a deferment. The affidavit must still be provided by the Department of Treasury, include a bold warning that the state will place a lien on the property if the deferment is authorized, and be filed at least 30 days after the due date of the assessment or installment for which deferment is requested. The bill also keeps the existing rules that false affidavits are perjury and that written consent from a mortgagee or land contract vendor is required when the property is encumbered.

Impact

HB 4617 would amend MCL 211.764, the statute governing deferment of special assessments on homestead properties, by modernizing and neutralizing the language without changing the substantive eligibility or filing requirements. It would affect homeowners seeking special assessment deferments, local assessing officers who process the affidavits, and mortgagees or land contract vendors whose consent remains necessary in certain cases. The bill is tie-barred to a proposed constitutional amendment, meaning it would not take effect unless the related joint resolution becomes part of the Michigan Constitution.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is largely technical and noncontroversial, focused on updating outdated gendered terminology rather than changing policy. Because there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, there is no evidence of organized opposition or debate over the bill’s substance. The tie-bar to a constitutional amendment indicates the bill is part of a broader package, but the bill itself appears to have been presented as a conforming cleanup measure.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is not the language cleanup itself, but the bill’s dependence on a related constitutional amendment for effectiveness. Any disagreement would likely center on the broader amendment package rather than the statutory edits in HB 4617. Otherwise, the bill retains existing lien notice, perjury penalties for false affidavits, spousal signature requirements for jointly owned homesteads, and lender or vendor consent requirements, none of which appear to be altered in a way that generated recorded controversy.